ICMA Management Fellow

Wake County seeks a motivated, service-oriented ICMA Local Government Management Fellow to join the County Manager's Office beginning in Summer 2026.

The fellowship lasts 12-24 months and offers broad exposure to county functions, high-impact strategic projects, and direct engagement with leadership teams. The Fellow will collaborate regularly with departments including Budget and Management Services, Communications, Human Resources, and Public Health, as well as other departments aligned with assigned projects.

The County emphasizes meaningful project work paired with ongoing professional development, mentorship, and leadership exposure. Wake County is among the country''s fastest-growing communities and offers a unique blend of urban and rural environments, a diverse population, and a wide range of public service challenges and opportunities.

Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct research, surveys, program evaluations, and policy analysis to support countywide initiatives
• Prepare written communications, such as reports, memos, presentations, and executive-level summaries
• Assist with implementing and tracking progress toward Strategic Plan goals and priority initiatives
• Participate in committees, meetings, and cross departmental workgroups
• Organize and coordinate assignments with departments and external partners
• Support project management tasks, including data collection, stakeholder engagement, and documentation

Strategic Plan-Aligned Projects

Examples of possible projects include:

• Community Health and Well Being Initiative 3.1 - Expand Access to Services

• Support efforts to expand access to behavioral health, medical, dental, and vision services through facility co location and mobile delivery models.

• Assist with research, planning, and stakeholder coordination.

• Foundations of Service Initiative 2.2 - Workload and Capacity Evaluation

• Help develop and implement processes that evaluate staff workload, improve efficiency, and enhance service delivery.

• Compile data, benchmark practices, and assist in designing evaluation tools.

• Foundations of Service Initiative 2.4 - Succession Planning

• Contribute to building a countywide succession planning framework supporting leadership continuity and talent pipelines.

• Assist in drafting policy components, assessment tools, and communication materials.

• Foundations of Service Initiative 2.3 - Internal Communications Improvement

• Support efforts to improve internal communication systems for consistency and operational effectiveness.

• Conduct research on communication best practices and assist in gap analysis.

• Foundations of Service Initiative 2.5 - Workplace Culture Enhancements

• Support leadership development, supervisor skills training, and culture building program improvements.

• Collect feedback, assist in curriculum planning, and evaluate program outcomes.

• Foundations of Service Initiative 4.2 - Public Input Guidelines

• Help develop practical guidance on community engagement methods for use by all County departments.

• Research best practices, evaluate current approaches, and assist in drafting engagement standards.

• Countywide Non Profit Capacity Workgroup

• Contribute to strategy development for strengthening nonprofit capacity, including training, grants navigation, and technical assistance.

• Conduct environmental scans, stakeholder interviews, and best practice research.

Professional Development

The Fellow will receive structured support including:

• Regular mentorship from the County Manager's Office executives and directors
• Leadership shadowing opportunities
• Field visits and department immersion experiences
• Participation in ICMA's national Fellowship cohort
• Attendance at the ICMA Annual Conference
• Access to regional and state professional associations and training networks, including NC City/County Managers Association and NC Local Government Budget Association