Job Description

Statement of Duties  

Under the direction of the Director of Economic Development and Deputy Director of Economic Development, the Senior Planner – Workforce Development Specialist is responsible for building partnership programs to increase Somerville residents’ access to opportunities for employment in various sectors of the economy. The City of Somerville is seeking a skilled communicator and connector who brings passion to two critical aspects of the role – employer outreach/partnership development and strategic implementation with academic institutions, as well as organizations engaged in workforce development.  The incumbent will play a key role as OSPCD leads the City of Somerville’s efforts to focus on retention and growth within economic sectors, particularly in the areas of workforce development.The Senior Planner will work to find and support management of grants, inventory existing training opportunities, and build collaborative program teams with non-profit trainers and local employers, tracking resulting from workforce programs.  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 types 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. 

Duties applicable to the position:  

• Provide subject matter expertise to elected and appointed officials including the Jobs Creation and Retention Trust (“JCRT”) regarding workforce development needs of the community and pathways to support residents’ access to opportunities  
• Support the implementation of local, regional, and national best practices in workforce development.   
• Implement programs to enhance the workforce development ecosystem in Somerville, and initiatives that connect workforce development to business development and economic development more broadly.  
• Convene and develop relationships with senior representatives of mid- to large-size companies as well as academic institutional leaders and non-profit organizations which focus on developing, funding, implementing and connecting potential employees with opportunities 
• Lead efforts to identify and submit applications for alternative funding sources that support workforce development and training.  Work with appropriate City of Somerville/OSPCD departments to support the management of grants obtained 
• Develop strategic recommendations for City investments in workforce development in partnership with the Jobs Creation and Retention Trust (“JCRT”), Health and Human Services Department, Somerville Public Schools, and Somerville Center for Adult Learning Opportunities. This could include staff-led trainings, partnership investments, as well as strategies to remove barriers to program participation and completion.  
• Assists and manages new or existing RFPs, consultant contracts, and partner relationships. 
• Serve as City of Somerville representative on various boards and commissions focused on workforce development as appropriate and as identified by the Mayor (or OSPCD Director or Director of Economic Development).  
• Prepare written project analysis and staff reports for a variety of Boards and Commissions. Offer a written and oral presentation of materials. 

Minimum Qualifications 

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Workforce Development, Human Resources, Public Administration, Management, Organizational Leadership, or a closely related field and seven to ten (7 -10) years’ progressive 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 (e.g. Master of Public Administration, Master of Business Administration, or Education) preferred. 

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill 

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 emerging occupations and industries. Knowledge of the workforce development landscape and/or municipal policy and program development and operations.  

Abilities: Ability to organize and direct the implementation of public-private partnerships as well as lead collaborations and complex partnerships; analyze problems, prepare technical reports, and formulate recommendations; ability to engage effectively orally and in writing with employers, training providers,  colleagues across many departments, and the public. Applicants must have highly developed ability to convene and work effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. 

Skill: Excellent strategic thinking, planning, and creative problem-solving skills. Proven track record in establishing and managing partnerships with external organizations and bringing together groups involved with the implementation of strategic objectives. Demonstrated skill in effectively engaging residents who may be disconnected from workforce development services is a plus.   

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 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: $90,000.00 annualized, plus benefits
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Exempt
Date Posted:  January 23, 2026

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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
• Completion 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. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
• 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
• 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.

Job Tags

Full time, Contract work, Work at office, Local area, Flexible hours, Afternoon shift,

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