FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Applicants must have completed the requirements for a Master's Degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Urban Planning, Organizational Leadership, Public Health, Social Work or related field by June 2027 and must have 6 months of paid or voluntary experience in government, public policy, finance, legislation, research or statistical analysis, program implementation, project management or equivalent experience.
We reccommened applicants submit their responses in the following format: single-spaced, with 1" margins, and using 12 pt Arial font. Each question response should be no longer than 2 pages.
However, applicants who do not follow the formatting specifications will not be disqualified.
No, this program is not an internship. This program is a nationally recognized municipal management program that offers an intense and fulfilling paid one-year apprenticeship at the City of Long Beach.
The City of Long Beach Management Assistant Program is a nationally recognized municipal management development program designed to attract, develop and retain innovative local government practitioners. Established in 1980, this program is the oldest municipal management development program in California with over 80 graduates. This program not only provides experience in multiple City departments, Management Assistants are considered key members of the City management team and are given assignments in critical areas that develop report writing, research, presentation and analytical skills to prepare them for a successful career in city management.
Generally not, as the Management Assistant orientation begins in late June/early July. However, on occasion some Management Assistants have extenuating circumstances that have led to a different start date. Conflicts with start dates should be disclosed before the conclusion of the Assessment Center.
In the past, the program has selected between one and four candidates annually. Depending on our fiscal stability, the City Manager makes this determination annually.
Yes. The City of Long Beach is an equal opportunity employer and accepts all applications if they are postmarked by the due date and meet all other criteria stated in the brochure. However, since the program is only one-year long, the City has not provided sponsorship of resident alien work permits.
The application materials are extremely important. Applicants are judged on a variety of factors, including academic background, job experience, career goals and potential for excellence. The City's review panels use this information to select 8-10 top candidates to be invited to Long Beach for the Assessment Center. After the application materials are received, it takes about a month to review all of the applications. A committee reviews all the applications and narrows the field of potential candidates down to the top candidates and these top candidates are invited to Long Beach to participate in the final selection process, which consists of an overview and tour of the City and a day-long Assessment Center. Final candidate selections are made the day of the Assessment Center and job offers are made to the selected candidates at the end of the day.
An Assessment Center is an evaluation approach and is a formal process that includes multiple exercises designed to assess an individual’s knowledge, skills and abilities. The City of Long Beach uses an Assessment Center as the last step in the process to select each year’s Management Assistants. Skills that may be assessed during the City’s Assessment Center include budgeting, communication and writing, interpersonal skills and presentation skills.
No. Management Assistants have come from all over the United States. In recent years, Management Assistants have been hired from Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and California.
No. Management Assistants have come from many different graduate programs including California State University Fullerton, California State University Long Beach, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell, Harvard, NYU, Princeton, San Diego State, Seattle University, Southwest Texas State, Syracuse, UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Arizona, University of Kansas, University of Michigan, University of Texas-El Paso, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USC, Washington University and Wichita State.
Not directly. Management Assistants will have one obligatory rotation each in the City Manager's Office and the Department of Financial Management. The other two rotations will be in areas where the City Manager has identified critical projects that the Management Assistant can help support while meeting the interests of the program participants.
In addition to the required rotations in the City Manager's Office and the Department of Financial Management, past Management Assistants have had rotations with:
- Department of Development Services
- Department of Economic Development
- Department of Energy Resources
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Human Resources
- Department of Library Services
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine
- Department of Public Works
- Department of Technology and Innovation
- Fire Department
- Long Beach Airport
- Police Department
Each department rotation is unique and host departments involve Management Assistants in a range of projects and processes, from budget development and analysis to optimization projects and City-wide strategic initiatives. For example, the Management Assistant assigned to a rotation in the Department of Development Services may work on optimizing the permit process, whereas the Management Assistant assigned to the Department of Health & Human Services may work on coordinating bioterrorism efforts across the City. Another Management Assistant assigned to the City Manager’s Office may work on an implementation plan for the City-wide performance management initiative, whereas another Management Assistant assigned to the Department of Public Works may work on optimizing the City’s towing operations.
On a daily basis Management Assistants are asked to perform a variety of tasks. These may include attending meetings with staff at multiple levels of the organization, analyzing current City policies and procedures, writing memos to managers and supervisors, making recommendations, preparing council correspondence, researching best practices and other background material, coordinating meetings, preparing and making presentations, working with consultants, preparing Request for Proposals (RFP), attending community meetings, conducting site visits, or attending City Council meetings.
Yes. Management Assistants receive a two-week orientation at the start of the program to meet department directors and key staff members, learn the operations of each department and discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in a large municipal organization. The orientation typically included a police ride along, tours of the City’s oil islands, water treatment facility and SERRF recycling plant. Management Assistants are exposed to training opportunities like the budget and purchasing system, the permit system, and other City-wide technology systems as well as City-wide training on Sexual Harassment and Ergonomics. Additionally, Management Assistants have the opportunity to participate in leadership training and attend professional conferences such as those held by the ICMA, League of California Cities and Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC).
The City does not guarantee a job at the conclusion of the program. Management Assistants who successfully complete the one-year program, however, are well prepared to compete for professional positions within the City of Long Beach, and are therefore encouraged to apply for professional Administrative Analyst (the highest classified professional position) or other job openings that they might be interested in and qualify for through the Civil Service process. Successful Management Assistants are highly recruited by City Departments to fill available City jobs.
More than eighteen (18) former Management Assistants currently work for the City of Long Beach. These graduates have held many key positions in the City including Deputy City Manager, Director of Human Resources, Director of Development Services, Director of Government Affairs & Strategic Initiatives, Assistant to the City Manager, Assistant to the Director of Public Works, Leasing Officer, Budget Officer, Project Development Manager, Manager of Planning and Conservation, Community Development Analyst, and Administrative Analyst.
The 2027-2028 annual salary for the Management Assistant Program will be approximately $91,479.47. All Management Assistants earn the same rate of pay during the program year. The salary is non-negotiable.
Management Assistants are considered full-time employees and receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Medical and Dental Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Retirement Plan (P.E.R.S.)
- Paid Vacation, Personal Holidays, and Sick Leave
- Deferred Compensation
- Credit Union Membership
- Free Bus Transportation
- Free Employee Parking
- Paid Parental Leave*
*Paid Parental Leave - after six (6) months of City employment; up to 30 calendar days (160 hours/192 hours for sworn platoon) of PPL, taken in full-day increments, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child, up to the age of seventeen (17).
No. Management Assistants are responsible for their own relocation and housing expenses. Relocation and housing expenses are not negotiable.
Yes, but only in limited ways. The Management Assistant Program recognizes that applicants may choose to use AI tools for tasks such as resume development, brainstorming, or checking grammar. However, all supplemental question responses must be your own original work, reflecting your thoughts, experiences, and communication skills. These responses are designed to evaluate your judgment, writing ability, critical thinking, and qualifications. Application reviewers want to understand your unique story and perspective in order to make informed decisions about which applicants move forward in the process.
Since generative AI tools became widely available, many Management Assistant Program applications have started to look very similar, with some responses even appearing word-for-word AI-generated. This is noticeable to application reviewers and can reflect negatively on a candidate. Overreliance on AI may suggest that an applicant:
- Did not take the time to prepare their application thoughtfully
- Is overstating their knowledge, skills, or experience
- May not fully understand how to use generative AI responsibly
- Lacks sincerity or genuine interest in the role
In addition, it is important to note that AI tools and internet resources will not be permitted during the Management Assistant Program Assessment Center, which is the final stage of the selection process. Candidates will be evaluated on their own communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills without outside assistance.
Applicants who rely on AI to write their supplemental question responses often end up with generic or nearly identical answers that are easy for reviewers to identify. While we may not detect every instance, the Management Assistant Program reserves the right to review responses for originality and consistency. If your answers appear inconsistent with your application or show signs of AI generated language, we may request clarification or it may impact you from further consideration for this specific recruitment.
No. The assessment center is specifically designed to evaluate your independent communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills. The use of AI tools or online resources will not be permitted. Candidates will be expected to rely solely on their own knowledge, judgment, and abilities. Therefore, it is important that your application materials authentically represent your skills and experiences.
