Rural Development Fellow

The University of Georgia; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The Rural Development Fellow at The University of Georgia in Athens will support workforce and economic development projects through project coordination, research, and administrative tasks within the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. This temporary 1,300-hour position runs through early summer 2027 and offers $18.00–$22.00 per hour.

Responsibilities include assisting faculty with desk-based and field-based support, meeting documentation, and event coordination for programs like PROPEL and

Qualifications

• Work or internship experience in a government, policy, or legal setting is preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities include research, drafting documents, and administrative assistance; proficiency with MS Office.
• Regular day trips and overnight travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Project Coordination: Assist faculty and staff with workforce and economic development sponsored projects, including note taking and meeting logistics.
• Applied Research: Conduct research using various sources and produce summaries of findings.
• Grant and Project Administration: Assist with quarterly reports to sponsors, grant writing, and deliverable tracking.

Skills

Research experience

Administrative support

Time management

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Posting Number:

G/R34419P

Working Title:

Rural Development Fellow

Department:

PSO-Carl Vinson Inst of Govt

About the University of Georgia:

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full‑time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department:

The UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government – Who We Are

As a Public Service and Outreach unit at the University of Georgia, the UGA Institute of Government contributes directly to the university’s overarching public service mission of improving people’s lives by helping to create jobs and prosperity, developing leaders, and addressing critical issues. This public service mission, and the Institute of Government’s role in its success, is at the heart of UGA’s land‑grant and sea‑grant mission to serve the State of Georgia and its residents.

We have a wide range of experts who inform, inspire, and innovate every day so that governments, large and small, can be more efficient and responsive to their citizens, address current and emerging challenges, and serve the public with excellence. We are uniquely positioned to provide impartial support to local governments and state agencies and convene multi‑disciplinary and intragovernmental groups to plan for and address many of the challenges faced by communities across Georgia.

Our areas of expertise and focus include workforce and economic development; infrastructure and community resilience; government operations and organizational effectiveness; measuring and reporting on impact and outcomes; building skills, knowledge and capacity of government leaders and teams; and maximizing technology and data for governments and their leaders.

Whether it is through our award‑winning PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) program for rural communities, our CyberArch student program that helps Georgia communities increase their cybersecurity, our efforts to build a visionary plan for military and community partnerships to spur economic prosperity and resilient infrastructure, our financial management certificate program to build the capacity of public officials, or hosting educational events about e‑mobility strategies for local governments …. We Know Georgia. Fulfilling our land‑grant and sea‑grant mission to serve the State of Georgia is more than a project. It’s our purpose.

We are growing and excited to add individuals to our team who share our commitment to public service – building stronger communities, inspiring economic resilience, and improving quality of life for communities across Georgia and beyond.

Our Culture – How We Operate

We disseminate knowledge through research, scholarship, and instruction. We collaborate internally across our areas of expertise and across the university with academic researchers to bring best practices and expert insights to the governments and communities we serve. We are committed to fielding a team of experts who have a variety of professional and academic experiences and are grounded in our culture of excellence and approach our work with Georgia’s governments in a comprehensive and objective fashion.

College/Unit/Department website:

www.CVIOG.uga.edu

Employment Type:

Employee

Additional Schedule Information:

This is designed as a temporary position (1,300 hours) running through early summer 2027 (~32 weeks).

Advertised Salary:

$18.00 - $22.00 per hour

Anticipated Start Date:

09/14/2026

Posting Date:

08/18/2026

Open Until Filled:

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Location of Vacancy:

Athens Area

EOO Statement:

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ([e-mail]).

USG Core Values Statement:

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Project Coordination: Assist faculty and staff with direct support on workforce development and economic development sponsored projects. This support involves both desk-based support (e.g., writing, data analysis, participation in internal meetings) and field-based support (e.g., note taking, assisting with registration meeting logistics).

Percentage of time:

50

Duties/Responsibilities:

Applied Research: Conduct assigned research using various mediums (online, databases, and stakeholder interviews) and produce summaries of the research findings.

Percentage of time:

40

Duties/Responsibilities:

Grant and Project Administration: Assist faculty with grant and project administration (e.g., quarterly reports to sponsors, grant writing, deliverable tracking).

Percentage of time:

10

Classification Title:

Temporary Technical Paraprofessional

FLSA:

Non-Exempt

FTE:

1.0

Position Summary:

The Rural Development Fellow will assist on a wide variety of economic development, workforce development, and community development technical assistance projects. This fellowship will last approximately 32 weeks. The purpose of this fellowship is to support the organization’s active project portfolio especially in rural Georgia through project coordination, administrative work, and project research. The position may assist with supporting client meetings and events outside the office. This position will serve a critical role in supporting several annual events including Georgia’s Workforce Conference, PROPEL Kick off/forum and PROPEL Ramble. Core tasks will include event support, meeting documentation, stakeholder interviews, applied research, report writing, and other administrative tasks as needed.

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification in Position:

Work or internship experience in a government, policy, or legal setting is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies :

Experience conducting research, drafting documents, and providing administrative assistance. Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Skill in managing and prioritizing a number of competing priorities.

Physical Demands:

Normal for an office environment.

Regular day trips and overnight travel.

Is this a Position of Trust?:

No

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? :

No

Does this position require a P-Card? :

No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? :

No

Is driving a requirement of this position?:

Yes

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?:

No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications):

No

Background Investigation Policy:

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre‑employment drug test for positions with high‑risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Contact Details:

For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.

Recruitment Contact Name:

Rebecca Hunt

Recruitment Contact Email:

[e-mail]