Economic Development 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. BA works across nine (9) 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 Economic Development Team at Bloomberg Associates is seeking a Fellow to support economic and workforce development projects with U.S. client cities. This role will assist in areas such as economic strategy, sector-based business development, small business growth, neighborhood revitalization, workforce development, commercial property regeneration, and tourism promotion.

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.

• Conduct independent research, international leading practice reviews, and policy analysis in areas such as:
  
  
  
  • Business Sector Ecosystem Development: Strategies for fostering startup ecosystems in tech, manufacturing, life sciences, and emerging industries.
  • Small Business Support: Approaches to financing, technical assistance, digital tools, and ecosystem development for local businesses.
  • Downtown and Neighborhood Revitalization: Strategies for commercial corridor activation, partner capacity building, and downtown recovery.
  • Workforce Development: Labor market analysis, career pathway development, and program design.
  • Financing and Incentives: Evaluation of tax incentives, development support, and business financing programs.
  • Strategy and Systems: Equitable economic development strategies, growth plans, and organizational capacity building.
  • Destination Promotion: Analysis of destination marketing organizations' structures, funding, partnerships, and efficiency.
  • Commercial Real Estate Development and Regeneration: Concept planning, site constraint analysis, land use strategies, and public-private partnerships.
  
  
  
  
• Develop memos, research papers, case studies, and presentations based on research findings.
• Identify, engage, and interview senior government, academic, nonprofit, and business leaders.
• Coordinate with and present findings to project clients.

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 a plus.
• Strategic and analytical mindset with a strong focus on delivery.
• Consistent track record in policy research, project execution and outcome-focused impact
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, engaging with multiple partners
• Excellent writing skills with skill in producing clear and concise reports
• Proficiency in presenting complex data in PowerPoint (Tableau experience is a plus).
• Comfortable working through ambiguity and developing creative solutions
• Self-starter with an ambitious demeanor 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.