Economic Development Assistant

Somerville is a city that upholds progressive principles for both employees and residents alike. If you are looking for a culture that embraces innovation, empowerment, and collaborative involvement, Somerville not only embraces these talents, but encourages them. Creative, hands-on collaboration with passionate dedication are at the core of the City’s workplace culture.  Challenging and fast-paced, Somerville also offers a generous benefits package that embodies a strong work-life balance. Not only is it a “Model City”, as termed by The Boston Globe, but it is also a model employer.

Statement of Duties

The Economic Development Assistant is responsible for project management of complex development scenarios by providing technical assistance to senior staff and elected and appointed officials; development of new planning procedures; preparing written project analysis; interfacing with state and federal agencies; and managing consultant contracts including scope-of-work and budgets. Employee is required to perform all similar or related duties.

Essential Functions

• Provides technical assistance to senior staff and elected officials regarding planning and development activities in the city;
• Provides guidance and technical assistance to business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and property owners regarding City permitting processes and business support programs;
• Collects and analyzes quantitative and qualitative data;  updates spreadsheets, databases and inventories with statistical, financial and non-financial information;
• Coordinates community outreach and public participation processes for economic development initiatives;
• Assists with coordinating various marketing methods including direct mail, networking, internet, social media, and develops new methods of marketing;
• Develops marketing literature (brochures, online content websites and social media accounts);
• Assists with managing a (CRM) Customer Relationship Management System;
• Interfaces with members of the Greater Boston Real Estate community on a regular basis;
• Manages and implements development projects;
• Manages consultant contracts and budgets, monitors project progress, evaluates consultant work and ensures contract deliverables;
• Interfaces with local community, other city departments, and state/federal agencies;
• Prepares written project analysis/response;
• Prepares staff reports for a variety of Boards and Commissions;
• Presents case information at Board and Commission meetings;
• Works in close cooperation with the other divisions (e.g., Planning and Zoning, Transportation and Infrastructure, Housing) that comprise the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD);
• Other duties as assigned by the Director.

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree and three to five (3 to 5) years’ experience, particularly as it pertains to economic development, urban planning, marketing, real estate development, small business development, entrepreneurship, business financing, 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. 

Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills

This position requires a person to be detail oriented, to be self-motivated and able to handle multiple assignments at the same time.

Knowledge: Knowledge of community, action groups, politics (local), neighborhoods and business concerns; considerable knowledge of economic development, small business development and marketing as applied to planning. Considerable knowledge of economic, sociological and environmental aspects of planning; particular knowledge and experience with relation to design, construction and inspection problems commonly met in connection with municipal engineering activities. Working knowledge of personal computers, GIS applications, and marketing.  Thorough knowledge of urban or regional planning principles and practices; and thorough knowledge of zoning laws and comprehensive plans including their formation, process of adoption, and enforcement.

Abilities: Ability to organize and direct the preparation of comprehensive research studies, analyze problems, prepare technical reports and formulate recommendations; ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with contractors, developers, business owners, entrepreneurs, supervisors, employees, and the public.

Skill: Skilled public speaker; excellent customer service, data analytics, planning, and marketing.

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.

Physical and Mental Requirements

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 30 lbs.)

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.

Send your resume and cover letter by June 26, 2018 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.