Former Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr., who lived atop the Providence Biltmore hotel in the Presidential Suite while awaiting the outcome of a federal corruption trial, will work in a Boston luxury hotel starting early next month.

Cianci

Cianci is due to leave federal prison in New Jersey next Wednesday, and then stay briefly at a halfway house before taking on his new job.

He’ll work in sales, marketing and public relations at Fifteen Beacon, a luxury hotel in a 1903 Beaux Arts-style building on elegant Beacon Hill, near the Massachusetts State House, according to a news release from George Regan, president of Regan Communications Group and spokesman for Fifteen Beacon owner Paul Roiff.

The release described the man universally known as “Buddy,” who was convicted on a conspiracy charge in 2002 and sentenced to five years in prison, this way:

“The colorful Cianci was first elected mayor of Providence in the 1970s. Through the years he became a nationally known figure, both through his tumultuous years in office and his high profile as a radio talk-show host. He was the subject of a profile on 60 Minutes, a musical on Broadway, and, if current plans go forward, a major theatrical movie.”

Not to mention his own marinara sauce.

Regan said, “He’s obviously an expert in sales and marketing. Look what he’s done for downtown Providence. We think he’ll be a great addition.”

The one thing Cianci won’t be doing for the hotel is handling money, Regan noted, “but the other public relations people aren’t allowed near the cash box either.”

In 2002, Cianci went to federal prison in Fort Dix, N.J., to serve a five-year sentence after his conviction on one count of racketeering conspiracy. The prosecution said Cianci oversaw widespread corruption during his time in City Hall, but supporters say the mayor revitalized the city.

Regan said Roiff and Cianci had met at cocktail parties and fundraiser events but that Roiff did not know Cianci well.

Roiff grew up in Providence and is a developer and hotelier. Regan emphasized that Roiff never did any development or projects in Providence while Cianci was mayor.

Roiff was approached by a mutual friend of his and Cianci’s who said the former mayor would be in Boston and needed a job there.

“Paul said, ‘Oh, terrific,’ ” Regan said.

After he completes his prison term, Cianci will be sent initially to Coolidge House on Huntington Avenue in Boston. The Journal reported last month that Cianci would then probably be back in Rhode Island, living in home confinement in East Greenwich with his nephew, Brad Turchetta, a Warwick orthodontist and son of Cianci’s sister. It was unclear how yesterday’s announcement changes those plans.

Speculation has been swirling about Cianci’s future. Cianci was a talk-radio fixture in Rhode Island and an occasional guest on Don Imus’ morning show in New York, and last month some local radio stations expressed interest in Buddy returning to the airwaves.

But when he gets out, Cianci will be on supervised release for two years and must complete 150 hours of community service. He’ll have to wear an ankle bracelet until his sentence expires June 28.

He’ll also have an office inside the Fifteen Beacon hotel.

“It’ll be quite a contrast between the halfway house,” Regan said.

News of Cianci’s job surprised Rhode Islanders, but many quickly saw the logic. “How smart of him to get out of Rhode Island,” said Lincoln Chafee, the former senator. “It’s just too insular and provincial here. They know his whole life story, every wart.”

Chafee added, “It’s perfect symbolism — a man with just enormous ability to do good things counterweighted by another side that keeps getting him in trouble, working at a five-star hotel by day, but then paying his penance at night by going to a halfway house.”

Arlene Violet, a former attorney general and radio personality, said: “He could sell snow to Eskimos. I think he’ll do a good job.”

There is logic for Fifteen Beacon, too, said Art Canter, president of the Massachusetts Lodging Association.

“He brings a lot of news to the hotel — that’s a major plus,” said Canter.

Rooms at Fifteen Beacon go from $400 to more than $1,000 a night for a one-bedroom suite. The 60-room hotel offers guests amenities including free chauffeured Lexus service and gas fireplaces, heated towel racks, fresh flowers and crystal glasses in rooms. Its Web site offers information for reservations in seven languages.

And it’s apparently a popular place that draws a clientele.

“You can never get a room,” said Regan.

Fifteen Beacon is still working on Cianci’s work schedule, Regan said, adding that the former mayor will be paid for the work. Cianci has to reimburse the government for his room and board.

Having employment is a condition of Cianci’s work release. Roiff would like to have Cianci stay on and continue to work there after the work-release period concludes, Regan said.

Why a job at the hotel?

“Paul Roiff wants to do the right thing. And [Cianci’s] got to have a job. So why not?” said Regan. “The Providence Journal is not going to hire him.”

The hotel is already planning a celebration for Cianci on his first day.

With reports from The New York Times, the Associated Press and Journal staff writer Mike Stanton