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Concord approves Director of Community Development job description and adds procurement manager role
Summary
The Personnel Board approved restoring a Director of Community Development (grade 16) to manage planning, natural resources, building and public health, and approved creating a procurement manager (grade 10) using an existing vacant FTE; the lead swim coach position was tabled for further review.
The Personnel Board on Nov. 13 approved a senior community‑development director job description and voted to create a procurement manager role using an existing vacant FTE.
Deputy Town Manager Megan Zamuto explained the proposal to restore a director‑level position previously held by Marsha Rasmussen. "We need someone who can oversee planning, natural resources, building, and public health," she said, pointing to the workload created by projects including MCI Concord, the Peabody School site and other land‑use priorities. The new position is graded at a senior level (grade 16) and will report to the Town Manager with day‑to‑day coordination with the deputy town manager.
Board members questioned how a single director could support technical divisions with distinct subject matter (for example, building code and public health) and stressed the importance of strong division heads. Staff said the director is expected to be a strategic manager and coordinator, not a technical specialist in every discipline, and noted the town plans to lean on experienced division managers and regional collaboration for technical expertise.
Separately, staff proposed repurposing an existing vacant FTE in Finance to create a procurement manager (grade 10) responsible for centralizing procurement work and ensuring compliance with Chapter 30B procurement rules for bids and RFPs. Staff emphasized that this change does not increase total headcount because it uses an already budgeted vacancy.
The lead swim coach position for the BD/Beattie Center — a part‑time (up to 20 hours/week) role funded by the center's enterprise fund — prompted questions about program access and recent price increases that reduced youth participation. Several board members and an attendee asked that the recreation director and BD Center manager attend the next meeting to explain the program strategy before the board proceeds. That swim‑program item was tabled pending follow‑up.
Votes: the board approved the Director of Community Development job description and the procurement manager position; the swim program staffing item will return to a future agenda with recreation staff present.
Next steps include recruiting for the approved positions and returning with clarified swim‑program information to the Personnel Board.
