Assistant Administrator Mulcahy Arrives In Harwich

 HARWICH – Assistant Town Administrator James M. Mulcahy Jr. jumped right into his new position on May 11. 

Mulcahy said he attended both nights of the annual town meeting, although he was not yet scheduled to start his new job. He said he attended the legislative session to get a feel for the community.

 “Town meeting was well run and people really care about this community,” was Mulcahy’s takeaway.

He brings an interesting background to his position. Mulcahy was an educator for 24 years before making the transition to municipal services. He started out as a physical education and health teacher in Newton but moved quickly into administration; he holds a master’s degree in education administration from Cambridge College. He served from 2013 to 2017 as principal of Silver Lake High School, the school he attended as a student, and as principal of Sandwich High School from 2017 to 2024. 

Why the transfer to municipal government?

 “It was a time in my life when I wanted a transition to explore other opportunities,” Mulcahy said. “I really enjoyed my time in education.”

Mulcahy grew up in Plympton in a blue collar household. His father had a construction company, and in mid-career, his father left the construction industry and ran for highway surveyor in the town. He was elected and served 20 years in that capacity.

Mulcahy said he was surrounded by municipal government discussions and learned a lot through his father’s experience. As his father had done, in mid-career he wanted to look at municipal opportunities. He studied the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Beacon Magazine where thousands of job opportunities get posted.

In 2024 he applied for a stormwater coordinator position in Middleborough and got the job based on his strong administrative experience, he said. He worked for a year with the engineering department in the department of public works. When the assistant to the town manager position became available, he applied and got the job in 2025.

One of 29 applicants, Mulcahy was the unanimous choice for the assistant position in Harwich. He had worked with new Harwich Town Administrator Jay McGrail in Middleborough. Both are Sandwich residents, and several years ago McGrail worked for Mulcahy as director of facilities for the Sandwich public schools.

 “I have worked with Jim in different capacities over the past eight or nine years and hold him in very high regard,” McGrail told the select board April 27. “His combination of municipal executive experience, operational discipline, and proven leadership makes him the right person to help lead Harwich through its next chapter.”

Mulcahy said he has a lot of experience in budgeting and procurement and has a history of building strong relationships through reaching common ground with people. He said much of his work will be related to budgeting, procurement and personnel and supporting the town administrator. 

Mulcahy said he has attended a department heads meeting and the message he provided is that he’s “here for you and your departments and to facilitate projects.”

 Building relationships with the select board, department heads, staff and the community is important, he said.

 “For us to be successful, we have to have contact with people,” said Mulcahy. “I’m excited about being here and see great opportunity. This town is awesome, and I feel like I’ve got a lot to offer Harwich.”