Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis

Photo credit: TDM Photography

Jennifer (Jen) Grigoraitis is the first woman to be elected mayor of Melrose, Massachusetts. She was sworn in on January 8, 2024. With deep professional experience in state and local government, Jen brings to the Mayor's Office executive leadership expertise in large-scale budgeting, cross-organizational collaboration, and human resources management.

Jen previously served on the Melrose City Council (2020-2024), including two terms as City Council President (2023, 2020). During this time, she guided the Council through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that city business moved forward efficiently and with ample public access. On the Council, Jen continually advocated for fully supporting the Melrose Public Schools, including pre-K programs, ensuring strong fiscal management, and providing accessible city services for all Melrosians with care and equity.

As Mayor, Jen is ready to shape and set the agenda for the City of Melrose, working with the City staff, local officials, and state and federal partners to build on these priorities and ensure strong, long-term fiscal stability and sustainable city and school services for Melrose.

A hallmark of Jen’s professional career has been her leadership on behalf of some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents. For 16 years, she served as Chief of Staff for the Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance (MOVA), an independent state agency dedicated to supporting victims and survivors of crime across the Commonwealth. She also coordinated the state’s Safe Neighborhood Initiative Division within the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Criminal Bureau. In recognition of her leadership, Jen was selected for the LeadBoston initiative, a year-long inclusive leadership program for emerging Boston leaders, and she is a recipient of the Attorney General’s staff award for excellence.

Within Melrose, Jen previously chaired the Melrose Education Foundation Grants Committee and was a founding member of the One Melrose override campaign. She is involved in the Melrose Democratic City Committee and is an active Melrose Public Schools volunteer.

Jen holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Wellesley College and has proudly resided in Melrose since 2012 with her husband, two children, and their exuberant dog Clementine.

To get in touch with Jen, please email mayorsoffice@cityofmelrose.org

To read Mayor Grigoraitis' First 100-Day Plan, click here.