Fellow Positions – Summer Cohort

Fellow Positions – Summer 2026 Cohort

Recruitment began on December 23, 2025

and the job listing Expires on January 23, 2026

The Government Performance Lab (GPL) seeks to hire fellows with a passion for improving government performance and solving social problems such as barriers to affordable housing, lack of access to benefits or supports for children and families, and criminal justice involvement. Fellows may provide support remotely to one or more US state or local jurisdictions or may be placed on‑site with a government office or agency that is spearheading a project.

To support our policy area goals, fellows work collaboratively with their assigned manager and receive coaching to help them develop their skills to drive projects forward. Fellows function as day‑to‑day project managers, conducting transformation projects from conceptualization through design and implementation.

Supports jurisdictions to strengthen supports for children and families and shrink the harm of punitive government responses such as child protection interventions, including by working to strengthen public benefits delivery and supports for economic wellbeing, improve maternal and infant health, strengthen access to behavioral health supports, and increase kin‑first care.

Building capacity of state leaders to navigate the uncertainty caused by AI‑driven disruptions to the workforce, create future‑looking strategies for states through rapid knowledge exchange and iterative learning between states, and develop data and measurement approaches to better monitor AI‑driven job displacement.

Supports jurisdictions to address homelessness and housing instability, including by working with agencies to build staff capacity for performance management, implement upstream prevention efforts, improve rehousing approaches, and address drivers of housing affordability and supply.

Aims to improve public safety and prevent individuals from harmful interaction with the criminal justice system, including by sending alternative responder teams to 911 calls, testing alternatives to pretrial incarceration such as referrals to supportive services, and reducing punitive conditions for individuals awaiting trial in the community.

* This role is funded at an annual salary of $92,000 plus benefits. This position is a term appointment ending one year from date of hire, with the possibility of renewal. The role will receive a Harvard appointment as a Fellow.

Boston, DMV Area (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia), Los Angeles, Michigan (Lansing or Detroit), Minnesota (Minneapolis or St. Paul), and remote (requires access to a major U.S. airport).

Candidates should be available to start by July 2026.

Please submit your application using the GPL Online Application Form. Applications are due by Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET. If selected for interviews, candidates will be asked to participate in case interviews and submit examples of previous work products.

• At least three years of full‑time professional work experience.
• Strong project management capabilities—the ability to independently execute project tasks and meet key project deadlines.
• Ability to navigate complex organizations, develop trust and credibility with stakeholders, and build strong relationships among diverse groups.
• For some projects, ability to travel on a regular basis is required.

• Many kinds of experiences could prepare an individual to thrive in this role. We expect candidates to have many but not necessarily all of the qualifications listed below.
• Passion for improving government performance and solving social problems.
• Self‑motivated approach with a learning mindset and an orientation towards results.
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly, efficiently, and with humility both verbally and in writing, including through slide decks, meeting facilitation, memos, delivery of trainings, and public speaking.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from…