PRINCIPAL ASSESSOR

Rockport; Rockport (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

Rockport seeks a dynamic Principal Assessor to lead the town's assessment operations and manage the assessment staff. The role oversees real and personal property valuation, ensuring compliance with Massachusetts laws and DOR requirements, while supervising clerks and contractors.

The ideal candidate has an associate degree (bachelor’s preferred) in business or finance and 3–5 years of appraisal experience, with strong analytical and communication skills to engage with taxpayers and officials.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree (Bachelor’s Preferred) with courses in business, finance or a related field.
• Three to five years of real and personal property appraisal experience or related work experience.
• Strong knowledge of property assessment principles and Massachusetts laws.

Responsibilities

• Directs and manages all assessment operations for real and taxable personal property in the town.
• Prepares reports; collaborates with DOR; assists in setting and maintaining tax rates.
• Maintains public records and explains assessment methods to taxpayers; handles disputes professionally.
• Supervises staff and contractors; oversees data collection and office operations.

Skills

Property assessment

GIS coordination

Staff supervision

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Associate degree (Bachelor’s preferred) in business/finance or related field

Tools

CAMA system

GIS data/tools

Job description

Job Opportunities

Closing Date: Open Until Filled; Priority Review Begins August 17, 2026

TITLE: PRINCIPAL ASSESSOR

TYPE OF POSITION: EXEMPT/DEPARTMENT HEAD/NON-UNION

LOCATION: TOWN-WIDE

PAY RATE: $90,000. - $104,000 DOQ/E

Town of Rockport | Principal Assessor

The Town of Rockport seeks a dynamic individual to join their team as the Principal Assessor. This management position is appointed by the Board of Assessors; policy direction is received from the Board of Assessors and daily oversight and direction is through the Finance Director. The purposes of this position are to value all types and classes of property on an equalized basis using accepted professional property assessment techniques, to manage the assessment process and to supervise assessing office operations and staff. The incumbent values taxable personal property, boats, and motor vehicles according to standards established by and in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They assist in preparing commitments for the assessment and collection of local taxes to raise Town revenues and provides for the timely maintenance of all automated and other office records. The Principal Assessor is required to exercise judgment in administering and managing the assessing office and is responsible for maintaining and improving upon the efficiency and effectiveness of all areas under his/her direction and control.

Supervision

Supervision Scope: Performs responsible duties to plan, organize and direct the work of the office and coordinates work with other town and state agencies to provide for the timely commitment of taxes; s/he performs a wide variety of routine and special professional, technical, administrative, and supervisory responsibilities that require an extensive knowledge of automated and manual property assessment systems and techniques.

Supervision Received: Works under the policy oversight of the Board of Assessors and operational/administrative direction of the Finance Director, following professional standards, procedures and policies of the Town and Department of Revenue.

Supervision Given: Supervises one part-time clerk; develops job direction, assigns tasks, provides instructions as needed, and monitors performance and provides feedback as necessary. Oversees contracted data collection vendor.

