City of Chicago Mayoral Fellowship

About the role#

The City of Chicago Mayoral Fellowship is a 12-month, full-time position dedicated to supporting a citywide, place-based initiative focused on the well-being of children, youth, and young adults (ages 0-24). As an employee of the American Institutes for Research (AIR), the Fellow will be embedded within the City of Chicago’s Office of the Mayor. This role involves research, technical assistance, and project coordination to help align existing initiatives and identify opportunities across the developmental continuum.

What you'll do#

• Support project coordination between AIR and the City of Chicago, including collaboration across City agencies and community partners.
• Manage project-related activities, such as drafting agendas, briefs, and meeting materials.
• Conduct asset mapping, including information gathering, tracking, synthesis, and coordination with partners.
• Draft briefing materials, summaries, and internal communications for Mayor’s Office leadership.
• Perform background research to inform policy and planning discussions.
• Contribute to the development of reports that interpret findings for the city and community partners.

What you'll need#

• Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, public health, social policy, education, or a related field.
• At least three years of relevant professional experience in policy, government, nonprofit, research, technical assistance, or project coordination.
• Demonstrated interest in public policy, cross-sector collaboration, and place-based systems change.
• Experience working in or with Chicago-based organizations, agencies, or communities.
• Familiarity with strategies to support youth and young adults from diverse cultural, linguistic, and educational backgrounds.
• Ability to lead tasks, organize timelines, and work effectively in both independent and team settings.

Location & details#

• Location: Chicago, Illinois (On-site at the Mayor’s Office for a portion of the work week).
• Term: 12 months, beginning approximately September 1, 2026.
• Status: Full-time, paid, and benefit-eligible.
• Sponsorship: Employment-based visa sponsorship is not available.