City of Atlanta Special Projects Jobs: How to Find and Land These Unique Roles

Special projects jobs with the City of Atlanta are some of the most interesting roles in local government. They’re often tied to big initiatives, new programs, or time-limited efforts that shape how the city grows and operates.

If you live in Atlanta, are moving here, or are just trying to understand how special projects jobs with the City of Atlanta work, this guide walks through what they are, where to find them, and how to position yourself as a strong candidate.

What Are “Special Projects” Jobs in the City of Atlanta?

In Atlanta city government, special projects typically means:

• Work tied to a specific initiative, grant, or major city priority
• Time-limited or phase-based work (for example, a 2-year project launch)
• Cross-departmental collaboration (working with more than one city office)
• Roles that may not exist in the same form once the project ends

You’ll see these jobs in many departments, including:

• Mayor’s Office (for major citywide initiatives)
• Department of City Planning
• Department of Transportation (ATLDOT)
• Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
• Economic Development and Housing teams
• Information Management / Innovation / Technology units
• Office of Sustainability, Resilience, or Equity-focused programs

Job titles might not always say “Special Projects” directly. They may appear as:

• Project Manager – Special Initiatives
• Program Coordinator – Strategic Projects
• Special Assistant to [Director/Commissioner/Chief]
• Grant-Funded Project Manager
• Innovation or Pilot Program Manager
• Consultant or Analyst (Special Projects)

The common thread: these roles support new, high-visibility, or strategic work for Atlanta’s city government.

Why Special Projects Jobs Matter in Atlanta

Atlanta is constantly working on major efforts—transportation improvements, BeltLine-related projects, housing and affordability initiatives, public safety technology, and more. Special projects roles often sit at the center of these efforts.

People are drawn to these roles because they:

• Offer variety instead of routine daily work
• Provide exposure to leadership and multiple departments
• Can be a launch pad for a long-term city career
• Allow you to see a direct impact on Atlanta neighborhoods and residents

However, they may:

• Be time-limited (tied to a grant or project timeline)
• Change quickly as priorities shift
• Require comfort with ambiguity, deadlines, and public scrutiny

If you like fast-moving work and collaboration, this environment can be a strong fit.

Common Types of Special Projects Roles in Atlanta

1. Infrastructure, Transportation, and Capital Projects

With ongoing street, sidewalk, and transit improvements, special projects jobs often appear in:

• Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT)
• Department of City Planning
• Office of Capital Improvements or Infrastructure units

Typical focuses:

• Managing road, bridge, and street improvement projects
• Coordinating work related to MARTA connections, bike lanes, or Complete Streets
• Overseeing design, construction timelines, and community meetings
• Tracking budgets and working with external contractors

Common job types:

• Special Projects Manager – Transportation
• Capital Projects Coordinator
• Construction Project Manager – City Facilities

2. Housing, Community Development, and Economic Growth

Atlanta’s focus on housing affordability, neighborhood revitalization, and economic development regularly generates special projects roles.

Departments and partners may include:

• Department of City Planning – Housing and Community Development units
• Invest Atlanta (city’s economic development authority)
• Atlanta BeltLine-related project teams

Roles might handle:

• Implementation of new housing programs or grants
• Community engagement for corridor redevelopments
• Small business support programs in specific neighborhoods
• Coordination of federal or state funding for local projects

Job titles you might see:

• Program Manager – Community Development Special Projects
• Special Projects Analyst – Housing Initiatives
• Neighborhood Revitalization Project Coordinator

3. Technology, Innovation, and Data Projects

As Atlanta expands its “smart city” tools, analytics, and digital services, special projects can pop up around:

• Digital service improvements for residents
• Data dashboards, open data, and performance tracking
• Cybersecurity upgrades
• New internal technology platforms

These roles might live in:

• Information Management or Technology offices
• Innovation and Performance teams
• Mayor’s Office of Innovation or similar units

Common roles:

• Special Projects Analyst – Data & Innovation
• Digital Services Project Manager
• IT Implementation Project Coordinator

4. Public Safety, Health, and Emergency Initiatives

When the city launches a new program related to safety or public health, special projects help get it off the ground.

