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.

Our Strategic Priorities:

• 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.

For more information about the Department of Commerce, visit www.phila.gov/commerce.

Consistent with the strategic priorities of the City of Philadelphia, the Deputy Commerce Director of Workforce Solutions is an executive management position providing oversight for talent and workforce strategies and programs guided by the assessed needs of the business community and leading partners organizations.  The Deputy is responsible for the strategic direction of the unit, making policy, personnel, budget and/or program decisions, effectuating program administration, and supervision of direct staff reports.  They are part of the Executive Leadership team in Commerce and responsible for strategy and operations of department wide functions.

The new Workforce Solutions unit, led by the Deputy Director, will be responsible for the promotion of workforce development activity on behalf of the City of Philadelphia. The Division will serve as a clearinghouse for information related to job training, skills development and strategies related to sustainable employment. It will also coordinate and assist efforts to attract and retain City of Philadelphia employees.  The unit staff will facilitate activity and engagement with employers and workforce agencies that create talent pipelines for the city’s residents and businesses seeking skilled and ready talent in Philadelphia.  The team will also track trends in the employment market to ensure Philadelphia is competitive within our residential talent pool as companies seek qualified candidates for positions.

The Deputy Commerce Director for Workforce Solutions role requires a leader who is performance-focused, an advocate for businesses, residents, and non-profit partners. Workforce partners are an   integral part of   designing and furthering the continuum of workforce opportunities and performance outcomes. This unit touches all aspect of the Commerce Departments mission for economic development and economic mobility.  As the face and advocate for collaboration, partnership and strategic cross-department and city implementation, this role is critical to meet our vision for a city where businesses thrive and grow with a racial equity lens and focus on equal opportunities and level playing field for Philadelphians to be   successful.

Essential Functions

DEPARTMENT

• Communicate and support the mission and strategic priorities of the Commerce department through decisions on staffing, budgeting, operations, and office culture.
• Represent the Commerce Director at events, speaking engagements, and communications with the media as needed.
• Represent the department as the ambassador and face of workforce development solutions and serve as the subject matter expert.
• Additional duties may be required at the direction of Commerce Director.

 UNIT

• Hire, develop and supervise a team of up to 10 staff to carry out the strategy and mission of Commerce and the workforce solutions vision.
• Ensure all related initiatives, programs and activities of the department and unit are efficient and produce results.
•  Manage personnel in accordance with City policies and in concert with the Department’s Human Resources and Culture unit.
• Develop, establish, and implement the strategic goals as per the direction of the Charter and Director, by gathering information; identifying and evaluating trends; choosing a course of action; defining objectives; and evaluating outcomes.
• Produce and provide reports as required to the Commerce Director, Mayor, and City Council.
• Maintain a productive staff team by orienting employees; maintaining a safe, secure, and legal work environment; developing personal growth opportunities.
• Accomplish staff results by communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing systems, policies, and procedures.
• Collaborate with the Director of Commerce and Executive Leadership to develop and execute short and long-term planning and actions plans for the unit and department as it relates to workforce partnerships and strategic opportunities.
• Ensure the development and implementation of the city’s workforce development and workforce solutions economic impact strategies, working in a cross-departmental setting.
• Developing and convening partnerships with leaders in the building trades, to provide opportunities for apprenticeship, that lead to journeyperson status.

• Connect the Commerce Director and other City leaders as required with business leaders, developers, and parties of interest within the city as it relates to talent retention and attraction for Philadelphia.

• Design and implement the development and execution of a comprehensive plan for citywide workforce talent solutions.
• Work collaboratively with identified critical internal City departments, including the Managing Director’s Office, Office of Human Resources, and with trusted city partners and organizations to develop strategic and coordinated pipelines for employment both within the City of Philadelphia (as a model employer) and externally.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to demonstrate successes in motivating teams with strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to establish and foster relationships across City departments
• Excellent self-direction and the ability to take ownership and drive responsibilities through to completion
• Strong work ethic, with the ability to motivate teams to high performance levels
• Experience in managing new technologies, adjusting business processes and work culture to align with the workforce solutions strategies and respond to the needs of local businesses

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business, Sociology, or an appropriate related field of study
• Master’s degree is preferred
• 8-10 years of experience working planning, public policy, business development, economic development
• Experience in developing, leading and managing a team and or initiatives and strategies from inception, with measurable results
• Should possess prior supervisory experience.
• Thorough understanding of the workforce development landscape and trends desired.

Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral present

• Experience with working with the building trades unions preferred
• Must be a US Citizen or have legal permanent resident status

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

Salary Range: $125,000-$130,000

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