The Metropolitan Area Planning Council seeks a dynamic and committed professional to serve as our next Municipal Services Specialist I. The Specialist will contribute to and support the management of innovative and important projects, collaborating directly with cities and towns in Greater Boston, focusing a diverse range of projects that help to bridge the digital divide, improve local public health and safety programs, and modernize government finance and operations. The Specialist will report to the Assistant Director of Municipal Collaboration and collaborate with others in various MAPC departments to provide support to the region’s cities and towns on special projects across a variety of municipal functions, and often among multiple municipalities.  
 
About MAPC 
MAPC is the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) serving the people who live and work in metropolitan Boston. Our strategic priorities are to promote smart growth, regional collaboration, climate mitigation and resilience, and equity in the region. We are guided by our regional plan, MetroCommon2050: Shaping the Region Together. MAPC’s staff includes approximately 100 full-time employees located in downtown Boston in a transit-accessible and bike-friendly office. MAPC operates on a hybrid schedule, combining time in the office with remote work. Employees must reside within a commutable distance from MAPC’s office. 
 
MAPC strongly supports the professional development of each and every staff person, believing their growth to be consistent with the best interests of MAPC and the region. We encourage all our staff to develop new ideas to make MAPC’s planning and policy work more relevant and impactful, and to adapt to changing times. 
 
This is an opportunity to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and innovative environment with professionals who are committed to building a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone who lives and works in Greater Boston. For more information about MAPC or MetroCommon2050, please visit www.mapc.org. 
 
About the Municipal Collaboration Department 
The Department’s goal is to improve the quality and efficiency of municipal services, provide resources to address municipal challenges, and increase coordination among communities. By pursuing a variety of state and federal grants, and local funding sources, the Municipal Collaboration Department can provide technical assistance to municipalities who are seeking to modernize their operations and address critical policy challenges, often through collaboration with neighboring communities. The Municipal Collaboration Department also supports collective purchasing programs, an emergency preparedness practice, and multiple programs related to public safety and public health. 

Responsibilities (including but not limited to) 

• Collaborate with senior municipal officials to identify new approaches for providing local services that are more sustainable, equitable, efficient, and effective. This can include reforming local operations or collaborating with neighboring communities. Projects span many municipal functions including public safety, public health, governance, facilities, finance, procurement, data services, clean energy, etc.;  
• Assist in managing a portfolio of resident-focused technology projects to stand up free, in-unit public Wi-Fi services. Tasks can include identifying sites, procuring solutions, managing contracts, and providing other support services to help close the digital divide; 
• Create the framework and parameters for municipal service sharing. Draft Inter-Municipal Agreements (IMA), Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), and contracts that outline roles and responsibilities. Gather and implement feedback on agreements. Support approval, execution, and implementation processes; 
• Research emerging government policy and practices in public procurement, with a focus on broadband, but potentially including Software as a Service (SaaS), “smart city,”, and other IT products and services. Identify opportunities to implement these procurements; 
• Conduct public procurements on behalf of municipal partners, covering a variety of goods and services, consistent with applicable laws, including public wi-fi network solutions; 
• Research emerging state and federal government policies affecting local government operations, procurement, and finance. Identify opportunities to support municipalities through changing regulatory environments; 
• Generate and identify funding for projects. Write grant applications, oversee grants, contracts, deliverables, and reporting requirements; 
• Conduct general project management activities with the support of a supervisor. Develop project plans, manage vendors, provide periodic updates, and monitor budgets; 
• Assist on other Municipal Collaboration projects on issues such as public safety, emergency preparedness, and cooperative purchasing of goods and services; 
• Work across MAPC departments with colleagues to develop and deliver creative project ideas that support MAPC’s wider mission, including Municipal Master Plans. 

Evening events, occasional weekend events, and local travel are responsibilities for this position. MAPC does not require that you have a vehicle; however, you must have a valid driver’s license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC provides support for travel, including MBTA passes, a Zipcar account and Bluebikes membership.  

Qualifications 

Candidates for this position should have a Bachelor’s degree in public administration, public policy, city and regional planning, government management, or a related field and a minimum of two (2) years of relevant work experience is preferred. Candidates alternatively can substitute the qualifications above with an Associate’s degree and three (3) years of work experience OR high school graduation/GED plus five (5) years of related work experience. 
 
The successful applicant will demonstrate all or most of the following:   

• Knowledge and a solid understanding of the workings and structure of Massachusetts local government, including finance, operations, procurement, and law (or comparable experience from another state); 
• Demonstrated experience in some or all aspects of municipal service delivery, including municipal information technology infrastructure, public health services, public works, public safety, planning and development, and/or others; 
• Strong communication, collaboration, and project management skills; 
• Strong and efficient writing skills with the ability to write contract and procurement documents and tailor other communications to a range of audiences; 
• A professional demeanor and a positive “can do” attitude; 
• A task-oriented work ethic, attention to detail, ability to manage priorities, work independently, and meet deadlines; 
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Outlook, Excel, and Word. 

Per MAPC COVID-19 Vaccine Policy, all employees, including remote employees, must be fully vaccinated. This position will require the selected candidate to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, including the Bivalent booster. MAPC is an equal opportunity employer and will consider reasonable accommodation to those individuals who are unable to be vaccinated consistent with federal, state, and local law. 
 

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary ranges from $65,000-$73,000, depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time exempt position. MAPC offers excellent Massachusetts state employee benefits as well as a flexible, supportive, and family-friendly work environment and a commitment to continued professional development.
 
How to Apply:

Apply online at www.mapc.org/jobs. The position is open until filled, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Candidates selected to interview will be asked to submit three (3) references plus a sample of relevant writing or work product. Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the USA and a valid driver’s license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC participates in E-Verify, which is a federal program that helps us to determine work eligibility in the United States.  
  
We believe that a staff with a range of perspectives, experiences, and skillsets strengthens our work. We are committed to building a more equitable workplace that allows staff with diverse backgrounds and identities to thrive, grow, and lead. For more information on MAPC’s culture of equity, see our Equity at MAPC page.