These may be tied to:

• Atlanta Police Department (APD) administration or civilian units
• Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) administration
• Emergency management and resilience programs
• Violence interruption or community safety initiatives

Responsibilities can include:

• Standing up pilot programs (e.g., new response models, special units)
• Grant management and reporting
• Community outreach and program evaluation

Job examples:

• Special Projects Coordinator – Public Safety Initiatives
• Grant-Funded Program Manager – Community Safety
• Emergency Management Special Projects Specialist

Where to Find City of Atlanta Special Projects Job Listings

Most official City of Atlanta jobs are posted through the city’s main employment portal and related channels.

Core Places to Look

Here’s a simple overview of where to search:

For in-person or phone questions, job seekers often look to:

• City of Atlanta Department of Human Resources

  • Main HR functions for city jobs and hiring processes
  • Look for the primary HR office located in central city government buildings or municipal offices.

• Invest Atlanta

  • Atlanta’s development authority; often manages special economic development and community initiatives.
  • Office is typically housed in Downtown or Midtown in close proximity to city government core.

Because office locations and phone numbers can occasionally change, it’s wise to confirm addresses and contact details through the City of Atlanta’s main government directory or 311 before visiting in person.

How to Read a “Special Projects” Job Posting

When you pull up a City of Atlanta job posting that references special projects, pay close attention to:

1. Funding and Duration

Look for language like:

• “Grant-funded position”
• “Appointment is time-limited based on funding”
• “Position tied to specific project phase”

This helps you understand:

• Whether the job is permanent or limited-term
• If there’s a set end date or possible extension

2. Reporting Structure

Special projects roles often involve complex reporting. Note:

• Who you report to (e.g., Director of Special Projects, Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Chief)
• Whether it lists multiple departments or partners
• If the role is located in or “embedded” with a specific team

This tells you how visible and cross-functional the role may be.

3. Core Skills and Competencies

Job postings for these roles frequently highlight:

• Project management (scheduling, milestones, deliverables)
• Communication skills (written reports, presentations, stakeholder updates)
• Data or analytical skills (Excel, dashboards, basic evaluation)
• Community engagement (public meetings, listening sessions, outreach)
• Policy or regulatory understanding (especially in planning, housing, or infrastructure)

When you see these in the posting, mirror them in your resume and cover letter with clear, specific examples.

Typical Qualifications for Atlanta Special Projects Jobs

Qualifications vary widely, but there are common patterns.

Education

Many special projects positions request:

• Bachelor’s degree in fields like:
  • Public Administration
  • Urban Planning
  • Business Administration
  • Public Policy
  • Engineering or related technical field
• Some higher-level roles may prefer or require a master’s degree

For technical or construction-related roles, you may also see:

• Engineering degrees
• Architecture or construction management backgrounds
• Professional certifications (e.g., PE, PMP)

Experience

Postings often ask for:

• 2–5+ years of experience in:
  • Project or program management
  • Government, nonprofit, or corporate project work
  • Community development, planning, or economic development
  • Technology implementation or process improvement

If you do not have direct city government experience, related work in Atlanta-area nonprofits, regional agencies, universities, or the private sector can still be very relevant.

Skills and Tools

Commonly listed abilities include:

• Project planning software or strong Excel/Sheets skills
• Comfortable with meetings, presentations, and reports
• Ability to work with diverse Atlanta communities
• Familiarity with Atlanta neighborhoods, zoning, or transportation patterns (for planning-related jobs)
• For tech-focused roles: basic familiarity with databases, dashboards, or digital tools

How to Stand Out for City of Atlanta Special Projects Jobs

1. Tailor Your Resume to Atlanta’s Context

Emphasize experience that connects to local government needs, even if it’s from another field:

• Show how you handled multi-stakeholder projects (internal teams, vendors, community members)
• Highlight experience with deadlines, budgets, and reporting
• Note any Atlanta-specific knowledge:
  • Work with local neighborhoods or corridors
  • Familiarity with major local efforts (transportation, housing, BeltLine, etc.)

