Commissioner of the Department of Public Works

Statement of Duties

The Commissioner serves in an administrative and supervisory capacity, overseeing the provision of excellent public works for the people of Somerville. This includes the maintenance of all school and municipally-owned properties, street lights, traffic signals, fire alarms, city streets, sidewalks, city fleet, school custodians, snow fighting and removal operations, and oversees trash contracts. 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.

• Supervises city staff in carrying out high-quality maintenance and services.
• Supervises the work of all consultants that work for the department including trash pick up, engineering and snow removal services.
• Administers the application for and administration of County, State and Federal Aid for the provision of public works-related services keeping accurate records and maintenance of such funds and projects
• Prepares all bids and advertising of bids for services, equipment and various other items or materials to be purchased for the public works department.
• Prepares and implements all department programs, rules, regulations, practices and policies.
• Prepares and administers the department’s annual operating and capital budgets.
• Serves as a member of the City’s collective bargaining team.
• Represents the city with various local, state and federal agencies. · Serves as Chairperson of the Traffic and Parking Commission.
• Prepares and presents materials to City Council and Committees.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Position requires a College degree and more than seven (7+) years work related experience in construction, operations, administration of direct city services, of which three were considered as being in direct responsible charge; 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.

Special Requirements:

• Must possess an OSHA 10 card (minimum), OSHA 30 card recommended
• A valid Massachusetts Class D driver’s license preferred

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Working knowledge of city government; working knowledge of departmental operations including civil engineering and costs associated with building maintenance and rehabilitation practices and procedures. Working knowledge of other city departments, state and federal agencies; working knowledge of personnel and state procurement regulations and Chapter 90 regulations; working knowledge of department budgetary procedures, record keeping, cost accounting and information flow techniques and practices; working knowledge of municipal water and waste water treatment operations and related distribution and pumping systems. Working knowledge of ground and facility maintenance techniques as they pertain to buildings, roads, water mains, sanitary and water drains, electrical lines and conduits.

Abilities: Ability to communicate work assignments and supervise subordinates; ability to express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing; and the ability to develop and monitor the effectiveness of short and long range operational plans. Ability to deal tactfully with disgruntled members of the public. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, the public, local officials, state and federal regulatory authorities. Ability to manage subordinates and delegate management responsibilities.

Skill: Skilled in capital cost estimating for budget purposes; skilled in public relations and management supervisory skills. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Proficient building maintenance and rehabilitation skills.

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 emergency situations or to attend evening meetings.

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

Work requires some agility and physical strength, such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain, or standing or walking most of the work period. Occasionally, work may require lifting heavy objects and carrying them (up to 60 lbs.). There may be need to stretch and reach to retrieve materials. .

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, sorting, working with hand tools such as a hammer, screw driver or shovel, and operating a motor vehicle.

Visual Skills

Visual demands require routinely reading documents for general understanding, reading documents for analytical purposes and reviewing non-written materials (e.g. maps, blueprints, instrumentation for analytical purposes).

Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $155,000 annualized, plus benefits.
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Exempt
Date Posted: February 5th, 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 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. 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
• 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.