Chief Administrative Officer

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is the senior leader in the Executive Administration Office with oversight over all municipal administrative operations. The CAO runs the day-to-day operations of the City, works with the Executive Team to create strategies to meet operational goals, and reports on the performance of key departments to the Mayor. The CAO is a strategic thinker who evaluates and optimizes current workflow systems to achieve an efficient City government that is nimble and responsive to the needs of residents and prepared for future challenges.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.Supervise and manage City departments in executing daily operations and tasks and ensure coordination and communication across departments.

Work closely with the Mayor and Chief Financial Officer on all financial matters, including reviewing and signing off on warrants, contracts, budgets, and other financial obligations.

Prepare and present reports to the Executive Team.

Lead the development and implementation of strategies, procedures and plans needed to enhance City growth and optimize systems.

Establish department and City performance goals with Executive Team, and allocate needed resources accordingly.

Lead creation and maintenance of central documentation of City processes for ease of use, consistency, and continuous operations to ensure smooth operations during turnover among department heads or executive leadership.

Partner with Finance and Budget teams to ensure timely creation and implementation of annual operating budget.

Lead Finance, Infrastructure and Asset Management, Department of Public Works, Information Technology, and other departments in creation and implementation of both short and long-term capital investment plans.

Collaborate with Human Resources and Law to pursue productive employee relations and bargain in good faith with the City’s labor unions.

Partner with Somerville Public Schools leadership to work toward smooth operations across both institutions.

Direct departments to future proof City processes against external threats to operations, stemming from effects of climate change, cyberattacks, and other major issues.

Conduct routine daily review and approval of basic human resources decisions, while triaging and advising Mayor on larger decision making.

Ensure that City operations proceed in accordance with local ordinances, Somerville’s City Charter, and all relevant state and federal laws.

Other duties as necessary and assigned by the Mayor.

Preferred Minimum Qualifications:Education and Experience: Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or similar field and at least ten to fifteen (10-15) years’ experience, or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prior experience may include Town Administrator, or similar breadth of experience. A deep understanding of municipal operations and functions is greatly preferred, including but not limited to HR and Finance. Experience working in an urban municipal, highly regulated, and unionized environment is preferred.Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:Knowledge: Demonstrated leadership. Knowledge of the principles and practices of organizational behavior, management, and process improvement. Experience supervising and managing teams and mentoring other managers. Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of effective budgetary management in large organizations. Experience with strategic planning. Working knowledge of computer hardware and software in support of department operations. Multi-sector competency preferred. Multilingual skills preferred.

Abilities: A strong skill set working with diverse populations and stakeholders is critical. The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. Ability to engage in process documentation and improvement, to prepare and administer budgets; ability to recruit, train and supervise staff effectively. Ability to communicate with City workers, City Councilors, and other stakeholders in a tactful and professional manner at all times. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and oral forms. Ability to handle confidential information in a discrete manner. Ability to function independently within the broad scope of municipal and department policies and goals.

Skills: Excellent management skills; skill in coordinating various programs and projects simultaneously; strong communication skills, verbal and written; training in interpersonal communication and mediation. Excellent presentation skills. Sense of humor!

Work Environment:The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of indoor environments such as office settings, with infrequent 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.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 essential functions of this position. 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 may involve assignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination. Examples include operating a phone system or a personal computer.Visual Skills:Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.Hours: Full-TimeSalary: $151,540.50 - $208,032.63 annualized + benefits(Typically, a new hire can expect a starting salary somewhere in the lower part of the range.Salary is commensurate based on experience and qualifications.)Union: Non-UnionDate Posted: October 3, 2022 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.Benefits Somerville Offers 4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) & for union positions this varies by contract

Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC)

Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna

Vision care through the Vision Service Plan (VSP)

Long term disability through Sun Life

Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual

Flexible spending plans through Benefit Strategies

Deferred compensation through a choice of three vendors

Employee assistance through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health

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. This is not a binding contract, for any questions relating to benefits for specific union and non-union positions please contact the Human Resources department by calling (617) 625-6600 x 3300.COVID-19 Vaccination RequiredTo better protect the health and safety of staff and the public, all City of Somerville employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of November 1, 2021. Exemptions and/or reasonable accommodations are not guaranteed and will be reviewed by the City of Somerville Human Resources Department on a case-by-case basis. Learn more at www.somervillema.gov/HR/COVID19.Powered by JazzHR