A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The mission of the Department of Commerce is to ensure that Philadelphia is a globally competitive city to which employers flock, entrepreneurs thrive, and innovation abounds; to recruit and retain a diverse set of businesses; to foster economic opportunities for all Philadelphians in all neighborhoods; and to partner with workforce development programs and local businesses on talent development ensuring that all Philadelphians can find and retain living-wage jobs. For more information about the Department of Commerce, visit www.phila.gov/commerce.

The Director for International Business & Global Strategy is expected to actively contribute to the design and execution of global attraction, retention and expansion strategies. They will also collaborate on strategic initiatives to grow and support Philadelphia’s global presence, and to promote Philadelphia as a global city and position it as a top-tier global destination for business, talent, and investment.

The Director works with companies from around the world to support them to establish operations and investments in Philadelphia. They also encourage local companies to increase their exports by connecting them to resources and promoting opportunities internationally. Lastly, they facilitate inbound and outbound delegations from around the world and meet with representatives from foreign countries to enhance Philadelphia's global visibility.

A successful candidate for this position must operate effectively in a dynamic, fast paced government department; understand the power of team building internally and with cross sector partners; and have a passion for creating opportunities for Philadelphians.

The following will notably be part of the Director’s responsibilities:

• Manage a pipeline of new attraction international business leads; document progress in Project CRM database
• Respond to new leads in a timely manner and pursue new leads independently
• Serve as a leader in coordination with other international economic development partners to position Philadelphia as a key global business destination resulting in opportunities for its local communities across industries
• Support the development and expansion of export programs, to broaden the assistance provided to Philadelphia-based companies by the Department and local trade development organizations
• Foster and grow relationships with globally minded stakeholders across industries to support Philadelphia’s international presence
• Identify and develop strategic partnerships with startup and international business groups, global business programs, investors, incubators & accelerators, co-working spaces, etc.
• Maintain working knowledge of economic trends locally and in strategic foreign markets, as well as geopolitical events and trends impacting global business communities
• Actively contribute to the development of strategies for the Department regarding emerging and rising foreign markets
• Contribute to research initiatives into the local landscape and international economic trends, and identify potentialities and opportunities for Philadelphia
• Collaborate with industry specialists in the Business Development Team when assisting international companies in impact industries as identified
• Collaborate with partners and Commerce’s Communications Team to coordinate promotional initiatives, programming, and marketing efforts
• Represent the City and the Department of Commerce at various trade shows, speaking engagements, special events and other duties as assigned
• Welcome foreign delegations and diplomats, and assist in the planning of and during their visits to Philadelphia
• Connect Philadelphia to international opportunities that arise when communicating with partners worldwide

Essential Functions

• Communicate effectively and proactively with businesses and partners locally and from around the world; maintain confidentiality where necessary
• Meet with and assist existing and prospective businesses for international business development purposes
• Promote the City of Philadelphia as a world-class business destination
• Plan events, travel details, and delegation visits to Philadelphia and international destinations
• Draft talking points, statements, presentation decks and other collaterals as needed
• Serve as public face for Philadelphia’s business ecosystem
• Conduct research, identify opportunities for business attraction and export efforts, increased global connections
• Track, measure, and enter into the database related data; report on progress
• Assist the Senior Director of International Business & Global Strategy to achieve the goals of the team
• Assist the leadership of the Business Development team as needed, working collaboratively with all members of the Commerce Department as well as other City Offices and Departments
• Other duties, as assigned

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• High comfort level when communicating with people from around the world who come from different cultures and speak different languages
• Very strong professionalism and confidentiality; mature, professional presence when working with elected officials, high level delegations and business leaders
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills to partners at all levels
• Research capabilities are required. Subject matter includes but is not limited to: international trade trends and opportunities; market analysis; export and trade barriers and agreements; currency; individual business and owner research; local Philadelphia market research
• Event and travel planning expertise
• Ability to respond to inquiries in a timely basis articulating guidance on projects
• Strong time management and organizational skills, including very high attention to detail and abilities to prioritize tasks and keep multiple projects moving simultaneously
• Desire to work independently as well as on cross-functional, international teams
• Diplomacy and the ability to facilitate problem resolution
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite products and Client Management software essential

• Bachelor’s Degree required, and Master’s Degree preferred, in a related field such as international business, trade, economic development, or international relations
• 5 years’ relevant work experience required
• Management of projects from initiation to completion with documented outcomes
• Foreign language skills strongly preferred, in addition to personal and/or professional experience working, living, studying or volunteering abroad
• Event, trade mission and/or travel planning experience is strongly preferred

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary : $72,000

Did you know?

• 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
• 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

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Please note that effective September 1, 2021 the City of Philadelphia is requiring all new employees to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19. 

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