2. Emphasize Project Management

Even if your title wasn’t “project manager,” call out project work such as:

• Coordinating timelines and deliverables
• Overseeing implementation of a new program or service
• Tracking metrics or building a progress report
• Leading or supporting cross-functional teams

Consider calling this out clearly in a skills section:

• Skills: Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Data Tracking, Budget Monitoring, Public Presentations

3. Show Comfort With Change and Ambiguity

Special projects shift quickly. Hiring teams look for people who:

• Can adjust to changing priorities
• Are comfortable starting with unclear paths and building structure
• Can handle public or political visibility without getting rattled

In interviews or cover letters, give examples of:

• Stepping into a project mid-stream and stabilizing it
• Building a new program or process from scratch
• Navigating challenges with multiple stakeholders who had different priorities

4. Learn the City’s Hiring Process

Most City of Atlanta roles use a structured civil service-style process. Expect:

• Online application with detailed work history
• Possible supplemental questions on your experience
• Screening for minimum qualifications
• Interview rounds, sometimes panel-style

Being precise, complete, and consistent across your application materials helps avoid automatic disqualification for missing information.

Networking and Local Pathways Into Special Projects Roles

Even for government jobs, networking in Atlanta can make a real difference.

Places and Approaches to Consider

• Attend public meetings and hearings
  Planning commission meetings, transportation open houses, or neighborhood forums can give insight into current city priorities and help you meet staff informally.

• Engage with neighborhood and community organizations
  Advisory committees, neighborhood planning units (NPUs), and community groups often interact with special projects staff. Participating can deepen your local knowledge and sometimes expose you to opportunities.

• Connect with alumni networks and professional groups
  Many Atlanta professionals in government come from local institutions and organizations, such as:

  • Local universities’ public administration, urban planning, or policy programs
  • Professional groups for planners, engineers, project managers, or nonprofit leaders
  • Civic leadership programs and city-focused fellowships

• Consider internships, fellowships, or temporary roles
  Time-limited roles—internships, fellowships, or temporary project assignments—can sometimes lead to longer-term special projects opportunities within the city structure.

Contract, Consultant, and Vendor-Based Special Projects

Not all special projects work with the City of Atlanta is done by direct city employees.

Some work is done through:

• Consulting firms and engineering companies hired for project delivery
• Nonprofits or community organizations funded to run specific programs
• Short-term contracts for specialized expertise (technology, design, evaluation)

If you don’t see the right role on the city’s direct job portal, you can also:

• Explore Atlanta-area consulting, engineering, and planning firms that regularly work with local governments.
• Look for nonprofits or community development organizations that partner closely with the city on housing, youth, or neighborhood initiatives.
• Keep an eye out for requests for proposals (RFPs) and contracting opportunities listed by the city, which often signal upcoming project work and staff needs.

Practical Tips Before You Apply

Here are some final, actionable steps if you’re targeting City of Atlanta special projects jobs:

• ✅ Make a list of departments that match your skills: transportation, planning, housing, technology, public safety, etc.
• ✅ Check job listings regularly, as special projects roles can open and close quickly.
• ✅ Customize your resume and cover letter to each specific posting—mirror their language where it matches your real experience.
• ✅ Prepare brief project stories that showcase:
  • A challenge you faced
  • The actions you took
  • The outcome for your organization or community
• ✅ Stay flexible about titles; roles with “coordinator,” “analyst,” or “special assistant” in special projects areas can be just as impactful as manager-level positions.
• ✅ Use Atlanta knowledge as an asset—highlight familiarity with local neighborhoods, transportation corridors, or key issues like affordability and equity when relevant.

By understanding how special projects jobs work in the City of Atlanta, where they show up, and what hiring managers look for, you can better position yourself to step into one of these high-impact roles and play a direct part in shaping how Atlanta grows and serves its residents.