Statement of Duties
The Senior Planner – Real Estate Specialist is responsible for project management of complex development scenarios by providing technical assistance to the Division Director, Executive Director of OSPCD, and elected and appointed officials; development of new projects and standard practices; preparing written project communications; interfacing with state and federal agencies; and managing consultant contracts including scopes-of-work and budgets. Employee is required to perform all similar or related duties.
Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, assisting in the creation and implementation of mid-to large size development and revitalization plans in those areas of the City targeted for growth under the “SomerVision” master planning document. The SomerVision plan identifies a number of goals, perhaps the most important of which is to strengthen and grow the City’s economic base, one that relies more upon commercial interests.
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.
- Provides technical assistance to elected officials regarding planning and development activities in the city.
- Manages and implements development projects, particularly public private partnerships, and urban renewal projects.
- Serves as the primary point of contact or liaison with prospective development teams on projects impacting the transformative areas of the city.
- Manages RFPs and municipal property disposition and acquisition processes, including commissioning consultant due diligence and appraisal reports, setting up citizen advisory committees, and preparing recommendations for City Council or Somerville. Redevelopment Authority approval.
- Manages consultant contracts.
- Coordinates community outreach and participation processes as well as interdepartmental engagement in implementation projects related to neighborhood plans and urban renewal plans.
- Interfaces with local community, other city departments, and state/federal agencies.
- Prepares written project analysis/response communications.
- Prepares staff reports for a variety of Boards and Commissions and presents case information at Board and Commission meetings.
- Works in close cooperation with the other divisions that comprise the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (Planning, Preservation, and Zoning; Mobility; Public Space and Urban Forestry; Housing; and the Office of Housing Stability).
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree and five to seven (5-7) years’ experience, particularly as it pertains to economics, urban planning, or real estate development; 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 strongly preferred. Master’s degree preferred.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Knowledge: Knowledge of community, politics (local), neighborhood, advocacy groups, and business concerns; considerable knowledge of economic, sociological, and environmental aspects of planning; particular knowledge and experience with relation to zoning, design, construction, and financing of mixed-use and commercial real estate development is valued.
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 communicate effectively orally and in writing with developers, architects, contractors, tenants of municipal property, colleagues across many departments, and the public.
Skill: Skilled public speaker; excellent customer service, strategic thinking, planning, and creative problem-solving skills.
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.). Site visits to properties in construction anticipated.
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 & Benefits: $92,006.73 annualized, plus benefits The City of Somerville offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, group life insurance, participation in the Massachusetts Retirement System, and much more.
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Exempt
Date Posted: February 4, 2024
