Lead NC Fellow UNC School of Government; Cohort

Why We Exist - Organization Mission and Work

Now more than ever, our public institutions need you. Here in North Carolina, 70% of local government leaders are eligible to retire. Communities and neighborhoods that were once thriving are shrinking and fighting for economic survival. More and more Americans are looking to local levels of leadership to address the communities that affect their lives. With so many local government leaders retiring, there is a demand for a new generation of leadership.

As a nonpartisan organization at the UNC School of Government, Lead for North Carolina aims to be part of the solution by cultivating a leadership force of our nation's most outstanding young leaders, each committed to serving and building bridges in communities across the state. We believe that there is common ground, mutual respect, and even friendship to be found through a shared commitment to place and to service.

The Lead for North Carolina Fellowship is a launching pad for a lifelong career of leadership and public service. We are looking for our state's most outstanding young people who aspire to positions of significant public responsibility in their communities, states, and country, and who are committed to leading with courage and integrity.

• Placement & Community Venture. Fellows are placed in a paid, full-time position in which they work on a critical challenge alongside an existing community leader. Working together for 40 hours per week, the placement serves as an "apprenticeship" in leadership and local service for the Fellow within a local government. As Ameri Corps service members, all Fellows will receive a $35,000 stipend for the 11-month contract, and a $7,395 Education Award upon completion of the Fellowship
• Training and Fellowship Experiences. All Fellows will attend a training program in Chapel Hill, NC at the UNC School of Government (July 8
  - July 24) where they will learn about local government and public service. Fellows will receive the tools to become effective leaders in their community. Throughout the course of the Fellowship, Fellows will also attend further retreats and training. At the end of the Fellowship, Fellows will come together for a graduation summit in Chapel Hill, where their accomplishments will be celebrated and they will meet and inspire the incoming cohort of Fellows.
  
  All lodging and meals associated with Fellow programming will be covered by the program
• A Pathway to Success. For Lead for NC, alumni success looks like every Fellow continuing to serve in public service. Our Fellows go on to receive leadership positions in local and state government offices. Many Fellows receive full-time job offers from their host site with competitive salaries for public sector careers. Many Fellows that pursue graduate education receive full-ride scholarship offers or very competitive scholarships to their dream programs at Schools like UNC-Chapel-Hill, Duke, University of Virginia, Georgetown, and more!
  
  By completing the fellowship, you will also leave with friends that will serve you professionally and personally for years to come!

• Consider creating a professional resume for this application. To help you, we have provided a template (). We encourage you to use this resource to tailor your resume for this position.
  • Resumes generally should be no longer than one page for each 10 years of professional experience.
  • You are not asked to do a cover letter for this position.
• Keep in mind the mission of the program and make sure your application reinforces your commitment to our program's mission and vision. A good tip, could be to go read the previous fellows bios, learn about what they accomplished from their service and how you could see yourself on a similar career trajectory.
• Spelling and grammar are essential in the early parts of any screening process. Use resources like friends, colleagues, AI, or career counselors to review your application materials prior to submission.
• Proactive candidates (sending follow-up messages, thank you's, and general inquiry questions) tend to make a positive impression on program staff. Being engaged throughout the process is likely to help you secure a position with any employment opportunity.
  • Feel free to reach out to Liam (liam.edu) or Dylan (russell.edu) with any questions, comments, or concerns.
• We are not necessarily looking for candidates with previous government experience or political science majors. We are primarily screening for individuals who are passionate about public service and community work in North Carolina
• Candidates may request reasonable accommodations for their interview. Please email Liam Hysjulien (liam.edu) to request these accommodations.

Host sites will be announced in the end of March 2026. We anticipate having host sites from the state's largest municipalities like Charlotte or Raleigh to the state's smallest and most distressed communities.

Host…