Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh yesterday appointed Patrick Brophy as the city’s chief of operations.

Brophy will assume the role in April. His work will include overseeing property and construction management and intergovernmental relations.

Brophy most recently was associate director for government and community affairs at Harvard University where he managed external interactions and communications between Harvard University, regulatory agencies and Harvard’s local constituencies in Boston. Before that, he was assistant director in the capital construction division in property and construction management and also spent eight years working for the Department of Neighborhood Development as a project manager and special assistant/program director.

“Pat Brophy will be an outstanding addition to city of Boston” Walsh said in a statement. “His extensive experience will be an invaluable asset, particularly his knowledge of the construction industry and many years in public service. This is a positive gain for our team and I look forward to working with him to move Boston forward.”