Rhode Island
Municipal
Fellowship
Program
The Rhode Island Department of Housing (Department) is proud to announce the launch of the Rhode Island Municipal Fellowship Program, a grant-funded initiative designed to place recent graduates or early-career professionals in planning, zoning, and housing development roles within participating municipalities. This fellowship program offers the unique opportunity to work in a municipal environment to contribute directly to key local planning and housing initiatives aimed at increasing housing production across Rhode Island. Candidates must be available to work in-person, with potential for some remote work.
Fellows will join a cohort of 5-8 peers in a shared learning program that fosters the development of knowledge and skills necessary to advance municipal goals.
Fellowship Details
Employer: Rhode Island Municipalities, Fellows will be matched with a participating municipality
Sponsor: Rhode Island Department of Housing
Program Manager: Reach Consulting
Salary: Starting at $65,000
Term: Fellowship ends no later than September 30, 2026
Key Responsibilities
Each Fellow will have unique responsibilities and duties based on the municipality he/she/they are placed.
Examples include but are not limited to:
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Work independently and collaborate with municipal teams on planning, zoning, and/or housing policies with a focus on initiatives that support the increase of housing development within the assigned municipality.
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Support the development and execution of key initiatives aimed at increasing housing production such as identifying potential transit-oriented development and/or adaptive reuse sites, conducting infrastructure and capacity analyses, researching and implementing short-term rental regulations, expanding the viability of ADUs, exploring zoning changes that would increase density and/or reduce restrictions for housing development, and enhancing permitting processes for proposed developments, subdivisions, zoning applications, and building permits.
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Participate in a learning cohort with fellow professionals, attending monthly meetings.
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Implement action items in local comprehensive plans relating to housing.
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Present findings, analysis, and recommendations to local decision makers, staff, and general public.
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Report progress, work products, and outcomes to the Department of Housing.
Eligibility Requirements
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Graduate degree in planning or two years’ experience in planning, zoning, housing, or a closely related field, is preferred.
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Open to recent graduates, or soon to be graduates, of graduate level planning or design programs or closely related fields; or early-career planners or professionals in a closely related field.
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Must be available for in-person work within Rhode Island (some remote work may be possible depending on duties).
Salary and Benefits
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Starting full-time salary of $65,000 annually.
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Benefits may be provided by the participating municipality.
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Salary and benefits are paid through the grant funds awarded to the municipalities. If a municipality is unable to provide benefits, the municipality may allocate grant funds to increase the salary.
For questions, please email info@RIMunicipalFellowship.com.