Director of Council on Aging

The Director of Council on Aging (COA) is responsible for identifying community and individual needs of the older adult population in the City of Somerville, along with developing and scheduling programs at three (3) centers to meet those needs, maintaining and evaluating current programs, directing efforts of the COA staff to ensure that department objectives are met, preparing and managing the COA budget and maintaining communications with city departments and other groups involved with the older adult population.

Essential Functions

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Oversees and supervises the daily operations of staff, activities/programs/transportation of the COA facilities.

• Develop and schedule monthly programs, educational lectures, recreational opportunities, cultural events, social activities, and mental and physical health programs, and integrate the work of the COA into the larger work of the Health and Human Services Department
• Create collaboration opportunities with stakeholders.
• Design creative engagement interactions with the community.

• Prepare and administer the COA department’s fiscal budget.
• Assess the needs of Somerville’s older adult population, to develop, promote, and implement a diverse range of service programs that address the ever changing needs of populations served.
• Prepare and administer grants including required reports.
• Advise and guide seniors on a daily basis, provide case management as necessary.
• Maintain certification of the Serving Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE) program.
• Serve on the Massachusetts Council on Aging Board of Directors.
• Maintain contact with city departments, civic groups, community stakeholders, state agencies, local newspapers and senior housing staff members.
• Advocate for seniors in the City of Somerville.
• Attend conferences and seminars relative to elder service practices and techniques.
• Provide in-service employee training regarding proper elder care techniques and practices.

• Maintain the department’s Elder at-Risk Program.

• Prepare and submit various administrative and programmatic reports.
• Coordinate and oversee case management meetings for the social work team.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Health & Human Services.
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• Recommended Minimum Qualifications                

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in human services or related field and five (5) years’ management experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. 

CPR/First Aid Certification within three months of hire and continually maintained thereafter.                                                                                                      

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Knowledge of geriatrics and the aging process; understanding of the physical and emotional impact of aging; working knowledge and understanding of local government operations.  Knowledge of Medicare and other senior benefits and programs. 

Abilities: Ability to assess individual needs with care and empathy; ability to set priorities; ability to follow through on ideas; ability to multitask; ability to work well with others, particularly the elder population.  Ability to plan and supervise extensive activity programs, and manage multiple tasks in a detailed, accurate and timely manner.  Ability to establish and maintain relationships, and communicate tactfully, patiently and appropriately with clients and vendors.

Skill: Good listening skills; organizational skills; imaginative and creative; excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Work Environment              

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements.  Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.  Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments.

Send your resume and cover letter by Wednesday, February17, 2021 to:

City Hall Personnel Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02143
Fax: 617-666-4426
TTY: 1-866-808-4851
Email: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills:

Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing.  May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30lbs.)

Motor Skills:

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills:

Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.