Statement of Duties

The Director of Inspectional Services supervises building, plumbing/gas, electrical, board of health, and weights and measures inspectors to enforce all laws and regulations pertaining to building construction and health in the City of Somerville. 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.

• Manages and coordinates a multi-disciplinary staff organized into the following divisions: Building, Health, and Weights and Measures.
• Responsible for creating and implementing all department policies and procedures.
• Evaluates and makes executive decisions regarding the department's budget.
• Prepares and administers the department's annual operating budget.
• Interprets building and zoning questions.
• Reports to the Mayor on all public health and safety code enforcement issues related to inspectional services.
• Leads the Neighborhood Impact Team, which addresses problem properties.
• Meets with business owners, residents, elected officials, developers, and contractors to discuss projects or concerns.
• Advocates and presents proposals on behalf of the department and the Mayor before the Board of Aldermen, other government officials, and citizen groups.
• Coordinates the department's use of CitizenServe, the City's licensing and permitting software.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field, with 10+ years of related work experience in municipal government or inspectional services/code enforcement; 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:

• Construction Supervisor's License
• Certified as a Building Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of 780 CMR R7 and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' State Board of Building Regulations and Standards preferred; or ability and interest to secure said certification as a Building Commissioner.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Working knowledge of department practices and services and specifically the City of Somerville Ordinances including building, zoning, subdivision, plumbing/gas, mechanical, electrical; working knowledge of the principles and practices of building construction and inspection; knowledge of principles and policies of personnel management and supervision; knowledge of the City's geography, related agencies and surrounding jurisdictions. Knowledge of health/sanitary and housing code enforcement best practices is preferred, with working knowledge of related City of Somerville Ordinances and Board of Health regulations.

Abilities: Ability to work independently; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to handle problems effectively in response to day-to-day crises; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to operate a computer; ability to deal appropriately with City employees, City officials, contractors, trades workers and the public. Ability to prioritize projects based on multiple factors, which may include political, financial, public health and safety, etc. Ability to analyze and explain financial implications of complex inspectional service decisions; ability to recruit and train employees; ability to streamline processes while successfully utilizing the skills and abilities of all staff.

Skill: Excellent organizational skills and skills in all work-related software applications. Strong conceptual, analytical, verbal and written communication skills. Adept at utilizing and modifying permitting software to meet department needs.

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 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

Little or no 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. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment and computer 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 moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting.

Visual Skills

Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes and routinely reviewing maps and blueprints with a need for color vision.

Hours: Full-Time, In-Person role. On-Call for Emergencies.
Salary Range: $130,000-$135,200 annualized, plus benefits.
FLSA: Exempt
Union: Non-Union
Date Posted: June 29th, 2026

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.