Statement of Duties

The Somerville City Council Research Assistant will provide support for Somerville’s City Council. The council is an eleven-member body made up of four councilors serving at large, and seven councilors representing individual wards. The Council passes ordinances on a range of issues, confirms a variety of appointments, issues many types of licenses, and provides an important connection for residents to their government. It also has fiscal oversight responsibilities, including the power to approve or disapprove the Mayor’s budget appropriations. The Somerville City Council Project Assistant will be responsible for providing comprehensive support to Councilors in the following areas: administration, constituent services, policy analysis and research, data analysis, communications. The position may also assist in supporting committees created under the City Council by Ordinance or City Charter. This position requires the ability to communicate with constituents and staff, including Department Directors working for the City of Somerville.

Essential Functions:

Day-to-day duties will vary based on the need. Essential functions include:

• Administrative support and research supporting various committees.
• Coordinating with Councilors to ensure consistent messaging and timely outreach to constituents and city staff.
• Conducting research on policy issues, ordinances, and initiatives to assist committees and the City Council in making informed decisions.
• Synthesizing data and documenting findings to inform recommendations.
• Providing general administrative support, including data entry, document management, and scheduling.
• Engaging in learning opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of local government operations, legislative processes, and public policy.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience: Currently enrolled in a graduate program of study with a focus on Public Administration, Public Policy, or a related area; a bachelor’s degree with one to three (1-3) years of related work experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively perform the essential functions of the job.

Must possess and demonstrate excellent note taking, writing and documentation skills. 

Special Requirements: This employee is prohibited from taking public positions on issues that are or may reasonably come before the City Council. 

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

A strong candidate will possess the following:

• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
• Ability and willingness to learn technical and other skills quickly.
• Understanding of the methods of legal, legislative, and policy research.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of projects over time.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, tailored to a various audiences.

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.Occasionally, this position will require some work in storage areas that will not have typical office conditions (no climate control, lots of dust, possible vermin, etc.) Applicants will also be required to travel to offices across the city.

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

Will be required to lift moderately heavy objects (~25lbs), stack them, and push and pull them on carts.

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 of materials.

Visual Skills

Routinely reads documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Hours: Part-Time with occasional evening commitments.
Salary: $21.00 per hour (15-19 hours a week). Not benefits eligible. 
Exempt Status: Non-Exempt
Date: May 4th, 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.