The South End has a new neighborhood liaison, an oft-overlooked role in city government that covers everything from advocacy to administration to fire response.

Kimberly Crucioli has left her position as neighborhood liaison for the South End and Bay Village, a job she held since the early days of the pandemic. Her replacement is Sarah Sharpe, a member of the city’s Council on Young Adults.

The community engagement cabinet said it expects to make a formal announcement for the transition next week. Sharpe is already serving in her new position, as liaisons typically start learning the ropes and taking over responsibilities a week or two before the formal appointment.

The process for selecting new neighborhood liaisons isn’t especially standardized.

The community engagement cabinet said in a statement that all it requires is a knowledge of the area and a drive to help.

“The Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods Services seeks candidates who have a passion for serving the community and have a familiarity of the neighborhoods they serve,” said a spokesperson when asked about selection criteria.

Sharpe has a degree in political science and sociology from Brandeis University along with a master’s degree in public administration from Northeastern. She’s been working until now for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as a development officer, but still found time to serve on the SPARK Boston council for young adults and work with Alzheimer’s residents at the Brightview Senior Living center in Canton.

Part of the reason for the role’s broad criteria is how diverse its responsibilities are.

Neighborhood liaisons act as a direct interface between city government and local residents or businesses, but are also tapped for a variety of bureaucratic functions. Expanding the number of parking spots in a neighborhood, for example, is requested via the neighborhood liaison and a petition.

Neighborhood liaisons also have a role in emergency response, making sure in the wake of incidents that nobody gets left behind by the system.

“If there’s a fire in the neighborhood, they’re there to make sure anybody displaced gets connected and has the resources they need,” said the cabinet. “Liaisons are the eyes and ears on the ground for the mayor. They attend meetings with community organizations. If a resident or business owner has any concern they can reach out at any time.” Elizabeth Beutel, president of the South End Business Alliance, emphasized that liaisons are the first line of connection between constituents and public servants.

“Neighborhood liaisons serve a vital role in communication, both from city government to residents and the other way around. When residents or businesses have something they need advocated, that’s what neighborhood liaisons are for. They’re our voice in city government,” she said.

Crucioli, meanwhile, will be moving to focus exclusively on her role with the Age Strong Commission as its event specialist. That could represent a new investment from the city in the commission, whose announcements page doesn’t have any notable events since at least June.