With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and opportunities in more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia is the sixth largest city in the United States and one of the largest employers in Southeastern Pennsylvania. As an employer, the City of Philadelphia operates through the guiding principles of service, integrity, respect, accountability, collaboration, diversity and inclusion. Through these principles, we strive to effectively deliver services, to resolve the challenges facing our city, and to make Philadelphia a place where all of our residents have the opportunity to reach their potential. 

Agency Description

The Managing Director’s Office (MDO) is a cabinet-level office with oversight of the City’s operating departments. MDO works to ensure government efficiency and coordination across city government. MDO plays a major role in creating new policies and making sure they are enacted successfully.

Within the Managing Director’s Office, the Office of Criminal Justice (OCJ) advances the Kenney administration’s goals of criminal justice reform by developing partnerships between City agencies, criminal justice partners, nonprofit organizations, and community members. OCJ serves as the mayor’s appointee to Philadelphia County’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) and is the point of contact for various local, state, and federal justice partners.

Salary: $55,000-$60,000

The Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) is a data-driven, comprehensive reform effort to reduce the size of the local jail population and reduce the rate of racial, ethnic, and economic disparities in the criminal justice system. Philadelphia is enhancing its efforts to engage community members with varying perspectives in the reform effort. The Community Engagement and Communications Coordinator will be responsible for:

• Coordinating meetings of the SJC Community Engagement Workgroup and Communications Team.
• Managing the implementation of initiatives in the SJC Community Engagement Strategy including the Art for Justice Project (https://www.muralarts.org/program/restorative-justice/art-for-justice/), Community Advisory Committee, Outreach & Communications, and the Criminal Justice Innovation Fund. (https://www.phila.gov/programs/philadelphia-safety-and-justice-challenge/reform-plan/)
• Maintaining working knowledge of all aspects of the reform effort and communicate progress to the broader Philadelphia community.
• Developing materials related to press and public engagement events including talking points, press releases, and briefing documents.
• Developing relationships with community leaders, advocates, and neighborhood residents directly impacted by crime and incarceration.
• Facilitate other partners in the conducting of surveys and needs assessments in various neighborhoods to identify new priorities and to enhance the supports provided to individuals who have come into contact with the criminal justice system.
• Organizing, coordinating and running public forums, discussions, or town halls for the purpose of obtaining community feedback on the SJC reform effort.
• Along with Community Engagement Workgroup, develop a plan to recruit community advisory committee members, establish roles and responsibilities for the community advisory committee, and serve as a liaison between the community advisory committee and other SJC Workgroups. 
• Coordinating the administration of the criminal justice innovation fund assisting with the development of the grant application, establishing criteria for awards in conjunction with other agency and community stakeholders, ensure compliance of recipient organizations.
• Maintaining and enhance Philadelphia’s SJC Website
• Developing and sustain Philadelphia SJC social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
• Generating marketing and education materials related to Philadelphia’s criminal justice reform efforts.
• Providing education and training opportunities related to criminal justice reform to community members.
• Representing the City of Philadelphia and the SJC Implementation Team at community events and meetings.
• Performing any additional duties as described by the Office of Criminal Justice related to the objective of reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system.

Qualifications: 

• At least five years of related working experience in Philadelphia required. Completion of a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university in criminal justice, political science, communications, or similar areas of study preferred.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal, listening, and written communication skills;
• Experience with both digital and traditional communications;
• Familiarity with current research and best practices related to community engagement (by local government);
• Familiarity with Philadelphia’s varying criminal justice and community stakeholders;
• Able to collaborate with all levels of government and with external partner agencies to establish consensus;
• Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multi-tasking skills;
• Proven track record of engaging community members and government to achieve shared goals;
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office;
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions;
• Prior experience working within a criminal justice system preferred;
• Spanish language skills preferred;
• Ability to interface with a wide range of stakeholders and various racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic communities about the City’s efforts to reform the criminal justice system.

Salary: $55,000-$60,000

This is a grant-funded position and is only guaranteed for two years. Continued employment beyond this time frame is subject to the availability of funds.

People who have been directly affected by the criminal justice system are encouraged to apply.

Philadelphia residency is not required at the time of application. Once hired, employees have six months to move into and maintain residency in the City of Philadelphia as a condition of employment.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age,disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to pchr@ phila.gov. For more information, go to: Human Relations Website at: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations