Executive Fellow – Frederick Police Department

Are you energized by the intersection of innovation, public safety, and real-world problem solving? Do you want hands-on experience shaping how emerging technology can improve community outcomes? The Frederick Police Department is seeking a motivated, mission-driven Executive Fellow to support the launch, evaluation, and strategic expansion of the Frederick Police Department’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) initiative.

This part-time fellowship offers a unique opportunity to work alongside police leadership, emergency communications, and the Office of Opportunity & Transformation to build operational readiness, analyze real-time DFR performance data, and develop recommendations that inform the City leadership. Fellows will gain direct exposure to municipal operations, public safety technology, and community transparency considerations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supports the launch of the City’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) program by assisting with checklists, basic operating procedures, and coordination between departments involved in the rollout. 
• Helps document early DFR activities during the fellowship, including tracking drone launches, what the drone observed, and how officers used the information. 
• Maintains an organized system for collecting key data from each drone response, such as launch and arrival times, call types, and any helpful details shared with officers on scene. 
• Works with City staff to help draft clear, accessible materials that explain the DFR program to the public, including its benefits, safety features, and community value. 
• Assists in outlining ideas for future transparency tools, such as dashboards or public summaries, that show how often drones are used and what types of calls they assist with. 
• Helps prepare documentation that supports the City’s FAA requirements for drone operations, including waiver materials, monthly reporting, and general safety procedures. 
• Contributes to drafting policies that address privacy, responsible drone use, and how information gathered by drones is handled. 
• Creates and delivers a final Capstone Presentation to City leadership that highlights what you learned, key program insights, and recommendations for next steps.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Current student or recent graduate in public administration, data analytics, criminal justice, aviation, emergency management, or a related field.
• Experience working with data analysis, research, policy, or public-sector operations is helpful.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES AND/OR LICENSES:

• Vehicle Operator’s license with satisfactory driving record that meets insurability standards of the City’s insurance carrier is required. The employee must maintain the license for the duration of their employment.

REQUIRED SKILLS (Communication/Language; Mathematical; Computer; etc.):

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

OTHER DESIRABLES:

• Prior internship, volunteer, or leadership experience in a public-facing or mission-driven organization.
• Familiarity with local government functions, law enforcement, emergency management or nonprofit service delivery.
• Comfort preparing professional-level writing, briefings, or presentations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this role, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time. The employee is frequently required to read and comprehend written material and make inferences from the contents. This position requires continuous or repetitive arm-hand movements to utilize a computer keyboard to enter and retrieve data.  The employee is required to frequently operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word and for conveying details or important instructions to others accurately and quickly either face to face, and on the telephone. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities. The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 10 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITION: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is generally performed indoors. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet..

Equal Opportunity Employer