Urban Revitalization Specialist

The City of Somerville seeks an Urban Revitalization Specialist for Economic Development to be responsible for project management of complex development scenarios by providing technical assistance to elected and appointed officials; development of new economic development procedures; preparing written project analysis; analyzing real estate, interfacing with state and federal agencies; and managing consultant contracts including scope-of-work and budgets.

Responsibilities Include:

• Provide technical assistance to elected officials regarding planning activities in the city.
• Research and implement programs to enhance economic development
• Manage and implement development projects.
• Manages consultant contracts.
• Manages RFP’s and property disposition.
• Interface with local community, other city department, and state/federal agencies.
• Prepare written project analysis/response.
• Develop new planning procedures.
• Design and prepare urban design plans.
• Manage the public process dealing with planning initiatives
• Prepare staff reports for a variety of Boards and Commissions
• Present case information at a Board and Commission meetings
• Coordinate community outreach and participation processes
• Provides technical assistance to elected officials regarding planning activities

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree and seven (7) years’ 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.  Master’s degree preferred.

Knowledge: Knowledge of community, action groups, politics (local), neighborhoods and business concerns; Considerable knowledge of economic, sociological and environmental aspects of planning as well as the real estate development process.

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 architects, contractors, developers, owners, supervisors, employees, and the public.

Skill: Skilled public speaker; excellent customer service, financial analysis, planning and design skills. Bilingual or Multilingual skills preferred.

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 Tuesday, April 18, 2017 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.