Lead for NC Fellow at the UNC School of Government (Cohort 8)

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.

Fellowship Overview - Member Impact

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.

1. 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 AmeriCorps 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.
2. 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.
3. 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!

Application Tips

• Consider creating a professional resume for this application. To help you, we have provided a template ( leadfornc.com/ExampleResume ). 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 ([email protected]) or Dylan ([email protected]) 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 ( [email protected] ) to request these accommodations.

Host Sites for 2026 / Service Locations

• 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 sites will be across the entire state. Review the Lead for NC Website to learn about our previous host sites to get an idea of where we will be in the next cohort.
• As host-site are confirmed, they will be updated on the Lead for North Carolina website

Service Position Title: Lead for NC AmeriCorps Fellow at the UNC School of Government

Supervisory Contact Information: [email protected] - Contact for additional information.

Lead for NC will not discriminate against a member on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, nor political affiliation. Reasonable accommodations can be made for interviews and service.

Requirements

• Submit your application.  Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and must be submitted by April 13, 2026.

• Finalist: 30-45 Minute Interview with UNC School of Government Staff and Lead for NC Fellows and Alumni.  Every Fellow will be interviewed by a panel of Lead for NC staff and alumni. The interview is designed to be challenging. Panelists will ask questions to better understand a Fellow’s commitment to service, their future aspirations, and how they would respond to critical leadership challenges they might face over the course of their Fellowship and public service career. 

• Endorsed Finalist: Interview with a Host Site. As an Endorsed Finalist, you have been selected by Lead for NC to interview with host governments. The host government will then select their Fellow.
• Confirmed Fellow. Once your host organization is confirmed on both sides, you will officially be named a Fellow.
• Lead for NC Summer Academy. Full participation is required during the Lead for NC Summer Academy at the UNC School of Government (July 8 - 24). No absences are permitted.

Benefits

• Living Allowance ($35,000 distributed monthly over your 11-month contract)
• Health insurance Provided by UNC-Chapel Hill
• SEGAL Education Award ($7,395 that can be used to finance graduate education or pay back qualified student debt)
• Student Loan Deferment and Interest Forbearance.
• My AmeriCorps Membership - Access to free legal counsel, in-person therapy sessions, financial advisors, life coaches and more.
• Alumni network - Join a network of like-minded leaders who are passionate about improving communities. AmeriCorps alumni receive access to special benefits and resources. For example, many colleges and universities match the Education Award and offer additional AmeriCorps scholarships. Additionally, our alumni are inviting back to future service events and celebrations at UNC Chapel Hill.