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 Managing Director’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS) is charged with driving change through our transportation and infrastructure systems. OTIS leads a portfolio of departments, including Streets Transportation, Streets Sanitation, Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), and the Office of Sustainability to provide cost-effective quality services with a focus on the resident. OTIS collaborates with a wide variety of organizations such as Amtrak, DVRPC, PATCO, PennDOT, and SEPTA. 

More information about the functions of OTIS can be found at: www.phila.gov/otis, https://www.phila.gov/departments/office-of-sustainability, and https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-streets/.

The Chief of Staff (CoS) reports to the Director of the Office of Complete Streets (OCS). This position provides advanced support to the Director and leadership of the Office of Complete Streets with a focus on keeping staff and projects performing at their best.

The position is responsible for providing strategic management, performance evaluations, and operations management for OCS. This includes developing systems for tracking and supporting transportation project development, ensuring alignment with the City’s transportation goals and strategic plans are met, and supporting a team of over 20 employees. This position will represent the Director of OCS at meetings when required and appropriate. The position requires someone interested in working in complete streets, transportation issues, and of a wide array of government functions, operations. Knowledge of complex and large organizational cultures, like City government, is desired.

The Office of Complete Streets (OCS) is experiencing significant growth in both staff and managed budgets related to projects funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) over the coming years. This Chief of Staff position will assist the Director by:

1. serving as a communication liaison with staff to ensure project issues and challenges are clearly presented to leadership
2. measuring and tracking productivity and team performance,
3. assisting in prioritizing and/or covering meetings or events for the Director,
4. ensuring appropriate employee development and issue resolution support.

The addition of the OCS Chief of Staff will ensure project development and production of grant application ready projects are meeting city policy goals through accurate tracking, problem triage, and staff support over the next 5 years.

Essential Functions

Strategic planning and Performance management

• Collaborating with executive team members to determine and prioritize annual work plans, milestones, and multi-year strategies
• Collaborate with Director on developing new program ideas, pilot projects, and strategic policy initiatives for the Office of Complete Streets
• Leads measurement and evaluation of projects and programs with focus on creating organizational reporting methods, including annual reports, dashboards, or other means of measuring impact and progress towards strategic and tactile goals
• Work within OCS to develop performance metrics relevant to the office’s varied work as well as systems for continuous tracking
• Serve as a thought partner and strategic advisor to the Director, stand in on meetings, challenge ideas and offer different perspectives, follow up on action items with team accordingly
• Working with leadership to deliver, monitor and communicate progress towards goals
• Support City projects that advance the goals in the CONNECT Plan, Vision Zero Action Plan, the Philadelphia Transit Plan, and the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan.

Operations Management

• Provide daily support to the Director, including tracking follow-up communication and attending meetings on behalf of the Director or other senior leaders, as assigned.
• Work with Office’s leadership to ensure execution preparation for important internal and external meetings or events
• Oversee daily operations through collaboration with executive team members and senior management, assisting with an array of administrative tasks from calendar coordination, correspondence, and managing media communications coordination
• Monitor and respond to emerging needs and interests among key stakeholders such as residents, agency and department partners, and employees
• Promote team integration as well as cross-functional communication and collaboration.
• Serve as the budget manager for OCS and closely work with the OTIS Admin manager to manage, forecast, and coordinate with OCS District and Program managers on financial needs and spending thought the year
• Providing tactical support to implement office priorities
• Provide professional assistance and project management on various duties as assigned by the Director.
• Other duties as assigned

Employee Support and Development

• Collaborating with executive team members to develop employee development training opportunities
• Manage conference and training requests to ensure staff development within a constrained budget
• Providing department leaders with recommendations and consultation to improve teamwork
• Planning, coordinating and leading meetings and workshops
• Participate in meetings with staff and inter-governmental partners, stakeholders and community groups related to transportation concerns

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated achievement in areas such as driving complex projects to completion, building collaborative networks and teams, managing sensitive relationships and projects, bringing order and rigor to dynamic, high-stakes initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in fast-paced and fast-growing organizations with strong, diverse, and ambitious cultures.
• Excellent communicator, written and verbal, to internal and external audiences.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills and professional demeanor.
• Working knowledge of human resources practices and administrative processes and procedures.
• Experience with developing and managing budgets and financial plans.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently while managing multiple projects on tight timelines
  Must be able to manage direct reports who oversee other units.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Understanding of principles of multimodal transportation planning
• Sound knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, GIS, and Adobe Creative Suite. 
• Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and produce quality results on time with attention to detail.
• Collaborative team member with focus on achieving shared objectives maintaining on-going productive working relationships.
• Ability to use or willingness and ability to learn and interpret other analytical and design software (MS PowerBI, SharePoint, project management software, etc)
• Passion for building community capacity to help build a safer, equitable, sustainable, healthier transportation environment for our residents 

Work-Life

Work hours are generally 40 hours per week. Our team is currently hybrid with both virtual and in-office days, however the position can opt to come in the office each day if desired.

Required:

• Approximately 5-7 years of experience, including management, strategic planning, or operations roles in at least one of the following: growing non-profit, technology company, government, management consulting, other businesses, or academia.
• A bachelor's degree or additional certification in transportation planning, engineering, management, government administration or related fields

Desirable:

• A Masters degree or additional certification in the fields mentioned above
• Experience working in the transportation field preferred

We welcome and encourage applicants with non-traditional career paths. If you don’t exactly meet the qualifications outlined here, please apply and describe in your cover letter how your own experiences equip you to excel in this position.

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

Salary Range: $70,000 - $90,000  

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