Principal Clerk

cityofsomerville; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 49,396 - 66,695; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 weeks annual vacation (non-union)

Medical insurance through GIC

Dental coverage

Vision care

Flexible spending accounts

Deferred compensation

Employee Assistance Program

Pension and retirement benefits

Job summary

The City of Somerville seeks a detail-oriented clerical assistant to support the Water and Sewer Department under the Director of Finance and Administration. You will handle deposits, billing, mail routing, and routine communications with the public.

Responsibilities include processing customer inquiries, coordinating with foremen for urgent dispatch, and ensuring regulatory compliance while providing professional service in a fast-paced municipal office.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of office procedures and practices.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced office environment.
• Ability to comply with applicable regulations and policies.
• Ability to utilize a variety of software systems including but not limited to Microsoft Office; MUNIS experience preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form.
• Ability to operate telephone and standard office equipment.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude, problem solve, and utilize common sense.

Responsibilities

• Performs a variety of clerical duties according to standard office procedures.
• Completes deposit and billing activities.
• Responsible for intaking customer issues and responding appropriately, including referring matters to the crew supervisor.
• In urgent situations, contacts foremen or working foremen to ensure timely dispatch.
• Uses departmental software.
• Maintains confidentiality and discretion in performance of duties.
• Routes and time stamps mail and interdepartmental mail to the appropriate department staff.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable regulations and policies.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with superiors, co-workers, and the general public.
• Supports Department of Public Works administrative staff as directed.
• Trains other clerical staff in the water/sewer department as necessary.

Skills

Office procedures

Fast-paced environment

Regulations compliance

Microsoft Office

MUNIS experience

Written and oral communication

Telephone operation

Customer service

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Statement of Duties:

Responsible for assisting the Director of Finance and Administration in the administration of the Water and Sewer Department through administrative and clerical functions. Performs all other related duties that may be assigned.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs a variety of clerical duties according to standard office procedures.
• Completes deposit and billing activities.
• Responsible for intaking customer issues and responding appropriately, including but not limited to referring matter to the crew supervisor. In urgent situations, responsible for contacting foremen or working foremen to ensure timely dispatch.
• Uses departmental software.
• Maintains confidentially and discretion in the performance of duties.
• Routes and time stamps U.S. mail and packages and interdepartmental mail to the appropriate department staff.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable Federal, State, regional, City, and Department regulations and policies.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with superiors, co-workers, and the general public.
• At the Water & Sewer Director’s (or designee’s) direction, may support Department of Public Works administrative staff.
• Trains other clerical staff in the water / sewer department as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Knowledge of office procedures and practices.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced office environment.
• Ability to comply with applicable regulations and policies.
• Ability to utilize a variety of software systems including but not limited to Microsoft Office; MUNIS experience preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form.
• Ability to operate telephone and standard office equipment.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude, problem solve, and utilize common sense.
• Ability to perform work tasks with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing.
• Ability to occasionally lift objects such as books, office equipment, and computer paper up to 30 pounds.
• Organizational and interpersonal skills.

Entrance Requirements:

• Graduation from a high school or vocational school, or equivalent.
• Minimum of one year of experience in an office setting; preference for experience working with public utilities.

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.

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

Typically, little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with minimal stooping and standing for filing and archiving duties. There is also 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 requires 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.
Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $1,115.31 weekly, plus benefits
Union: SMEU B
Date Posted: July 30th, 2026

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 the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or [e-mail].

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
• 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.