Senior Planner (PPZ)

About the Department The Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development (OSPCD) is the planning and development agency for the City of Somervile.

OSPCD’s mission is to improve the lives of everyone in Somerville by making it easier for people to get and keep stable housing, find quality jobs, and start and run a business; building safe and healthy streets and public spaces; and guiding how neighborhoods can change for the better while keeping what makes Somerville unique.

OSPCD consists of seven divisions including Economic Development, Finance & Administration, Housing, Housing Stability, Mobility, Planning, Preservation, & Zoning, and Public Space & Urban Forestry.

The Planning, Preservation, & Zoning (PPZ) division is staffed by a Director, Deputy Director, three Senior Planners, five Planners, a Community Outreach Coordinator, and an Administrative Assistant.

PPZ’s core functions include the following :

• Engaging with the community of Somerville residents, businesses, and organizations to develop long-term plans that guide future urban development, government policy, and capital improvement decision making as the city evolves.
• Staffing & administering the Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Board, Urban Design Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals.
• Coordinating review of permit applications by OSPCD staff to ensure urban development is compliant to standards and consistent with city policy.
• Maintaining, revising, and updating the Somerville Zoning Ordinance to implement City policies and long-term planning.

Statement of Duties :

Essential Functions :

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. (Note :

Manage long-term planning, zoning, and historic preservation projects Support the review of permit applications by OSPCD staff and other City departments Manages City coordination efforts related to major redevelopment projects Facilitates interdepartmental strategic planning coordination between OSPCDs divisions Meet regularly with staff, OSPCD Directors, elected officials, and other City departments Provide strategic policy advice and recommendations to the Division Director, Executive Director of OSPCD, and elected and appointed officials Participates in the division’s public education campaigns Collaborates with hired consultants, city staff, and community stakeholders Collaborates with the division’s Community Outreach Coordinator for public engagement Conducts research, analysis, and produces written and graphical content for long-range plans, zoning ordinances, and other City projects Provide training to board & commission members on standard operating procedures and responsibilities Provide direction and guidance to division staff, including onboarding, training, and mentoring Recommended Minimum Qualifications :

The office maintains a hybrid at-home and in-office schedule over a 36.5 hour work week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday :

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions Hours :

Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees :