Economic Development Planner

Statement of Duties:

Under the direction of the Director and Deputy Director of Economic Development, the Economic Development Planner is responsible for implementing business development initiatives for the Economic Development Division to support growing businesses in Somerville. The Planner will be responsible for developing and implementing programs to promote local businesses to the community, technical support for business owners, and communicating local policies and programs to the business community. In addition to these initiatives, the Planner will be responsible for providing technical assistance to senior staff and elected and appointed officials; coordination and development of procedures that support business attraction and retention; preparing written project analysis; developing and managing data collection tools; and managing consultant contracts including scopes-of-work and budgets. 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.

• Develops and implements City projects, initiatives, policies which are focused on expanding economic opportunity for businesses, improving access and facilitating business growth
• Works in collaboration with external organizations that (e.g. Main Streets, Chamber of Commerce, etc.) that support growth and vitality in business districts of the City
• Manages projects that advance the economic development goals of the City and at different stages of implementation, from concept development and grant seeking to project launch and operations. This includes supervising consultants and monitoring project progress, evaluating consultant work, and ensuring contract deliverables as well as navigating project development with internal and external partners.
• Coordinates associated community outreach and participation processes for economic development projects and initiatives. Community engagement work might include interfacing with the local real estate industry and business leaders; developing marketing materials and strategies for various projects; coordinating and preparing materials for a variety of Boards and Commissions; and working with the citywide Engagement and Neighborhood Services Division to promote business development programs and initiatives to local businesses.
• Provides technical assistance to senior staff and elected officials regarding economic development and business development activities in the city.
• Collects and analyzes relevant quantitative and qualitative data, updates spreadsheets, databases and inventories with statistical, financial, and non-financial information.
• Where applicable, serves as staff liaison and administrative support for the meetings of regulatory or advisory groups which advance the work of economic development in the city.
• Works in close cooperation with the other divisions that comprise the Strategy & Development Department(S&D): Planning, Preservation & Zoning, Mobility, Public Space & Urban Forestry, Housing, Housing Stability, Sustainability & Environment
• Other duties as assigned by the Director and Deputy Director.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree and three to five (3 to 5) years’ experience, particularly as it pertains to economic development, urban planning, analytics, real estate development, public administration, 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: Considerable knowledge of economic development, particularly planning for the redevelopment and growth of urban areas. Knowledge of the Somerville community, action groups, politics (local), neighborhoods and business concerns. Considerable knowledge of economic, sociological and environmental aspects of planning; Working knowledge of personal computers, GIS applications, and tools for effective communication.

Abilities: Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders both orally and in writing, to organize and direct the preparation of comprehensive research studies, analyze problems and track details of multi-component projects, provide guidance on city policies related to business constituents, prepare technical reports and formulate recommendations. Ability to adapt and be sensitive to working with diverse (race, ethnicity, age, generation, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious/spiritual beliefs, disability and more) populations. Ability to speak multiple languages a plus.

Skill: Skilled coordinator; excellent customer service, data analytics, planning. This position requires a person to be detail oriented, to be self-motivated and able to handle multiple assignments at the same time.

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:

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 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, 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: $75,000 - $78,000 plus annualized benefits Union: Non-union FLSA Status: Exempt Date Posted: July 30, 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 the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@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
• 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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