With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and opportunities in more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia is the sixth largest city in the United States and one of the largest employers in Southeastern Pennsylvania. As an employer, the City of Philadelphia operates through the guiding principles of service, integrity, respect, accountability, collaboration, diversity and inclusion. Through these principles, we strive to effectively deliver services, to resolve the challenges facing our city, and to make Philadelphia a place where all of our residents have the opportunity to reach their potential. 

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

As an office of the Managing Director’s Office, the Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for Criminal Justice and Public Safety (CJPS) strengthens the coordination of the Office of Violence Prevention, Office of Criminal Justice, Office of Reentry Partnerships, and Town Watch Integrated Services into a community-centric dynamic unit. The office is focused on uplifting solutions to reduce violence, enhancing the bridge between neighborhoods and City government, as well as amplifying support for returning citizens and families impacted by the criminal justice system. CJPS is committed to developing and implementing reforms in an equitable fashion informed by the decades of systemic oppression, racism, and poverty.

The Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for Criminal Justice and Public Safety is currently working with the Department of Commerce, the Workforce Professionals Alliance, and other key stakeholders  to better connect individuals who are highly at-risk for engaging in gun violence to job readiness opportunities and careers, with the goal of preventing and reducing gun violence.  This work also supports re-entry efforts for individuals exiting jail or prison with the goal of reducing recidivism, and is part of a larger effort related to economic mobility for individuals who are highly at-risk for gun violence, which includes a focus on entrepreneurship and financial health.

The Director of Economic Mobility & Workforce Development will directly report to the Senior Director of CJPS and have dotted line reporting to the Philadelphia Department of Commerce.  The Director will work directly with the Commerce Department’s Office of Workforce Development to coordinate joint efforts.  The role will also support connections to adult literacy and entrepreneurship resources.  

The Director of Economic Mobility & Workforce Development will be focused on two primary tasks:

Workforce Development Strategy – Manage the update of the workforce development strategy for individuals highly at risk of gun violence and recidivism and launch its implementation.  This work is aligned with the City of Philadelphia’s Roadmap for Safer Communities, the City’s anti-violence plan.  This role will lead efforts to strengthen a continuum of services for those identified as being at highest risk for being involved in gun violence, as well as individuals at a high risk of recidivism, that will enable stronger career opportunities.

The City’s updated Roadmap workforce development strategy will connect those at the highest risk to jobs and careers by:

•  Clearly defining targeted audiences and data-driven profiles within those identified at highest risk for being involved in gun violence or recidivism, and directly responding  to the needs of the population
• Growing the strategic approach and collaborative capacity of the systems that support successful workforce preparation, entry, and retention for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, including those awaiting trial
• Balancing the development in partnership with and informed by the lived experiences of the targeted audiences,  while being deeply responsive to the needs and expectations of employers offering quality career opportunities
• Being anti-racist and responsive to the needs of individuals and communities that have experienced trauma associated with gun violence and poverty
• Having a clearly defined continuum of services, from social and mental health services through permanent employment
• Being closely coordinated and compatible with existing programs that already serve those reentering and at highest risk for being involved in gun violence and have a workforce component, including but not limited to Group Violence Intervention, Community Crisis Intervention Program (CCIP), and the new Philadelphia program based on Chicago’s Rapid Employment and Development Initiative (READI) model
• Having an intake assessment strategy that can be adopted by existing programs
• Having a retention strategy that can be adopted by existing programs
• Having  clearly defined metrics of success that can be evaluated and  integrated within the larger Roadmap outcome metrics
• Working in tandem with the public workforce system and reentry partners to ensure they have the knowledge and operational structures in place to appropriately and effectively serve individuals impacted by the criminal justice system
• Celebrating success of program participants and  promoting opportunities for healing and growth

This plan will be used to create innovative program models that are population specific, sector focused, and mixed delivery (bridge, earn and learn, etc.).

Examples of initial projects will include the development and implementation of a comprehensive assessment tool for use in the Group Violence Intervention, Community Crisis Intervention Program, and Neighborhood Resource Centers; work with existing job readiness and transitional job programs to adapt their model to better serve individuals highly at-risk for gun violence and/or recidivism, including pre-release programs; support the launch of job training programs within City government to support individuals highly at-risk for gun violence and/or recidivism; development of a new set of services for existing services to address gaps (social, emotional, basic skills) to prepare individuals for referrals into job readiness programs; development of a referral system to track programs, identify opportunities, and connect participants to appropriate  workforce programs; and development of new retention supports for transitional job, career training, and permanent employment.  Proposed/adapted programming will be responsive to the needs of those served, and reflect business needs.

Pilot Based on Rapid Employment and Development Initiative (READI) Model – Serving as the City’s project manager for the Philadelphia pilot implementation of the anti-violence program based on the Rapid Employment and Development Initiative (READI).  First launched in August 2017 in Chicago, READI connects individuals who are at highest risk of gun violence with employment in paid transitional jobs, cognitive behavioral therapy, and supportive services to decrease their involvement in shootings and homicides and the criminal justice system, and to help them create a path for better life outcomes. READI is by design a disruptive, evidence-based model that leverages transitional jobs and cognitive behavior therapy; a new application of predictive analytics; and partnerships across multiple organizations, disciplines and communities in order to test whether a highly targeted, intensive programmatic effort can produce a measurable decline in violence and criminal justice involvement among those at highest risk. The City has commissioned Chicago’s Heartland Alliance to  assist in the pre-planning and development process for Philadelphia to incubate a violence intervention response model, by leveraging learnings from and identifying best practices of READI Chicago, a program of Heartland. 

