Legislative Liaison - City of Somerville

Statement of Duties:

Responsibilities include communication and coordination with key external partners such as the City Council, the State Delegation, the Federal Delegation, the Governor’s Office, executive offices in other municipalities, and the School Department as well as other public, entities, business associations and non-profit organizations. Employee is required to perform all similar or related duties.

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.

• Serves as liaison to the City Council, the State Delegation, the Federal Delegation,
  the Governor’s Administration, other municipalities, and the School Department; works closely with Intergovernmental Affairs Director to respond to requests and effectively collaborate with key external partners.
• Builds information links so that data flows efficiently between the Mayor, Departments, City Council, and the public.
• Collaborates with the Mayor, City Council, Intergovernmental Affairs Director, and other Departments as necessary, to develop policy recommendations.
• Works with the City Council to find answers and identify solutions to questions and concerns raised by residents.
• Participates in citywide budget planning and review in preparation for Board
  presentations; responds to related Board inquiries.
• Tracks local, state, and federal legislation of importance to the City of Somerville; collaborates with relevant Departments to advocate and write testimony of behalf of the City.
• Serves as project manager on specific initiatives. 
• Represents the Administration at City Council meetings and public meetings as needed. 
• Lead project manager for interdepartmental City initiatives that require passage by the board (such as short-term rental program, condo conversion, water sewer rates, eminent domain).
• Draft / create policy that ties items related to legislative matters.
• Listens to the interests of Administration and City Council in order to then create feasible solutions.  
• Provide input on a variety of items such as ordinance language and policy wording.
• Advise City staff on how to best prepare and present information to the public.
• Coordinates with Mayor’s Office and other City Departments to develop strategies to recruit and retain a diverse group of candidates for appointments for boards and commissions across the City.
• Facilitates selection of candidates for Mayoral appointments.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in public policy, public administration, business, finance, and three (3) years’ relevant 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 or Law degree preferred.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill:

• Knowledge: Working knowledge of municipal operations. Working knowledge in handling and analysis of administrative data practices and techniques; working knowledge of office software including word processing, access and spread sheet applications.  Knowledge of accounting and finance analysis techniques to interpret and manipulate departmental financial information and to assist with the design and development of the program/performance based budget.
• Abilities: Ability to establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relationships with department personnel conflicts regarding strategy, policy and operations; ability to work independently in an efficient manner; ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form; ability to establish and maintain complex record keeping and accounting systems; ability to manage multiple tasks in an efficient manner; ability to carry out assignments to completion in an efficient and accurate manner. Ability to develop excellent facilitation and public speaking skills.
• Skill: Skill in operating personal computers and applicable word processing and spread sheet applications; excellent interpersonal skills; time management skills, self-motivational skills and organizational skills are very important. Excellent written and public speaking 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.

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:
Minimal 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 office equipment or photocopy 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.

Hours: Full Time
Salary: $93,846.87 annualized excellent benefits
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Exempt
Location: This is an in-person position.
Date Posted: August, 26th, 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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