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 Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO) provides leadership on issues of economic justice by advancing racial equity and inclusive growth to ensure that all Philadelphians share in the city’s prosperous future and by alleviating the immediate impact of poverty on individuals, families, and communities.  CEO is Philadelphia’s Community Action Agency (CAA); CAAs are private or public agencies created by the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act and federally designated to receive Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding.

Guiding Principles (We believe…)

• The people of Philadelphia deserve the opportunity to live happy, healthy, full lives. 
• City Government should both recognize its culpability in creating and sustaining inequity and aspire to its responsibility to provide opportunities, represent the best interests, and promote the well-being of all residents. 
• People can offer meaningful insights into both personal experiences and how systems around them function. 
• Poverty is a deliberately created systemic issue and city government can lead in calling for justice and dismantling the barriers that often prevent opportunities. 

Values (How we work)

• Dignity: We actively respect our individual colleagues and people in the community.
• Inclusivity: Our work is more beneficial, valuable, and valid when our full range of experiences, knowledge, and skills can contribute.
• Persistence: We recognize the challenges inherent in this work, and when we get discouraged, we find ways to be resilient, lift each other up, and push forward.
• Accountability: We are transparent and honest about our plans, our actions, and our results.

• Honesty: We create a space to have healthy, honest dialogues about systems, people, and misconceptions and then communicate truthfully.

The Chief Racial Equity Officer for the Office of Community Empowerment & Opportunity is a member of the executive team and will report to the Executive Director and lead CEO’s overarching effort to embed racial equity in all work.  This position provides leadership in CEO’s efforts to advance anti-racism and equity in our convenings, community and civic engagement, communication channels, and placed-based initiatives.

The Chief Racial Equity Officer is tasked with providing leadership, subject-matter expertise, and support to the ongoing efforts to advance racial equity within CEO across all areas. The Chief will engage in this work through three key workstreams:

Department Leadership & Staff Supervision. This position will play a key role in ensuring that all aspects of CEO leadership are conducted with a focus on equity, including cross-functional leadership with all deputies to ensure REI and DEI practices are embedded throughout the organization; this may also include collaborating with the Director of HR to develop equitable hiring & staff development practices and the Director of Impact to embed equity in internal processes. This position will supervise CEO’s Communications, Racial Equity Impact, and Engagement Partnership directors and associated teams, including three direct reports and a full team of nine.

Through supervision, the Chief will provide leadership in:

• Changing the narrative of poverty from individual behavior to systems change
• Incorporating equitable practices in all external-facing work
• Supporting other city agencies and nonprofit organizations in deepening their community engagement work

Community & Intergovernmental Liaison. The role oversees external communications in effort to change the narrative about poverty and promote equitable practices in community engagement across city agencies and nonprofit partners. This position serves as a liaison between CEO and citywide racial equity efforts to ensure alignment. This position represents the City in national forums and convenings related to racial equity and economic mobility efforts. The Chief is responsible for representing CEO in various collaborative initiatives within City of Philadelphia Government, including all citywide racial equity working groups and the ongoing efforts of many partner agencies to change policies and practices that will address drivers of racial inequality.

Strategy Development & Measurement. The Chief manages the development and implementation of racial equity strategies aimed at pursuing economic justice and inclusive growth to ensure that all Philadelphians might share in the city’s prosperous future. This position oversees efforts to institutionalize racial equity at CEO through processes and policies related to contracting, investments, staffing, technical assistance, and program leadership and recommends strategic solutions. The Chief will oversee the planning, implementation, and tracking of specific projects, as well as the continued development of a cohesive strategy and assume leadership of activities that may arise from this strategy.

Essential Functions

• Lead and manage CEO’s racial equity unit, including three direct reports and a full team of nine staff, in all functions and embed racial equity into day-to-day practices, policies, and procedures. Through supervision, lead and manage CEO’s Communications, Racial Equity Impact, and Engagement Partnerships units and provide leadership in their cross-functional engagement with other CEO units of work.
• Collaborate with CEO deputies and executive team on strategic goals and key measures that include measurable racial equity targets.
• Represent the City of Philadelphia and CEO on issues related to race and ethnicity and economic mobility external events and meetings.
• Serve as a liaison between CEO and City-wide racial equity efforts and workgroups.
• In collaboration with other stakeholders, review and assess existing policies, procedures, programs, and services to identify opportunities to reduce barriers for different groups and promote racial equity at various decision points in CEO’s work.
• Translate broader goals and strategies around reducing racial and ethnic disparities and promote racial equity into concrete policy and practice changes.
• Lead and train CEO staff in racial equity practices or serve as primary liaison for external training functions through management of training budget and leadership in selecting qualified experts to provide training to staff.
• Collaborate with agency and community stakeholders to develop policies, procedures, programs, and services that engage people of color and/or low-income individuals in CEO’s work.
• Consult with Contracts, Procurement, and other teams to address compliance with racial equity goals, MBO engagement, and other procurement and contracting processes.
• Participate in technical support to CEO departments in building programs, identifying strategies, and measuring outcomes that center racial equity.
• Performing any additional duties as described by CEO related to the objective of reducing racial and ethnic disparities in CEO’s mission toward economic mobility for all Philadelphians.

• Other duties as assigned related to the objective of reducing racial and ethnic disparities in CEO’s mission toward economic mobility for all Philadelphians.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Prior leadership experience in Racial Equity and/or Diversity & Inclusion/DEI is required.
• Deep background knowledge about the history of race relations in Philadelphia preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of racial equity and structural racism in relation to economic mobility, poverty, local government, and/or community action agencies, and being comfortable and confident in speaking about these topics.
• Ability to collaborate with all levels of government and with external partner agencies to establish consensus.
• Familiarity with current research and best practices related to advancing racial equity in government.
• Experience evaluating social service policies & programs, and developing performance measures/systems, especially with a focus on racial equity.
• Skilled at developing and hosting DEI-related trainings or sessions.
• Passion for collaborating with community organizations, Philadelphia residents, and advocates to create systems change.
• Skill and experience in facilitating difficult conversations on topics of race, ethnicity, racial and ethnic disparities, and racial equity.
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions.
• Experience establishing and implementing racial equity initiatives within large organizations.
• Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multi-tasking skills.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Excellent verbal, listening, and written communication skills.

Work-Life

Working hours are generally 37.5 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

• Bachelor’s Degree with advanced degree and/or certifications in Racial Equity and DEI, government or public policy preferred
• Demonstrated relevant management experience in leading Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy for an organization or team
• Training and work experience with DEI and racial equity policy & practices
• Strong knowledge of Organizational Development

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Director of Racial Equity Storytelling and Community Impact
• Communications Manager
• Equitable Community Engagement Partnerships Director

Other Specialties, Certifications, Physical Requirements, and Work Conditions

• Regular, predictable attendance is required
• Successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, writing sample, references and resume.

Salary Range: $100,000-$110,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• 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
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

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

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

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