Former Ward 1 Alderman, William M. Roche, has accepted a full-time position with the City of Somerville as the Director of Personnel.

Following approval by the Board of Aldermen at the Thursday, February 28 meeting, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced last week that former Ward 1 Alderman, William M. Roche, has accepted a full-time position with the City of Somerville as the Director of Personnel. Roche had been serving as part-time Acting Director following the departure of former Director, Sarah Kloos, as the city worked to maintain operations.  Six candidates were interviewed for the position.

“Bill has played a key role in contract negotiations, filling key vacancies, and other high profile responsibilities within the city, in addition to upgrading and modernizing systems and procedures in just two months of his part-time employment in the Personnel Department. His expertise and knowledge, both of human resources and of the City of Somerville in general, have proven invaluable,” said Mayor Curtatone. “Bill was the clear frontrunner in our hiring process for this position, and we are fortunate that he has accepted a full-time role within this administration.”

Having retired recently from an 18-year position with the Somerville Board of Aldermen, Bill Roche also has extensive experience as a human resources professional. He worked in NSTAR’s Human Resources Organization since 1999, and had been with NSTAR in various roles since 1971. He holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources from Boston University.

“It is exciting to be able to serve the City for Somerville in a capacity other than as an Alderman, and still be able to have such a positive influence in the city where my wife and I and a great deal of my family still reside,” Roche said.  “I am honored that the Mayor has enough faith and trust in me to ask me to serve as Personnel Director, and I look forward to working with the Mayor and his administration in making the City of Somerville a premier municipal employer.”