What are the responsibilities and job description for the Northwest Women’s Leadership Academy (NWWLA) - 2025-26 Cohort position at Raftelis?
The Northwest Womens Leadership Academy (NWWLA) is an exciting program officially sponsored by the Washington City/County Management Association (WCMA) to advance women working in local government into leadership roles. Women are still dramatically underrepresented in city manager and city administrator positions across Washington State. This academy is one effort to create a pipeline of city and county leaders ready to step into leadership roles in local government.
The 2025-26 Academy will include a combination of in-person and half-day virtual sessions kicked off by an in-person retreat in the fall. The content is presented by recognized public sector leaders and experts.
Women selected for this years Academy will comprise the sixth NWWLA cohort, joining the 190 alumnae from across our state from the five cohorts before them!
The NWWLA is open to women and non-binary applicants who work in municipal governments including cities, counties, other local public sector organizations, and tribal governments across Washington State. It is not open to elected officials, employees of state or federal government agencies or members of any of the branches of the U.S. military.
Our objectives:
Members of the 2025-26 NWWLA class will benefit from an outstanding program that is designed to:
General Course Calendar:
The competitive application process will open on April 25, 2025and completed applications are due by Monday, May 26, 2025 at 11:59pm.
How to apply:
Apply through a portal during our recruitment period. Raftelis, a consulting company that specializes in supporting local governments with recruitments, strategic planning and other services, continues to support the NWWLA by providing access to their recruiting platform. Candidates will need to apply on the platform to be considered. The application asks for current contact and position information, education level, some demographic information, and four short300 characters or lessessay questions. The essays touch on your interest in the NWWLA, where you envision your career in the future, and about the biggest professional challenges you face.
This years Selection Committee, which is comprised of women leaders from the Cities of Kenmore, Kennewick, Marysville, SeaTac, and from King County, will be looking to select a cohort that is racially and geographically diverse, with representation from public agencies across Washington state, and whose members work in a wide variety of positions and disciplines. The committee will be looking for women who are both early- and mid-career, who work in large as well as small jurisdictions, who support other women and their growth, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to public service. Non-binary applicants are also welcome to apply.
As a part of the application process, you will be asked to film a 30-second elevator speech using the link provided below. The software provides opportunities to practice before you submit your final version. You will need to complete the application form below and submit your video via the link below by 11:59pm on May 27, 2025 in order for your application to be considered complete. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your video!? Late submissions will receive an automatic point deduction in the scoring, and every point counts in this competitive process.
The selection process will be completed by the end of June and admitted applicants will be expected to make a commitment to participating in the program by the end of July. In order to graduate in March 2026 with their class, the NWWLA expects all cohort participants to fulfill their commitment to attend all sessions and participate fully in the experience.
The cost of participation in the Academy is $1,200 and a limited number of partial and full scholarships are available for applicants whose agencies are unable to cover the cost of the training. Applicants are asked to indicate their possible need for a scholarship when they submit their application.
Please direct questions to NWWLA Recruitment and Selection Committee Chair Stephanie Lucash at apply@nwwla.org.
Click here to watch the NWWLA Recruitment Video!
Please follow the link below after you have submitted your application to complete and submit your 30-second elevator speech.
30-second elevator speech submission
The 2025-26 Academy will include a combination of in-person and half-day virtual sessions kicked off by an in-person retreat in the fall. The content is presented by recognized public sector leaders and experts.
Women selected for this years Academy will comprise the sixth NWWLA cohort, joining the 190 alumnae from across our state from the five cohorts before them!
The NWWLA is open to women and non-binary applicants who work in municipal governments including cities, counties, other local public sector organizations, and tribal governments across Washington State. It is not open to elected officials, employees of state or federal government agencies or members of any of the branches of the U.S. military.
Our objectives:
Members of the 2025-26 NWWLA class will benefit from an outstanding program that is designed to:
- Engender confidence in each individual participant to move forward with their local government leadership career including the CEO position.
- Create an environment that supports cohort bonding and a long-lasting support network among female local government leaders across Washington State and the region.
- Match small groups of participants with a leader who will mentor and support their group through their cohort experience.
- Teach tangible skills in each session that will lead to an increase in self-assurance, knowledge, and ability.
- Connect each participant with resources and supports to grow in their career during their cohort year and after leaving the Academy.
- Provide an opportunity to develop and pitch a conference session and, if selected, be part of a group presentation at an upcoming WCMA conference.
- Topic 1: Know Thy Self
- Topic 2: Know Your Community
- Topic 3: Know Your Money
- Topic 4: Breakdown of Barriers
- Topic 5: Build Confidence
- Topic 6: Get THE Job
- Final Session: Graduation
General Course Calendar:
- Kick-Off Retreat will be held in person in October (more details to come)
- Virtual Sessions will be scheduled every Friday, October to March, from 8:30am-12:00pm
- No sessions scheduled for weeks of Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.
- Graduation will be held in person, in March 2026.
The competitive application process will open on April 25, 2025and completed applications are due by Monday, May 26, 2025 at 11:59pm.
How to apply:
Apply through a portal during our recruitment period. Raftelis, a consulting company that specializes in supporting local governments with recruitments, strategic planning and other services, continues to support the NWWLA by providing access to their recruiting platform. Candidates will need to apply on the platform to be considered. The application asks for current contact and position information, education level, some demographic information, and four short300 characters or lessessay questions. The essays touch on your interest in the NWWLA, where you envision your career in the future, and about the biggest professional challenges you face.
This years Selection Committee, which is comprised of women leaders from the Cities of Kenmore, Kennewick, Marysville, SeaTac, and from King County, will be looking to select a cohort that is racially and geographically diverse, with representation from public agencies across Washington state, and whose members work in a wide variety of positions and disciplines. The committee will be looking for women who are both early- and mid-career, who work in large as well as small jurisdictions, who support other women and their growth, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to public service. Non-binary applicants are also welcome to apply.
As a part of the application process, you will be asked to film a 30-second elevator speech using the link provided below. The software provides opportunities to practice before you submit your final version. You will need to complete the application form below and submit your video via the link below by 11:59pm on May 27, 2025 in order for your application to be considered complete. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your video!? Late submissions will receive an automatic point deduction in the scoring, and every point counts in this competitive process.
The selection process will be completed by the end of June and admitted applicants will be expected to make a commitment to participating in the program by the end of July. In order to graduate in March 2026 with their class, the NWWLA expects all cohort participants to fulfill their commitment to attend all sessions and participate fully in the experience.
The cost of participation in the Academy is $1,200 and a limited number of partial and full scholarships are available for applicants whose agencies are unable to cover the cost of the training. Applicants are asked to indicate their possible need for a scholarship when they submit their application.
Please direct questions to NWWLA Recruitment and Selection Committee Chair Stephanie Lucash at apply@nwwla.org.
Click here to watch the NWWLA Recruitment Video!
Please follow the link below after you have submitted your application to complete and submit your 30-second elevator speech.
30-second elevator speech submission
