City of Franklin, TN
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The City of Franklin is seeking recent or current Masters of Public Administration and/or Masters of Public Policy students to participate in a 12-month fellowship with a competitive salary and full benefits. This position will report directly to the City Administrator and give the fellow excellent first-hand experience in how key decisions are made, finances are managed, services are delivered, and communities are sustained. Qualified applicants will be selected for interviews based on academic performance, passion for public service, innovative thinking, communication ability and a proven-track record of leadership.
The City of Franklin, Tennessee is the premier local government in the State of Tennessee. Our stable political and administrative management, outstanding financial resources, deep civic pride and commitment to the best quality life experiences in the mid-south have made us one of the most desirable places to live, work, and play anywhere in the United States. As a leader in the profession, the City of Franklin invests in aspiring future public sector leaders by providing an opportunity to serve the citizens of Franklin as a Management Fellow.
About Franklin:
Franklin, Tennessee is a thriving medium-sized city located 20 miles south of Nashville and is the county seat of Williamson County. The City of Franklin was founded on October 26, 1799 and was named after Benjamin Franklin. He was a close friend of Dr. Hugh Williamson, who was a representative in the Continental Congress and the namesake of Williamson County.
Today, The City of Franklin covers approximately 42 square miles and serves a population of 83,454 according to the 2020 Census. The City of Franklin is the seventh largest city in Tennessee and one of the fastest growing municipalities in America.
Franklin has a robust and diversified economy. The City is known as a retail and banking center, with a large commercial area on its east side that includes retail outlets, a regional mall, and several corporate headquarters, including Big Idea Productions, CKE Enterprises (Carl’s Jr/Hardees), Clarcor, Community Health Systems, Ford Motor Credit, Healthways, Jackson National Life, Mars Petcare, and Nissan North America. The area is also home to a regional conference center and several major hotel chains, including Aloft, Drury Plaza Hotel, Embassy Suites, Hilton, Homewood Suites, Hyatt Place, and Marriott.
Franklin has received numerous awards throughout the years which stand as a testament to the high quality of life, amenities, and spirit of our City. Recent accolades and awards include:
- 2020 All America City by the National Civic League
- 2021-2022 Money Magazine's 3rd Best Place to Live in the United States
- 2022 Money Magazine 2nd Best Places to retire in America
- 2020 Big 7 Travel 3rd Best Christmas Destination
- 2022 17th Best Place to Travel in the world (Travel + Leisure)
- Excellence in Education and Enrichment & Excellence in Community Engagement-National Citizen Survey
- 2022 13th Best Place to Live in the USA (Livability)
- Triple-A Bond Rating from Both Moody's and Standard & Poor's
- 2023 ICMA Voice of the People Award for Excellence in Economy
- 2024 Fortune's 6th Best Places to Live for Families
- 2023 Middle Tennessee Top Workplaces (Only Local Government in Tennessee)
- Most Romantic Main Street (National Trust for Historic Preservation)
- Top 10 Community for job growth
- Great American Main Street Award
We appreciate the awards, but they are earned through the dedication of our citizens, our employees, and the effort of the entire community to make Franklin one of the best places to live, work, grow, and raise a family anywhere in the world.
The City of Franklin is governed by an elected board consisting of a mayor and eight aldermen (four at-large and four by geographical ward). The Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) hire a city administrator who serves as the City’s chief executive responsible for the day-to-day operations and works closely with the Board in charting the strategic direction of the City. The City of Franklin provides a full range of services through a team of over 780 employees in 20 departments including Police, Fire, Streets, Parks, Sanitation and Environmental Services, and Water Management.
The City’s vision statement is:
America's finest hometown, driven by excellence, balancing preservation and progress.
The City operates with a focus on five key principles:
- Excellence
- Innovative
- Teamwork
- Integrity
- Action-oriented
Management Fellowship:
The fellowship is designed to provide an aspiring local government manager with the experience and exposure necessary to create a successful underpinning to a long and productive career in administration. Fellows will:
- Report directly to the City Administrator
- Serve as a member of the City’s Leadership Team
- Work directly with the City’s Budget and Performance Department
- Be part of the team responsible for the construction and implementation of the annual operating and capital budgets
- Receive direct exposure to a variety of Human Resources experiences
- Receive a broad exposure to all City functions, services and programs
Management Fellows will also be responsible for completing:
- Projects as determined mutually through collaboration with the City Administrator suited to the knowledge and passion of the fellow
Salary, Benefits & Employee Perks:
The management fellow position is considered a full-time employee of the City of Franklin and eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. The position will receive:
- Annual Salary of $50,000
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Long-Term and Life Insurance
- Optional Short-Term Disability, Accident, Critical Illness and additional life insurance
- Retirement – The City is a participating employer of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS). All full-time employees must participate in TCRS and contribute 5% of their gross monthly salary.
- 3 weeks of paid vacation and two personal days per year
- Full-time employees accrue one sick day per month with no limited maximum.
- Paid travel, room, board and conference registration fees to the annual ICMA Conference and regional TCMA (Tennessee City Management Association) conferences
- Membership in both ICMA and TCMA
- Paid travel to and from colleges should student still be degree-seeking
- Additional employee perks to include Williamson Country Recreation Center discounts, Southeast Financial Credit Union membership, Ascend Financial Credit Union membership and an employee fitness center in City Hall
How to Apply:
To apply for the management fellow position, applicants must complete the following:
- Online job application at Franklin TN Jobs, including demographic information, education, work experience, resume and professional references
- Official graduate transcript, One (1) writing sample (personal statement of interest or professional memorandum) and one (1) letter of recommendation.
Direct any other inquiries to: Dillon Gaster at dillon.gaster@franklintn.gov