Land Use Analyst - City of Somerville

Statement of Duties

Under the supervision of the City Clerk and the City Council President, the Land Use Analyst will aid in policy research and the evaluation and updating of municipal zoning language for the City Council. The employee will work with federal and state laws, city ordinances, best practices, feedback and input from the City Council, and representatives from various city departments to evaluate zoning proposals, provide analysis, and prepare draft legislation for the City Council and its Committee on Land Use.

Essential Functions

• Conducts extensive policy and legal research, identifying best practices and existing challenges.
• Writes reports and memos synthesizing research for the City Council.
• Drafts zoning language for consideration by the City Council.
• Collaborates with employees from various city departments and external stakeholders to seek practical input.
• Gathers, organizes, cleans, and analyzes data, and compiles in a way that is accessible to the end-user.
• Contributes to, creates, and delivers public presentations (e.g. PowerPoint) for virtual and/or in-person meetings.
• Coordinates with applicants and interested parties regarding the zoning amendment process.
• Prepares and sends correspondence including requests to appear before the City Council and requests for information.
• Uses the City’s legislative tracking software to prepare and track zoning ordinances and other items that are before the Council and in the Land Use Committee.
• Performs related work as directed by the City Clerk, City Council President or their designee(s).

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, public policy, or related field and a minimum of five (5) years of 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.

Special Requirements: This employee is prohibited from taking public positions on issues that are or may reasonably come before the City Council. 

Please note that applicants selected for a final interview will be asked to provide a report sample.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Advanced knowledge of municipal zoning principles including the ability to prepare, interpret and analyze federal, state and municipal legislation. Knowledge of municipal operations, data analysis practices and techniques. Strong knowledge in public policy.

Abilities: Establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relationships with diverse stakeholders regarding strategy, policy, and operations; work independently; manage multiple tasks efficiently, prioritize, and balance short- and long-term responsibilities; carry out assignments to completion in an efficient and accurate manner; communicate and collaborate with executive-level individuals; interact with the public effectively and appropriately; problem solve and think strategically, analytically, and creatively; communicate clearly and often both verbally and in writing; learn new concepts quickly; collaborate, build consensus, and lead; be self-motivated and organized; handle problems and emergencies; maintain confidential information; operate a computer; and maintain, manage, and organize records.

Skills: Excellent organizational skills; excellent data processing skills and applicable word processing, spreadsheet, and statistical analysis applications, specifically ArcGIS, MS Excel, Office365 apps, Tableau etc.; excellent written and oral communication, facilitation, and public speaking skills; excellent analysis, strategic thinking, problem solving, leadership and project management skills.

Other: Working knowledge of City Charter, Ordinances, Rules of the City Council, and relevant state laws.

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 will be required to attend evening meetings.

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: Little or no 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. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as ledgers or photocopy 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 system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting of materials.

Visual Demands: Routinely reads documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Hours: Part-Time, variable hours. Evening meeting attendance required.
Salary: $45.00/hour
Union: Non-Union
Date Posted: September 19th, 2024

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. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completition of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.

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