Community Outreach Coordinator

Statement of Duties  

The Community Outreach Coordinator supports the Planning, Preservation, & Zoning (PPZ) Division’s community engagement program planning and implementation for various long-range planning, permitting, and zoning projects.  

The Community Outreach Coordinator will develop and administer hands-on outreach activities, deploy digital engagement tools, plan public events, facilitate public meetings & focus groups, administer surveys, develop educational materials, mobilize new & existing partners, and coordinate customer service constituent response. The ability to work with stakeholder groups with varying levels of agency using cultural competence is essential for this position.   

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. 

• Advances the Division’s community engagement efforts to expand public participation with particular emphasis on individuals and groups that are underrepresented in the planning process. 
• Builds strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders and maintains a network of contacts and community partners for specific projects. 
• Identifies and implements new or emerging practices in community outreach through a variety of communication channels including, but not limited to, newspaper, TV, radio, social media, City mailing lists & newsletters, community associations, religious organizations, and others. 
• Designs and facilitates online, hybrid, and in-person public events for Division projects.  
• Develops and administers online and printed public engagement tools. 
• Develops public education and other materials for Division projects and events. 
• Communicates complex technical information through a variety of mediums to a broad audience using plain language. 
• Represents PPZ at local public events often occurring outside of standard work hours. 
• Coordinates translation and interpretation services for public meetings and the translation of division communication materials. 
• Maintains PPZ social media accounts, mailing lists, websites, and online engagement platforms. 
• Maintains organized and accurate records and performs analysis to inform public dialogue. 

Minimum Qualifications  

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in urban planning, communications, public relations, or social work and three (3) years experience as an Outreach Coordinator; 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. Applicants able to demonstrate lived experience with proper knowledge of community engagements in lieu of a formal degree are encouraged to apply. 

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill 

Knowledge: Must have a general understanding of urban planning and design, tools and strategies for public outreach, and knowledge of basic web and email tools. Language capacity in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian-Kreyol, Nepali, or any other language is highly desirable but not required.      

Ability: Ability to meet and deal with the public effectively and appropriately; ability to handle problems effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to operate a computer; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to deal appropriately with employees, officials, and members of the general public. 

Skill: Excellent organizational skills; excellent time management skills; proficiency with computers and software including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams applications along with the Adobe Creative Suite. 

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 will be required to work outside of normal business hours, with flexibility provided to ensure a balanced workload. Work in the field involves regular exposure to outside elements. 

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  
Minimal 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. Work requires some agility such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment or photocopy 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 carrying event supplies and equipment.  

Visual Skills 
Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes. 

Hours: Full-Time 
Salary: $75,000.00 annualized, plus benefits 
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Date Posted: March 26, 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 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
• 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.