Urban Innovation Fellows

The Urban Tech Hub at Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Institute, in partnership with the City of New York is pleased to announce a call for applications for its inaugural Urban Innovation Fellows program. The Urban Innovation Fellowship is a result of the Mayor and Governors of New York’s “New” New York Panel and subsequent Making New York Work for Everyone Action Plan issued in December 2022. As part of that landmark report, 40 initiatives were identified to help support New York City’s recovery from the effects of Covid-19. One of the initiatives listed, Initiative 31, called for New York to become a center of urban innovation. Through a partnership between Cornell Tech and New York City Economic Development Corporation, Initiative 31 evolved into Pilot: New York City, a comprehensive plan to supercharge the adoption of technology in New York City government.

The goal of the Fellows program is to act as a catalyst for developing more robust innovation processes in New York City. The program is administered by Cornell Tech to create a community of Fellows that will codify and share innovation best practices. Fellows will be employees of Cornell, giving them access to the University’s benefits package and other academic resources.

The fellowship will recruit six elite Urban Innovation Fellows with a breadth of experience in both the public and private sectors to work directly in New York City government agencies to undertake projects that accelerate technology adoption in city agencies. Reporting to the Team Director, fellows will support city agencies innovative technology strategies, document progress in project implementation, and deploy data collection systems. Fellows will be responsible for rigorous management that accelerates project deployments and elevates best practices in government innovation. Urban Innovation Fellows will be responsible for helping run/develop at least one challenge-based procurement, which seeks to deploy a new technology in New York City (for example, the roll-out of micro mobility charging hubs in NYCHA apartment buildings).

This fellowship will offer an unparalleled leadership opportunity that includes a hands-on learning experience supported by a national learning network and first-tier academic expertise. The program provides fellows a unique insight into government innovation coupled with access to senior leaders in academia and municipal government. The fellowship provides the opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking model that will bring positive change to New York City government. For this time-limited, 24 month appointment, each fellow will be hired by Cornell Tech and embedded in city agencies in person for a minimum of three days a week.

Presently, it is anticipated that City agencies participating in the fellowship program include:

Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP)
New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Department of Sanitation (DSNY)
Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)
Mayor's Office of Contract Services (MOCS)*

*For an appointment with MOCS, The MOCS fellow will focus on improving/standardizing the City’s approach to, and implementation of, challenge-based procurement in addition to pursuing innovative technologies for agencies.

Fellowship Components

Full-time assignment to one of the selected city agencies for the duration of the two-year program.
Access to networking opportunities with peers and influential leaders in municipal government.
Shared fellowship experience and deep connection with a supportive group of peers.
Hands-on experience with leading edge approaches to innovation.
Attendance at Cornell Tech and national conferences, convenings and events.

Responsibilities

Report to and work side-by-side with the Team Director as they build the cohort and oversee its work to support the development and execution of agency-specific technology projects.
Develop, manage and deploy a priority urban technology project with an agency that focuses on opportunities for challenge-based procurement.
Document the project progress in all stages of the project delivery, which will include developing project goals, tracking milestones, and analyzing project data.
Develop metrics of success for projects and ensure that a clear record is kept of process, programmatic work and innovations at the agency.
Contribute to the knowledge building effort led by the Urban Tech Hub and participate in fellowship activities (e.g., convenings, seminars, and special events).
Support and promote a culture of innovation within the agency through demonstrable project successes in technology deployment and act as a bridge between academic researchers and agencies.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Information Technology, Urban Planning, Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Administration, or a related field is preferred.
At least five years of work experience. A combination of public and private sector experience is preferred.
Bachelor’s degree plus 10 years of work experience may be accepted in exceptional cases.
Background and demonstrated interest in urban tech policy and implementation with experience in data science, project management, and product management preferred.
Exhibited leadership and project management responsibilities; strong communication skills; positive and proactive “can do” attitude.
Familiarity with technology pilot design/execution, data collection and analysis and strong analytical and writing skills.
Must be located in the New York metropolitan area for the term of their appointment. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Demonstrated eligibility to work in the U.S.

Timing and Compensation

Urban Tech Fellows will be granted a two-year appointment at Cornell Tech, requiring in person work in city agencies up to four days per week and at Cornell Tech one day per week. Appointments are full-time positions as Visiting Scholars. Annual salaries range from $125,000-150,000, commensurate with experience, and are eligible for University benefits.

Application Requirements

For initial application consideration please submit the following:

A Cover Letter expressing interest and qualifications for the position.
Resume/CV
A 500 word Fellowship Statement describing your professional experience(s) working in technology and government innovation. In this statement, please also indicate a preference for at least three agencies listed above for the appointment.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, for full consideration, please apply by 5pm EST August 2, 2024.

Questions regarding the fellows program should be directed via email to urbantechhub@cornell.edu

About the Urban Tech Hub

The Jacobs Urban Tech Hub at Cornell Tech is a academic center in New York City that generates applied research, fosters an expanding tech ecosystem, and cultivates a new generation of urban technology leaders. The Hub bridges the gap between academic resources and public needs, organizing strategic partnerships between researchers, industry, communities, and government. We define “urban tech” as an emerging sector of technology encompassing innovations that make cities more connected, livable, efficient, and accessible for people and businesses alike. We bring a human-centered approach to urban tech focused on users by advancing technology research and education to build a better world by increasing access and opportunity within the tech sector.

About the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute

The Jacobs Institute fosters radical experimentation at the intersection of research, education, and entrepreneurship. Established jointly by Cornell University and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, our mission is to transform key industries through technological innovation, deep-tech startups, and uniquely skilled talent.