The Public Advocate, an independently elected public official, serves as a direct link between city government and residents, acting as a “watchdog” for New Yorkers. The Public Advocate is a non-voting member of the New York City Council, an ex officio member of all Council committees and introduces and co-sponsors legislation. The Public Advocate serves on various City committees and appoints members to several boards and commissions. The Office of the New York City Public Advocate reviews and investigates residents’ complaints about City services and administrative actions, assists people having difficulty receiving City services, assesses whether City agencies are responsive to the public, and recommends legislative or policy proposals to address identified service deficiencies.
The New York City Public Advocate’s Ryan Long Fellow will focus on how the Office of the Public Advocate interacts with and assists constituents. The Fellowship will offer a fully immersive experience in Public Service and a unique introduction to city agencies. The Ryan Long Fellow will assist in the case management process from beginning to end.
Responsibilities:
-Intake - speak with constituents in person and via telephone to gather information regarding their complaints
-Advocacy - serving as a liaison between the city agency and the constituent to resolve the problem and/or making referrals to other entities
-Follow up - provide proactive constituent and agency outreach through timely and comprehensive communications
-Entering and maintaining data in our constituent services database
-Report directly to the Director of Constituent Services
-Represent the Public Advocate at offsite events and meetings
-Perform other related duties as required
Qualifications:
-Currently enrolled Undergraduate or Graduate student
-Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and multi-task
-Strong written, presentation and interpersonal skills
-Bilingual/multilingual proficiency is a plus
Additional Information:
-20 Hours Weekly (September 2026 - June 2027)
COLLEGE AIDE (ALL CITY DEPTS) - 10209