Municipal Budgeting Fellow, Bloomberg Associates  

Background

Bloomberg Philanthropies works to create catalytic change across five areas of focus: arts and culture, education, the environment, government innovation, and public health. Our mission is to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. Our approach is rooted in Mike Bloomberg's unique experience and success across the field of business, government, and philanthropy.

Bloomberg Associates (BA) is Bloomberg Philanthropies’ pro bono consulting service founded by Michael R. Bloomberg, the 108th Mayor of New York City and Founder of Bloomberg LP, as a philanthropic venture. We provide services to cities that help governments improve the quality of life of their citizens. Bloomberg Associates works across nine different focus areas: Cultural Assets Management, Marketing & Communications, Media and Digital Strategies, Municipal Integrity, Social Services, Sustainability, Transportation, Economic Development and Urban Planning, with teams that have deep subject matter expertise and extensive experience in municipal government.

The Position

The Internal Management Team at Bloomberg Associates supports city governments in improving departmental operations, performance measurement, communication strategies, and modernizing technology and data systems. The team collaborates with municipal departments and leadership, offering strategic and advisory expertise.

The Municipal Budgeting Fellow will assist the team on public finance projects with U.S. and international client cities. This practice area helps cities improve funding and operationalize major plans, identify efficiencies in budgeting processes, and align fiscal mechanisms with broader social and environmental goals.

Fellows work about 15 to 20 hours per week on an initial six-month contract. The Fellow should have availability over at least four days per week and be based in the New York metro area to attend periodic meetings at the Bloomberg Associates office. The role requires a highly organized self-starter with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Practice Area Development

• Research and evaluate the best methods in municipal budgeting and fiscal policy domestically and internationally.
• Develop frameworks and tools to support client cities, such as policy outlines, tax structures, and fiscal benchmarks.
• Build client-facing communication materials and practice area resources in addition to contributing to white papers on unique topics in municipal finance.

Client City Project Work

• Analyze municipal taxes and budgets, establish baselines, and find opportunities for improvement, as well as summarizing key constraints and recommending next steps to local budgeting processes.
• Align fiscal strategies with long-term plans for land use, infrastructure, environmental challenges, and housing.
• Assess the impacts of tax or fee changes on municipal revenues and address other municipal finance and budgeting issues as needed.

General Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research, policy analysis, and summarizing findings and recommendations through memos, case studies and presentations.
• Engage with senior government, academic, nonprofit, and business leaders for interviews and information gathering.
• Handle client communications, project timelines, and results as well as present findings to clients and internal partners.
• Develop and support project plans, including stakeholder engagement, critical metrics, and implementation strategies across multiple stages.

Qualifications of the ideal candidate 

• Bachelor’s degree in related field and a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in business, government or nonprofit sectors. A Master’s degree is preferred
• Experience or knowledge in U.S. or international public finance
• Strategic and analytical approach with a strong focus on delivery
• Proven track record in policy research, project execution and outcome-focused impact
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, engaging multiple partners
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to produce clear and concise reports
• Proficiency in Excel; Tableau experience is a plus
• Self-starter with an ambitious attitude and a proactive approach to problem-solving and a quick learner, able to absorb and synthesize large amounts of information

Equal Opportunity 

Bloomberg Philanthropies maintains a continuing policy of non-discrimination in employment. It is the policy of Bloomberg Philanthropies to provide equal opportunity and access for all persons, and the organization is committed to attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting the most qualified individuals without regard to age, ancestry, color, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, parental or caring status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy or maternity/parental leave, protected veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other classification protected by applicable law (“Protected Characteristic”). Bloomberg Philanthropies prohibits treating applicants or employees less favorably in connection with the terms and conditions of employment, in all phases of the employment process, because of one or more Protected Characteristics (“Discrimination”). 

Accommodation 

Bloomberg Philanthropies provides reasonable adjustment/accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable adjustment/accommodation to apply for a job. Examples of reasonable adjustment/accommodation include but are not limited to making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format or using specialized equipment. To request an adjustment/accommodation to apply for a job, please email careers@bloomberg.org.