Innovation Fellow — Bay Area County Government

Who We Are: 17a is a new type of management consulting firm. We come from places like McKinsey, Palantir, JP Morgan Philanthropies, and venture-backed healthcare startups. We share a common goal: improving the quality of government and social services. 17a believes that trust in government is something to be continuously built and earned, through strong service delivery.

We have a dynamic core team, and we place exceptional early-career talent directly into the offices of our government clients to help them move faster and deliver better. If you're early in your career and looking for substantive work with direct civic impact — and a front-row seat to how government actually works — 17a is for you.

The Opportunity : We are hiring an Innovation Fellow to embed with a county government client in the San Francisco Bay Area, supporting its Innovation Director in a chief-of-staff capacity. The Director is a recognized leader in state and local government innovation nationally, and this role offers direct, daily exposure to how that work gets done — and access to the networks and thinking that shape it. You will be employed by 17a and work day-to-day alongside the Director, helping turn their agenda into delivered results.

This is a generalist, high-trust role for someone in the first few years of their career. The work blends hands-on administrative support, project coordination, and analysis. It is broad by design: no two weeks look the same, and you will grow into more responsibility as you prove yourself. You do not need a public-sector background — you need to be organized, sharp, and eager to learn.

What You'll Do You will be the Director's right hand, keeping the office organized and initiatives on track while building the judgment to take on more over tim e.

Administrative & Executive Support

• Manage the Director's calendar and inbox, schedule and prepare for meetings, and keep priorities visible
• Take notes in key meetings and track follow-ups so nothing drops
• Handle the day-to-day operations of a fast-moving office and pitch in wherever needed

Project Coordination

• Build and maintain trackers across the office's initiatives; chase down inputs and hold owners to deadlines
• Flag what's slipping early and help keep cross-functional work moving across departments and partners
• Coordinate logistics for meetings, working groups, and external engagements

Analysis & Materials

• Prepare agendas, briefing notes, and simple decision memos for meetings with senior decision-makers, including elected and appointed officials
• Pull together background research and basic analysis to inform the Director's decisions
• Help translate ambiguous problems into clear, structured materials

The Skillset: You'll thrive in this role if you:

• Have 0–4 years of work experience; recent graduates through early-career professionals are encouraged to apply
• Are highly organized and detail-oriented — you follow through and close loops without being chased
• Write clearly and communicate well, and can hold your own with senior people
• Are a quick study who's comfortable with ambiguity and eager to take on more over time
• Are resourceful: when something stalls, you find a way around it
• Are drawn to public service and genuinely curious about how government works

This is a rare early-career chance to work directly alongside a nationally recognized leader in government innovation and build a network across the field.

Location: This is an on-site role based in the client county in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a requirement to be on-site at least 3 days per week.

Compensation and Benefits: This is a full-time, fixed-term fellowship (12 months to start, with potential to extend or convert). Compensation is set by experience: $80,000–$95,000 for early-career candidates (including recent graduates), and $105,000–$125,000 for candidates with 2+ years of relevant experience. The role also includes health benefits, company holidays, and life and disability insurance.

Accommodation Statement: Improving public service delivery requires a team with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, domestic violence victim status, prior arrest or conviction record, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or status with regard to public assistance.

We encourage and welcome applicants who identify with groups traditionally underrepresented in government to apply.

Please contact View email address on click.appcast.io if you would like to request reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process.