The scope of this work has been outlined as part of the City’s commission with the Heartland Alliance. The pilot planning project includes four phases:

• Phase 1 – Understanding the feasibility of such program replication.
• Phase 2 – Conceptualizing program concept with Philadelphia stakeholders
• Phase 3 – Program development and implementation
• Phase 4 – Program implementation

For all planning and implementation projects, the Director of Economic Mobility & Workforce Development will execute their work in conjunction with key partners as part of a larger set of work focused on economic mobility, including entrepreneurship and financial health.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

A successful candidate is a dynamic, committed individual with a proven track record in workforce development and strong organizational and interpersonal skills. A successful candidate should be committed to racial equity. Ability and commitment to work beyond traditional working hours and schedule is required. Ideal candidates possess the following experience and skills:

• Professional experience in workforce development, human resources, education
• Strategic plan development and implementation
• Ability to develop partnerships with business and design programs to meet business needs
• Understanding of HR policies and best practices, knowledge of workforce and training issues
• Program management
• Program evaluation
• Grant writing and grant management experience related to government agencies, foundations, and corporation grants
• Co-design experience and existing partnerships with people from a diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic background
• Coalition building with diverse stakeholders
• Extensive experience working directly with people at high risk of being involved in gun violence and/or direct lived experience
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, and Salesforce
• Ability to use Burning Glass and analyze labor market data to determine trends and inform program positioning to maximize opportunities for participants
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public communications and public speaking
• Deep commitment to practices that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion
• A valid driver’s license

Education and Experience

• At least 10 years of professional level experience in the field of employment, human resources, education, or training  
• A bachelor’s degree in Education, Business, Human Resources, Social Science or related field. A Master’s or other higher education degrees are preferred, but not required.
• Experience developing or adapting workforce development programs, particularly in Dislocated Workers, TANF workforce funds, or other WIOA (Workforce Initiatives and Opportunity Act) resource programs strongly preferred
• Experience working directly with people from a diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic background
• Experience working directly with people at high risk of being involved in gun violence and/or direct lived experience
• Experience developing and implementing a strategic plan
• Experience as a program manager, including, but not limited to, managing projects on-time and on-budget, managing consultant services, and drafting scopes of work and requests for proposals (RFPs)
• Experience managing program evaluation
• Experience building coalitions of diverse stakeholders
• Experience managing communications

Essential Functions

• In partnership with internal partners and external stakeholders, rapidly update and implement the Workforce Development strategy for the City of Philadelphia that supports the Roadmap for Safer Communities by establishing a continuum of services for those identified as being at highest risk for  involvement in gun violence and/or recidivism
• Manage workforce development staff related to all criminal justice and public safety programs operating through the Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for Criminal Justice and Public Safety
• Work with the Commerce Department to strengthen and execute the employer engagement strategy to serve this population, including the City of Philadelphia and other government entities as employers
  • Use Burning Glass and other labor market data to determine key areas of opportunity
  • Leverage existing career pathways through key initiatives such as Rebuild, and other pathways into the building trades
  • Once employers are engaged, consult with the hiring teams/Central Human Resources to develop talent needs assessments and innovative business solutions
• In coordination with the Heartland Alliance and other City stakeholders, serve as project manager and ensure  the rapid implementation of the READI pilot in Philadelphia
  • Manage and provide oversight for READI after its implementation, including but not limited to possibly managing staff and contracted services, as well as all operations and administrative functions associated with it
• Survey and maintain an understanding of the landscape of workforce development programs and identify and address any gaps that have outsized impacts on individuals at high risk of being involved in gun violence
• Work with the Workforce Professionals Alliance and the Reentry Coalition to receive feedback on the implementation of the Roadmap workforce development strategy and identify partners to  support the strategy’s success, including how to best leverage public workforce development funds
• Maintain and build relationships within City government, as well as with existing anti-violence programs, social service providers, mental health community, business community, education, and community-based organizations to implement short-term and long-term goals
• Provide partnership, technical support, and guidance to existing programs that already target those at highest risk for being involved in gun violence and have a workforce component to ensure success
• Manage program budgets, including developing budget proposals, justifying expenses
• Identify potential grant resources and apply for grants from government agencies, foundations, and corporations to implement and sustain the anti-violence workforce development strategy
• Develop and manage evaluation and reporting process to determine anti-violence workforce development program success and effectiveness
• Partner with City communications staff to develop and implement a communications strategy to highlight the anti-violence workforce development strategy and to secure positive press coverage
• Represent the needs of individuals and communities impacted by gun violence within the City’s internal workforce staff and across Philadelphia
• Represent the City of Philadelphia and the Administration as the public spokesperson for the anti-violence workforce development program, including, but not limited to, speaking at press conferences, providing testimony before City Council, and other public speaking engagements

SALARY: $100,000 – $110,000, commensurate with experience

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

Successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

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 faqpchr @phila.gov. For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx