Director of Intergovernmental Affairs

Statement of Duties

The Director of Intergovernmental Affairs consistently maintains a high degree of interaction with the public, advises the Mayor on public policy and acts as a Mayoral surrogate in matters involving 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.

This is a senior management role in the Executive Office and requires the ability to communicate accurately and concisely on behalf of the Mayor. The Director of Intergovernmental Affairs is responsible for the direct supervision of 1 non-union employee and for coordination with senior staff throughout the organization. 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.

• Supervises and coordinates all departments and divisions in providing accurate, consistent, and timely responses to the legislative body and other external entities.
• Sets the strategy and process to operationalize the efficient flow of data between the Mayor and other stakeholders.
• Works with the Mayor to develop an agenda of policy initiatives and an inventory of issues that concern the Administration, the City Council, and the public.
• Works in tandem with the Executive to prioritize meetings, events, and appearances. Coordinates with scheduler as needed. Responsible for coordinating subject matter-specific briefings for all engagements.
• Primary point of contact representing the Mayor regarding matters concerning the City Council, School Department, Mayor’s task forces and working groups, State and Federal delegation, and agencies.
• Participates in citywide budget planning and review in preparation for Board presentations.
• Acts as Chief Liaison to City Council; responsible for preparing and submitting all communications for city departments.
• Provides oversight and advice to city departments on a variety of projects, acting on behalf of the Mayor; represents the Executive in various settings.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Graduate of a four year college with Bachelor’s Degree and five to seven- (5-7) years of experience in public administration, or related work 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.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Working knowledge of office procedures and practices; knowledge and understanding of city structure and operations; understanding of Commonwealth’s government.

Abilities: Ability to establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relationships with City officials and departments, and the general public; ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form; ability to establish and maintain complex record keeping systems; ability to operate a telephone and standard office equipment; ability to manage multiple tasks in an efficient manner; ability to adapt to fast paced, crisis driven environment.

Skill: Skill in operating computers and applicable word processing and statistical applications; excellent customer service skills; time management skills and an organizational ability are very important; skilled in persuasion, policy building, patience and oral and written communications.

Policy development and project management skills are required.

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 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 books, 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 system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting.

Visual Skills

Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes and routinely reviewing maps and blueprints with a need for color vision.

Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $120,000 annualized, plus benefits
Union : Non-Union
FLSA: Exempt
Date Posted: November 26th, 2025

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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 [email protected].

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.
• 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.