Essential Job Functions

• Directs, manages and conducts all operations and assigned personnel to provide for the equitable assessment of all real and taxable personal property throughout the Town according to laws of the Commonwealth, regulations and directives of the DOR and the proscribed quarterly, annual and other cycles of operations; Prepares commitment of taxes to the Treasurer/Collector for tax bill generation.
• Prepares and supervises the preparation of the required reports to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue; prepares recapitulation report and other documents necessary to calculate the tax rate and obtains approval by the Department of Revenue; operates and is responsible for the effective operation and maintenance of a computer assisted mass appraisal (CAMA) system; develops a fair and equitable assessed value of property in relation to itself, all other like and similar properties and within legally acceptable coefficients of dispersion; keeps abreast of all new laws pertaining to real estate and personal property assessments and practices; qualifies the sales for valid arm’s length transactions to determine values; complies with DOR requirements for the application of valuation methods, consistency of grading, neighborhood conformity, conducts building permit property inspections to accurately account for New Growth.
• Views and records properties for the creation, annual update of a field manual as required by the Department of Revenue and town officials and ensures the accuracy of same through periodic review and editing.
• Develops and institutes procedures to ensure fair and efficient assessment administration of real estate, personal property, community preservation surcharge, boat excise, and auto excise taxes, etc. including notices for abatements, exemptions,and other germane entitlements.
• Determines the proper classification of all real property in the Town; performs market, cost and income analysis as deemed appropriate; reviews values on real and personal property to determine an accurate assessment using complex assessment methods; reviews applications for abatements and exemptions and reports errors or omissions.
  • Determines and assesses a value of all personal property for businesses that is subsequently used to generate a tax bill for every account in the Town.
  • Responsible for keeping abreast of the laws pertaining to Chapter Land. Determines and enforces eligibility of land classifications.
• Provides access to assessment records subject to the public records law; serves as a strong presence in office - meets and communicates with taxpayers, their representatives, and others to explain how assessments are/were derived; attempts to resolve disputes according to professional practices.
• Prepares and posts agenda for Board of Assessors in compliance with the Open Meeting Law; maintains minutes of meetings; provides advice and drafts motions as necessary for Appellate Tax Board; responsible for the annual classification hearing for the setting of the Property Tax rate for all classifications.
• PreparesReal Estate Appraisals, represents the Town’s interests, and testifies before the Appellate Tax Board; Research sales data to create Real Estate Appraisal Report for use in defending the Town at the Appellate Tax Board.
• Prepares various reports as required by Massachusetts laws such as: annual new growth, year-end report of exemptions, etc.
• Reviews 3ABC forms for charities and forms of list for personal properties account.
• Processes all bills for the department.
  • Submits oral and written reports to the Town and State agencies.
  • Serves as a member of the Finance Officers and Financial Management Teams; Works closely with the Treasurer/Collector and Accounting Offices. Attends all Town Meetings (Annual & Specials).
  • Duties and projects as assigned by the Board of Assessors and/or Finance Director.

Other Functions

• Performs similar or related work as required, directed or as situation dictates.
• Continue training and professional development, keeping current with trends.
• Assists other department staff as needed to promote a team effort to serve the public.

Minimum Required Qualifications

Education, Training and Experience

Associate’s Degree (Bachelor’s Preferred) with courses in business, finance or a related field; coursework in property assessment, real estate and personal property appraisal preferred; applicants must have three - five years of real and personal property appraisal experience or related work experience or any equivalent combination of education, training and work experience.

Special Requirements

Must have and maintain: a valid driver’s license; obtain and maintain Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO) professional designation throughout employment with the Town. Complete DOR Course 101 and related classroom training with one year of appointment.

Knowledge, Ability and Skill

• Comprehensive knowledge of modern property appraisal principles and practices, Massachusetts laws (chapters 61, 61A & 61B) relating to property appraisal and assessments and periodic cycles and the use and maintenance of the Town’s licensed CAMA system.
• Thorough knowledge of field work and physical inspections of Real and Personal property, new constructions additions, renovations and existing/new businesses to determine valuation and Tax Base Growth.
• Strong knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations related to assessments; appellate tax board procedures; department of revenue reports, lien holding, prior land usage, tax classification hearing procedure, etc.
• Strong knowledge and ability to coordinate GIS programs and data.
• Strong knowledge of municipal budget procedures.
• Ability to oversee and maintain detailed and accurate records using data processing.
• Ability to organize, analyze and interpret financial and property data.
• Ability to make presentations to elected officials, and the public.
• Ability to assign, train, and supervise staff, including contractors.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with town staff, officials, department heads, state agencies, property owners, and the like.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to determine fair property values.
• Aptitude for working with and explaining assessing policies and procedures to the public and staff.
• High level of customer service skills with more than ordinary courtesy and tact.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER.

The Town of Rockport does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, color, or disability in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.