2027 Leadership Fellow Program

The Port Authority of NY & NJ; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Job summary

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey is seeking graduate students for its Leadership Fellow Program, a two-year rotational experience that lets you rotate through four functions, including staff support, line department, finance, and facility operations, with July 2027 as the 2027 cohort start.

Fellows are full-time employees who gain mentorship, training, and opportunities to contribute to enterprise initiatives, data analysis, and strategic projects while building leadership skills for

Qualifications

• Graduate degree between Dec 2026 and Jun 2027.
• Passion for public service.
• Openness to rotating through different business functions, including ones that might not align with your background.

Responsibilities

• Support or lead short-term and long-term projects within each rotation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop solutions and track progress.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data to support strategic initiatives.
• Build relationships with managers, mentors, and peers across departments.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Deliver presentations and updates to leadership throughout the program.
• Identify operational or strategic challenges and contribute ideas for improvement.
• Apply creative thinking to business challenges across different functions.
• Assist with enterprise-wide initiatives such as diversity, equity, and inclusion; employee engagement; or community outreach.
• Assist with planning events and facility operations.

Skills

Strong written/oral communication

Customer service

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Political acumen

Public transportation interest

Education

Graduate degree in Public Administration/Policy/Urban Planning/Transportation/Business Administration/Finance/Economics/Sustainability/Communications/Data Science/Operations

Job description

About the Role

The Leadership Fellow Program is a two-year rotational program at The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey open to students who are receiving a graduate degree between December 2026 and June 2027. Over the span of two years, Leadership Fellows have an opportunity to rotate through four different business functions: staff/support department, line department, finance, and facility operations. Through structured rotational assignments, Fellows gain a broad understanding of the agency’s structure, goals, and strategic direction while actively contributing to departmental initiatives. Beyond the responsibilities in each rotation, Fellows also engage in continuous learning and leadership development through training sessions, mentorship, and feedback. The breadth and depth of experiences within the program are critical in preparing Fellows to become future leaders of The Port Authority.

Leadership Fellows are full-time, permanent employees and receive a yearly salary and benefits. After successful completion of the program, Leadership Fellows are considered for key positions throughout The Port Authority. As of 2026, there are over 100 program alumni working at the agency across departments like: Aviation; Comptroller; Continuous Improvement; Engineering; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Financial Planning; Human Resources; Operations Services; Management & Budget; PATH; Planning & Regional Development; Port; Procurement; Project Management; Security Operations & Programs; Sustainability; Tunnels Bridges & Terminals; World Trade Center; and more. After graduating from the program, Fellows go on to work in areas such as business performance/planning; customer experience; finance; facility operations; policy; process improvement; project/program management; sustainability; data analytics; procurement; technology; and more.

The 2027 cohort is expected to start in the beginning of July.

Responsibilities

• Support or lead short-term and long-term projects within each rotation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop solutions, delivery outcomes, and track progress.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data to support strategic initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with managers, mentors, and peers across departments.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Deliver presentations and updates to leadership throughout the program.
• Identify operational or strategic challenges and contribute ideas for improvement.
• Apply creative thinking to business challenges across different functions.
• Assist with enterprise-wide initiatives such as diversity, equity, and inclusion; employee engagement; or community outreach.
• Assist with planning events.
• Assist with facility operations.

Rotations

• Each rotation is approximately six months.
• Fellows are responsible for leading at least one project from inception to implementation. On the job learning is a key component of each rotation, complemented by learning from peers and senior leaders.
• Recent rotations have included work in areas like: JFK redevelopment; Port Authority Bus Terminal redevelopment; resilience and sustainability; data analytics; business development; industry relations; project management; process improvement; finance; customer experience; facility operations; planning and innovation; technology; and much more.

Minimum Qualifications

• Students receiving a graduate degree between December 2026 and June 2027.
• Passion for public service.
• Openness to rotating through different business functions, including ones that might not necessarily align with your professional background.

Desired Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban/City/Regional Planning, Transportation, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Sustainability, Communications, Political Science, Data Science, Operations, or a related field.
• Excellent problem solving, analytical, quantitative, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong written/oral communication.
• Strong customer service.
• Political acumen.
• One year of work experience (can include internships) in public service, transportation, government, or a related area.
• Interest in public transportation.

Recruitment Timeline

• The application deadline is November 1, 2026.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Interviews will likely start in October 2026 and can continue into January 2027. The timeline is subject to change.

Compensation, Benefits & On-Site Requirements:

In accordance with Port Authority policy, this position permits employees to work remotely a maximum of one day per week. In person collaboration is essential to how the Port Authority conducts business, and regular in-office days or team collaboration days may be required on business needs.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey anticipates that the actual salary offered to a successful candidate will depend on aspects such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and internal factors.

The expected compensation range for this role is: Minimum: $79,612 Maximum: $86,580

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey offers a competitive benefits package and a professional environment that supports development and recognizes achievement.

Click here for more information about benefits, our culture, and career development opportunities.