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City of Somerville · 7 hours ago

Employee Engagement & Retention Specialist

Somerville, MA

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$75K/yr - $75K/yr

5+ years exp

The City of Somerville is dedicated to maintaining effective operations and employee morale through strategic engagement and retention. The Employee Engagement & Retention Specialist will execute plans based on workforce assessments and enhance onboarding experiences to support employee integration and satisfaction.

Communities

Responsibilities

Routinely visits departments citywide to serve as a visible, accessible point of contact for employees; shares information on City programs, benefits, professional development, and engagement initiatives, and gathers real-time employee feedback through in-person interactions

Supports new employees through in-person onboarding touchpoints, follow-up check-ins, and referrals to available resources; attends weekly New Hire Orientation sessions

Collaborate with departments to assess employee experience, identify trends, and recommend targeted engagement and retention interventions

Develop a digital new-hire onboarding program and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to automate and streamline systems and processes

Plans, implements, and administers universal new-hire orientation to improve early employee experience and long-term integration

Partners with internal and external subject matter experts to develop and deliver continuous professional development opportunities, including instructor-led trainings that support leadership development, equity, inclusion, belonging, and organizational effectiveness

Assists in the coordination and ongoing support of Mentorville (the City’s mentorship program), affinity groups, and peer networks, including on-site outreach and participation

Supports leadership development and emerging talent initiatives that strengthen internal career pathways and employee retention

Develops and maintains clear, accessible communications and materials related to onboarding, engagement, and professional development initiatives that are visible across all levels of the organization

Defines, tracks, and communicates program outcomes and success metrics; evaluates participation trends and adjusts strategies based on data and employee input

Supports employee recognition, workplace culture, and engagement initiatives that promote pride in City service and strengthen the City’s employer brand

Assists with the training, development, and coordination of the non-union employee performance management program and professional development processes

Promotes the City’s tuition reimbursement program to new and current employees and works with department leadership to leverage this benefit in support of employee professional growth and retention

Monitors program costs and serves as a point of contact for vendors; supports the Human Resources administrative division in issuing timely and accurate vendor payments

Performs all other related work as required

Qualification

Employee engagement strategiesOnboarding program developmentProject managementData-driven decision makingProfessional development trainingMicrosoft Office SuiteMultilingual skillsCommunication skillsRelationship-buildingConflict resolution

Required

Bachelor's degree and 5 years of work experience in human resources, recruitment, employee onboarding, learning & development; 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

Demonstrated knowledge of multiple types of facilitated learning interaction design methods

Knowledge of data-driven decision making to drive change in an organization

Demonstrated success in designing and delivering individual, organizational and management training programs

Proven track record in managing projects; devising and implementing effective, result-oriented employee initiatives and engagement programs, with solid technical knowledge

Ability to work effectively in a diverse municipal environment that includes union and non-union employees, staff working varied schedules (including evenings and overnight shifts), and employees located across multiple City facilities

Ability to understand and navigate differing work rules, benefits, and contractual requirements

Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment that spans different job functions and departments

Ability to handle problems effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing; ability to operate a personal computer; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to quickly learn and become proficient in new software programs; ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with City employees, City officials and members of the public

Ability to show judgment and initiative to accomplish job duties

Ability to be a change agent in developing key initiatives at a City-wide level

Ability to work with management, employees, and vendors on leadership initiatives and diversity/inclusion endeavors, particularly in the areas of learning and development program design and delivery

Excellent judgment, sound problem-solving ability, and creative decision-making skills

Strong project management capabilities, including needs analysis, program development, implementation, and evaluation

Demonstrated strategic and critical thinking skills

Strong relationship-building, facilitation, and conflict resolution abilities

Highly effective written and verbal communication, research, and presentation skills

Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite and Excel

MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance

Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Preferred

Program/project management with a progressive increase of responsibility in developing programs and initiatives designed to drive employee engagement

SHRM-CP or HRCI-PHR certification preferred but not required

Multilingual skills in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian-Creole, Mandarin, Nepali or any other language spoken by the Somerville community preferred but not required

Knowledge of Microsoft Office (MS) Teams and SharePoint a plus