Planning Fellowship

What is DVRPC’s Planning Fellowship?

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) Planning Fellowship provides an opportunity to learn about urban and regional planning by serving in various departments at the organization over the course of a year. DVRPC is committed to supporting a pipeline of talented individuals into urban and regional planning and related fields, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), project management, policy analysis, and capital programming. The selected fellow will participate in the daily activities of a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), complete specialized projects, and experience firsthand how transportation plans and investments are made in the Greater Philadelphia region. The fellow’s specific department and project assignments will be determined based on a combination of the selected candidate’s specific skills and interests, and DVRPC project needs. The fellow’s work will contribute to DVRPC’s mission – building consensus for a shared regional vision; enabling data-based, community-centered solutions; and helping put plans into action.

The DVRPC Fellowship is an annual program that introduces a talented individual to the city and regional planning field outside of a formal academic setting.

DVRPC is a place to work, learn, and create a career in a professional and stimulating environment

(www.dvrpc.org/HumanResources/WhyWorkAtDVRPC). The DVRPC Fellowship is a paid, year-long, full-time, professional development program that begins in January 2026 and ends in December 2026. The Fellowship will aid in preparation for a successful career in planning or a related discipline, or to further your education. There will be one fellow at a time.

Fellowship Opportunities:

• Gain real-world experience while learning about transportation and regional planning in general and specifically DVRPC’s methods for effective research, analysis, and consensus building.
• Have access to mentorship from DVRPC staff and senior leadership, access to experts in the planning field, and guidance to help your career development.
• Work with an array of partners, including state departments of transportation, county and municipal officials, transit operators, invested stakeholders, and community members to collaborate and build solutions on planning issues that affect the region.
• Gain a broad range of marketable professional skills and get hands-on project experience.
• Contribute to the growth and development of an exciting and effective organization.
• Participate in the solicitation and selection of the next DVRPC Fellow.

Qualifications and Selection

The ideal candidate must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• U.S. citizen or authorized to work permanently in the United States contingent upon the ability to comply with Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations
• Possess three or more years of professional experience with a GED/high school diploma, or an associate’s degree with two or more years of professional experience, or a bachelor’s degree from a college or university by the program start date
• A current resident of the nine-county DVRPC region

In addition, the ideal candidate should:

• Demonstrate excellent problem-solving, analytical, quantitative, written and oral communication, and interpersonal skills with a strong orientation to collaborate.
• Have an interest or competency in managing, analyzing, and communicating data.
• Be friendly, self-directed, detail-oriented, and able to work in a collaborative environment with a broad range of partners.
• Be flexible and enthusiastic about experiencing all the facets that DVRPC has to offer, including areas that are not necessarily aligned with their professional backgrounds.
• Have proficiency in Microsoft Office, Zoom, and Google Suite.

Complete applications will be reviewed by a selection committee, who will evaluate applicants based on the criteria above. The most qualified candidates will then be selected to interview with DVRPC’s committee.

After the interviews, the selection committee forwards its recommendations to the Executive Director based on the applicant’s academic achievement, analytical and communication skills, work experience, and overall interest in regional and urban planning. The Executive Director then makes the final selection. The recipient of the Fellowship will be notified as soon as possible following the Executive Director’s decision.

Salary and Benefits

DVRPC fellows receive an annual stipend of $52,000 (paid biweekly) plus full fringe benefits, which includes health, prescription, dental, life insurance, vacation, sick, holidays, lifestyle spending accounts (can be used for commuter benefits, off-site fitness centers, home office supplies, bike purchases/rentals, etc.) and retirement contributions during the Fellowship year. Housing is not included for the Planning Fellowship. The year of service is from January 6, 2026 through December 31, 2026. The full-time workweek at DVRPC is 37.5 hours. DVRPC offers a flexible hybrid work environment with the opportunity to work 2-3 days remotely.

Application Requirements

• A cover letter that explains why you are interested in the Fellowship, what you hope to get out of it, and your goals for your career (Two pages maximum)
• Current resume

If selected for an interview, you may be asked to submit a writing sample and three references.

Applications must be received by 5PM on October 15, 2025. Please note that we will NOT review applications that do not provide all requested materials. This solicitation does not guarantee employment

About DVRPC

As the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Greater Philadelphia, DVRPC builds consensus for a shared regional vision; enables data-based, community-centered solutions; and helps put plans into action.

We provide services to member governments and others through planning analysis, data collection, and mapping services. Aerial photographs, maps, and a variety of publications are available to the public and private sector.

DVRPC serves a diverse nine-county region in two states: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer in New Jersey.

For more information, visit DVRPC at http://www.dvrpc.org/

DVRPC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Full consideration will be given to all eligible, qualified applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, domestic or sexual violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition (including pregnancy), national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation; or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.