Job Description
SHARON DURKAN OFFICE OF BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR, DISTRICT 8 Title:
Director of Policy Salary: $75,000 annually
Description: The Director of Policy will hold primary responsibility in two areas: advancing the Councilor’s legislative agenda on issues including mental health, housing affordability, development, transportation, climate resilience, and quality of life issues, and acting as the office’s liaison to two neighborhoods. Policy: The Director of Policy will be responsible for researching and preparing briefing materials and accompanying the Councilor to hearings or attending them in her stead in addition to coordinating such activities. Most ordinances, resolutions, and hearing orders filed by the Councilor will be drafted by the Director of Policy. The Director will also be responsible for liaising with the State House in regard to home rule petitions or other state legislation in which the Councilor takes an active interest. Finally the Director of Policy will participate extensively in budget analysis work for the Councilor, overseeing the budget scrutiny process for the office. Constituent Services and Neighborhood Advocacy: The Director will share in the constituent service work of the office, with primary responsibility for two neighborhoods. This work will entail attending community meetings and working with city departments to resolve constituent issues in those neighborhoods, under the supervision of the Director of Constituent Services. The Director will also share along with all staff in general duties related to the City Council office, including answering constituent phone calls and correspondence, following up with city departments in regard to inquiries, and accomplishing basic administrative tasks. This work will generally be performed from the City Hall office during regular business hours (9AM-5PM), although community outreach activities will often occur in evening and weekend time. The ideal candidate needs a passion for public policy, strong writing and communication skills, a comfort with spreadsheets, an interest in and talent for cultivating relationships, a sense of curiosity, attention to detail, capacity for leadership, collaborative spirit, and excellent work DISTRICT 8 COUNCILOR, SHARON DURKAN BOSTON CITY HALL, ONE CITY HALL SQUARE, BOSTON 617-635-4225 | SHARON.DURKAN@BOSTON.GOV SHARON DURKAN OFFICE OF BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR, DISTRICT 8 ethic. As the work will differ every day and will evolve over time, the Director must be flexible, resourceful, friendly, patient, helpful, and fundamentally a problem-solver. The Director of Policy and Communications will report to the Chief of Staff, and will also receive supervision from the Director of Constituent Services.