The Virginia Management Fellows Program (VMF)

The VMF is a learning and training program that includes a 2-year paid position as a Fellow. The position includes salary and full benefits, as well as access to the Virginia Retirement System programs. The intent of the VMF is to strengthen the succession planning bench for leadership and management roles in all branches of state government. At the end of the 2-year fellowship period, it is anticipated that Fellows will apply to positions within state government.

• focus on four learning areas: customer service; operations; legislation, regulation, and compliance; and, analytics.
• experience learning as a cohort of up to 12 members during a 2-year program, where human connections are made and leadership coalitions are built.
• understand the complexity of the Commonwealth's problems through lectures and seminars conducted by executive Virginia leaders (past and present) and subject matter experts.
• challenge new knowledge while facing "wicked problems" across departments and agenices.
• engage in hands-on projects and solutions-minded approaches during each agency rotation.
• participate in the Virginia Public Sector Leadership program, a leadership development certificate program of Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance (IPG).
• research, design, fund, and implement a public-private partnership with a Virginia university benefiting an under-served project, program, or group of people each calendar year.

Learning is interactive and multi-modal. Participants study and learn individually and in groups. Knowledge builds through the study of course materials, online research, agency documents (e.g. budgets, reports, strategic plans), and interacting with senior professionals. Self-directed learning, seminar group lecture, small group work and rotating agency internships comprise the two-year program. Cloud-based, asynchronous learning will thread throughout the two years using Virginia Tech online platforms, (i.e. Teams).

The VMF Program includes 27 participating state agencies. These agencies provide a rotational experience designed for the development of operational and leadership skills for the fellows. Rotations include specially-selected agency leaders, who serve as mentors to the fellows during the 8-month rotation period.

Please read the minimum and preferred qualifications on the job application carefully. These qualifications are relevant to all VMF applicants. You might find it interesting to know that participating agencies are interested in applicants who have completed coursework or have work experience in a variety of specialized areas.

Take a look at the list below to find some of the specialized skill clusters that the Commonwealth of Virginia seeks for its future leaders: