Cambridge Seeks Nominations for Outstanding City Employee Award and Brian Murphy Award for Leadership and Public Service

The City of Cambridge is seeking nominations for the 2025 City Manager’s Outstanding Employee Awards and the Brian Murphy Award for Leadership in the Workplace and Public Service.

City Manager’s Outstanding City Employee Award

The City Manager’s Outstanding City Employee Award is an opportunity to recognize our colleagues for their exceptional contributions to public service. City employees at all levels of the workforce are eligible for nomination. As always, our goal is that awardees reflect the diversity of the workforce, i.e., position level, gender, race, ethnicity, as well as persons with disabilities and veterans.

Anyone who lives or works in Cambridge may nominate one or more City employees for recognition. Individuals may nominate as many employees as they choose but must submit a separate nomination form for each nominee. An employee may not nominate their direct supervisor or department head. Former winners of the OEA are not eligible.

View List of Past OEA Winners

Criteria for determining outstanding performance include:

• Demonstrated commitment to residents, business, nonprofits, and other members of the Cambridge community.
• Demonstrated commitment and follow through to City operations and/or programs.
• Developed an innovative or creative solution to a problem or made a significant contribution to the success of a project.
• Demonstrated consistent commitment to advance the City's antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion values in work contributions.
• Has gone above and beyond to get their job done.

Submit Nomination(s) for Outstanding City Employee

Brian Murphy Award for Leadership in the Workplace and Public Service

The Brian Murphy Award for Leadership in the Workplace and Public Service is a distinguished recognition given to leaders who display extraordinary qualities in the workplace and dedication to community service.

Who is Eligible: 

• Current or former City employees who are or have been senior leaders in the organization.  
• Individuals who hold/held management positions and provide(d) high-level leadership and direction for City’s and/or department operations, manage(d) core initiatives and establish(ed) organization-wide policies and standards. 
• Current employee employed by the City a minimum of two years.
• A former employee who in addition to the above criteria held a leadership role with City within the last 2 years
  

This award, first given in 2015, exemplifies – much like the late Assistant City Manager for Community Development, Brian Murphy – the essence of selflessness and a steadfast philosophy of paying it forward. The award recognizes how a leader creates a supportive and nurturing learning environment for their colleagues while setting a standard for their peers in providing effective public service. Through their unwavering commitment and mentorship, this award recognizes leaders who prepare the City's workforce for success and generously share their expertise and knowledge. The candidate for this award is deeply committed to continuous professional development, embodying leadership, and service in every aspect of their career. 

Criteria for the Brian Murphy Award for Leadership in the Workplace and Public Service include:

• Is dedicated to promoting good governance and ensuring that the residents of Cambridge receive essential services;
• Assumes leadership and provides direction for their team within the professional setting;
• Consistently exhibits an exceptional commitment to supporting and guiding colleagues within their department, prioritizing delivering outstanding service to the community's residents. 
• Volunteers their time and expertise to assist their peers and colleagues;
• Inspires others to serve the public in their jobs and the community. 

Submit Nomination(s) for Brian Murphy Award

All nominations for both awards must be submitted by Monday, April 7, 2025, at 5 p.m.

Nominations can be submitted online through two links above, or a signed nomination letter can be submitted to the to the Human Resources Department, humanresources@cambridgema.gov.

Selected recipients will be recognized at the Outstanding City Employee Award ceremony on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Cambridge City Hall.

For more information about the Outstanding City Employee Awards, contact Matt Nelson at 617-349-4266 or mnelson@cambridgema.gov.