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 Department of Commerce is the economic catalyst for the City of Philadelphia helping all businesses thrive. Commerce creates equitable wealth building opportunities through strategic investments and ecosystem partnerships to grow quality jobs, build capacity in under resourced communities, and make it easier to operate a successful business in Philadelphia.

STRATEGIC PRIORITES:

• Provide trusted guidance and a simplified process to establish, grow, and operate a business

• Drive equitable neighborhood revitalization that contributes to vibrant commercial corridors

• Attract and retain businesses through business resources and strategic investments

• Connect talent to growth industries and to jobs that pay family-sustaining wages

• Strive to build wealth in communities of color through more equitable access to capital and contracting opportunities

• Leverage economic research to drive policy and strategy

The Office of Business Development & Workforce Solutions focuses on attracting and retaining businesses and talent to the Philadelphia market. The unit consist of two divisions:

1) Business Development, Attraction & Retention, represented by portfolios of high impact sectors: Life Science & Biotechnology, Creative Economy, Tech & Innovation, Night Economy, Manufacturing & Advanced Industries, and professional services, domestically and globally. This division is responsible for maintaining a knowledge base of activity within the identified sectors and positioning Philadelphia as a competitive contender for business in the above-named sectors.

 2) Workforce Solutions which facilitates activity and engagement with employers and workforce agencies to create talent pipelines for the city’s residents and businesses seeking talent in Philadelphia. Workforce Solutions tracks trends in the employment market to ensure Philadelphia is competitive within our talent performance as companies seek qualified candidates for positions.

The Director, Commercial Investment directs efforts to attract and retain businesses within the commercial sector; retail, supermarkets, and professional services; finance, medical, architect firms etc. to the Philadelphia market. This role is charged with monitoring industry trends within the commercial landscape and exploring opportunities that suit Philadelphia’s market. This role will represent the city at various industry trade meetings and events to elevate Philadelphia’s profile. The candidate for this role should possess a broad skill set in areas of economic development, public policy, research, and specific knowledge base of the commercial/professional services landscape. This role will report directly to the Senior Director of Business Development.

Essential Functions

• Maintain working knowledge of industry trends, targeted business assistance opportunities, financing/incentive programs to serve the industry.
• Manage all attraction efforts in the professional services and large retail sectors.
• Develop relationships with key economic development partners locally, regionally, and nationally to support growth of the sector.
• Maintain an understanding of key real estate availability in Philadelphia for development of commercial growth.
• Understanding research and best practices of other markets to create opportunities for growth.
• Track interactions with businesses/clients and projects within the departments client management system, QuickBase.
• Establish relationships with key decision makers and/or site selectors in the commercial sector.
• Ability to initiate tasks; assume responsibility for them; establish follow -through while working in a high production environment.
• Represent the city and department at council hearings or events as directed by Mayor’s Office and/or Commerce Department.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PRODUCT

• Project management, utilizing database.
• Research prospects to determine suitable opportunities for Philadelphia market.
• Represent the Department of Commerce at events, speaking engagements as deemed necessary by the department.
• Draft talking points, written work, statements, and other work products as needed.
• Lead calls and appointment setting.
• Additional duties may be assigned at the direction of the Deputy Commerce Director.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong background in economic development practices including economic development incentives and attraction strategies.
• Understanding of city government policies and practices.
• Knowledge and familiarity with the City of Philadelphia preferred.
• Experience in commercial real estate, zoning, and permitting.
• Comfortability with public speaking, meeting facilitation and stakeholder relationship management.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Competency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong research capabilities.
• Results and detail oriented.

Work-Life

Working hours are generally 37.5 hours per week.  Our team is currently on a hybrid schedule, working 3 in office-days and 2 out of office days a week. However, staff may come in more frequently if they desire. Hybrid and in-office requirements are subject to change.

• Minimum 5+ (five) years of experience in public sector economic development or equivalent experience in related field.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, urban studies, economics, or a related field preferred.

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

Salary Range: $75,000

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