George Proakis takes part in a July 21 project groundbreaking ceremony in Union Square, Somerville. (Photo: Marc Levy)

Watertown is searching for its next city manager, and one of three finalists for the job is George Proakis, executive director of strategic planning and community development for Somerville.

Proakis has worked in Somerville since 2018. In his current job, he leads a department of 68 staff members working on economic development, transportation, public space, planning, zoning, historic preservation and affordable housing. Before 2018, Proakis worked for the City of Lowell.

Watertown got 23 applications for its city manager position. Their search committee interviewed eight candidates in the first round, then narrowed it down to a final three. The two other finalists are John Curran, town manager in Billerica and former mayor of Woburn; and Norman Khumalo, town manager in Hopkinton.

A community forum will be held Monday and the Watertown City Council will interview the three candidates on May 12. More information is here.

A version of this story appeared originally on the Somerville Wire.