With a workforce of over 25,000 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.   
 

About the CAO

The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) works with City departments to transform service delivery, provide people-centered solutions, and strengthen administrative functions to better serve Philadelphia residents and employees. The CAO oversees six City departments and offices: the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT), Records, Procurement, the Office of Administrative Review (OAR), Service Design Studio (SDS) and Human Resources and Talent (HR&T). 
 
About the Operations Transformation Fund

The Operations Transformation Fund (“Fund”) is a new initiative launching in Fiscal Year 2022 (July 1, 2021).  Since the onset of the pandemic, City government operations have simultaneously expanded, contracted, and evolved. More work shifted to electronic and remote, offering new opportunities, like paperless business processes, and presenting challenges, like barriers to receiving services exacerbating existing digital inequities. To help the City take advantage of the new opportunities and mitigate these challenges, the Kenney Administration will be investing $10 million over the next two fiscal years for a new Operations Transformation Fund to underwrite departmental efforts with upfront project costs and capacity-building activities to ensure solutions are people-centered and sustainable. Through continued attention to efficient and equitable service provision and adequate funds to enable transformation, the City will continuously improve its service delivery to benefit Philadelphians. 
 

We’re looking for a program officer to help launch this new initiative! You will help build strategy and manage the day-to-day operation of the Fund. 
 
This position plays a leading role in developing and delivering on the mission of the Operations Transformation Fund with both internal and external facing responsibilities, including:  financial oversight, grant making, strategic planning, and client and stakeholder relationship management.  You will report directly to an internal governance board on the Fund’s activities and progress.  The position is currently funded for the next two fiscal years (FY2022 and FY2023).  
 

In this role, you will:  
 
Drive Strategy & Outcomes

• Provide high-level strategic and operational support to the internal governance board, including management of the Fund’s grant-making process as directed by the governance board
• Develop activities for project partners aimed at building internal capacity to manage change, deliver people-centered solutions, and sustain the operational transformation
• Work with the internal governance board to set direction and priorities for Fund strategy
• Establish strategic objectives and key performance metrics for the Fund and support project partners in developing, tracking and reporting on project-related performance metrics 

Oversee Fund Operations

• Provide strong oversight for the Fund’s financials and $5M (annually over the next two fiscal years) portfolio, which includes supporting project partners and working to identify additional project funding sources
• Monitor project costs and program expenditures
• Review submitted funding proposals from potential project partners
• Establish regular reporting cadence for all projects receiving funding and clear benchmarks to measure each project’s progress toward stated goals  

 
Communicate

• Set project stakeholders up for success by setting clear expectations around their project involvement, project status, and milestones.
• Develop project materials that communicate work without jargon or pretense.
• Cultivate and maintain respectful relationships with all project stakeholders in order to identify potential funding opportunities and raise awareness about the Fund.
• Help to disseminate lessons learned, tools, and best practices across City government.
• Create Fund artifacts, including project intake applications, reporting templates, project review rubrics, and other communication materials as necessary 

Competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities

● Excellent communicator: Ability to communicate to broad and diverse audiences, and cultivate effective communication among project partners, internal governance board and other stakeholder groups.  Feels comfortable and is effective in a variety of formal presentation settings.  

● Relationship-builder: Ability to work with a variety of people and personalities, listen and ask questions, be customer and service driven, and cultivate strong relationships to ensure seamless collaboration and continued project support.  Able to navigate bureaucracy in order to get things done both formally and through informal networks.   
 
● Organized: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, including reviewing and interpreting budgets, work well under pressure, and set/meet reasonable deadlines.  Can marshal resources (people, funding, materials, support) to get things done and uses these resources effectively and efficiently. 

● Action-oriented: A self-starter with flexibility to work independently and as part of a team.  Have the ability to see opportunities, navigate barriers, and problem solve solutions that enhance the City’s deliverables, processes, and practices.   Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully, is outcomes focused and able to steadfastly push themselves and others for results. 

● 5 (+) years of experience in government or non-profit administration, including grant management

● 5 (+) years in a project or program management role, with a particular focus on leading organizational change activities

● 5 (+) years managing project relationships with colleagues, clients, and project stakeholders

● To perform this job successfully, an individual must have mastery in the full suit of Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint, and have experience with data analysis. 

Salary Range: $80,000-$95,000

The City of Philadelphia is interested in hiring the best possible candidate. We recognize that experience, education, and qualifications can be attained in a variety of ways and that many skill-sets are transferable. If you feel you’re a good fit, please don’t hesitate to apply. 
 
When applying, include:

● A one-page cover letter explaining why you’re interested in the Program Officer Position

● Resume or curriculum vitae 
 
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 [email protected]. For more information, go to the Human Relations Website. 
 

Did you know?

• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer
• Employees are eligible for a 25% tuition discount program (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities
• We offer comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available 

Successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia 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 [email protected]. For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx

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