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 Office of Workforce Development was launched in March 2018 to foster systemic solutions to employers' human capital challenges and strengthen Philadelphia’s career pathway ecosystem.

Reporting jointly to the Commerce Department and the Mayor’s Office of Labor, the Office of Workforce Development is responsible for implementation of Fueling Philadelphia’s Talent Engine, a citywide workforce development strategy aimed at addressing employers’ talent needs and preparing residents for careers in family-sustaining jobs.  The strategy has three goals:

1. Prepare Philadelphians with the skills employers need for a world-class workforce.
2. Address the barriers that prevent Philadelphians from accessing meaningful career opportunities.
3. Build a workforce system that is more coordinated, innovative, and effective.

About Employer Engagement

The Office of Workforce Development, specifically the Employer Engagement division, is responsible for working with the city’s stakeholders, public and private partners, academic institutions, employers and workforce training agencies to develop and maintain a system for tangible pipelines to permanent and family sustaining employment and pathways for Philadelphia residents. This position will support the Senior Director for Employer Engagement in leading system initiatives focused on workforce talent development and continue to build and maintain the private sector relationships into the city’s strategic plans. The Director manages partnerships and efforts to create and strengthen pipelines to employment, with a focus on pipelines for youth, and disconnected youth, as well as deepening the workforce connection to postsecondary and training opportunities for all workforce system populations. Critical initiatives included in this position portfolio, but not limited to, the Immigrant Professionals Fellowship, the Community Schools and Workforce Development Partnership, High School Internship Exchange, and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development strategy as a pipeline into employment.  The Employer Engagement team provides technical and strategic supports and manages resources and partnerships to create and strengthen pipelines to employment in innovative methods and utilizes research and collaborations and learning from other cities and municipalities to address the issues of poverty, unemployment in targeted populations, and the  skills-gap and needs of Philadelphia based employers.

The Director of Talent Development will manage the implementation of the employer engagement and partnership initiatives; interface with external partners; independently manage initiatives and timelines; design supportive materials and collateral with the OWD Communications Team; schedule and coordinate external and internal convenings related to FPTE strategy activities; provide qualitative and quantitative reports and supporting documentation, and manage internal data and documentation for all aligned projects. 

This position reports to the Senior Director of Employer Engagement, will lead and manage this portfolio and also provide innovative and thoughtful work product with and across the Office of Workforce Development team as a whole.

Essential Functions: 

• The Director of Talent Development will perform the following
• Provide integral support and connectivity for the development and execution of the city’s Fueling Philadelphia’s Talent Engine workforce strategy and aligned initiatives
• Provide support and direct assistance for the strategic initiatives of the Employer Engagement Team and related workforce partnership projects
• Provide coordination and direct leadership to the youth workforce projects, immigrant workforce strategy and other projects including CTE Awareness, and the Mayor’s Office of Education Community Schools collaborative programs
• Support the development of systems to build pipelines of talent for targeted industry sectors and or local employers/employer groups
• Work collaboratively with city partners to develop strategic and coordinated pipelines for employment both within the City of Philadelphia (as a model employer) and externally
• Develop and market post-secondary education and training resource access for residents and organizations 
• Oversee the High School Student Exchange pilot and Youth Entrepreneurship project to the extent that services and resources continue to be provided for students and business corridor intermediaries/CDC’s
• Develop and execute strategies to increase participation in growing industries (Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technology, Healthcare, and Early Childhood Education)
• Coordinate efforts to create pilot programs that reach the Office of Workforce Development’s goals 
• Create programming that expose youth and young adults to employment options, career pathways, post-secondary credentialing and training opportunities
• Support the compliance of contracted partners
• Participate on designated committees to ensure alignment of the workforce development strategies and agendas; represent the Senior Director as needed
• Work collaboratively to establish system connections to support hardest to serve populations. 
• Serve as an active member of the city-wide workforce development sub committees and other advisory groups as designated

Required Qualifications:

• 3-5 years of experience working in the field of workforce development, economic development, or a related area of work required
• Experience in and knowledge of the local workforce system 
• Experience working with disconnected youth and young adults, returning citizens and or individuals with barriers to employment
• Knowledge of City, State and Federal economic development programs
• Knowledge of organizations that offer workforce training, career development services, and or post-secondary credentials

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with and knowledge of City government and/or the public workforce system
• Knowledge of local and national organizations that supports or promotes career pathway strategies, workforce development and training, career development opportunities and economic development issues
• Ability to establish and foster relationships with cross-sector partners and to work as part of a collaborative team
• Excellent self-direction, follow-through and ability to take ownership of given responsibilities 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Flexibility of time and schedule as needed

Please include a cover letter, writing sample, reference list, and a resume with your application.

What We Offer

• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer
• 25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities.
• Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• Wellness program that offers eligibility into a discounted medical plan
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options

Successful candidate must be a City resident within six months of hire.

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 faqpchr@ phila.gov. For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx

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