Company Description

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 Public Safety (OPS) was launched in 2024 to make communities safer, improve public perceptions of safety, and help communities heal from the traumas of violence. In pursuit of those goals, OPS coordinates multi-disciplinary public safety efforts across City government and with community and institutional stakeholders. Currently, OPS has over 100 staff and is home to five (5) individual offices: Office of Criminal Justice, Office of Safe Neighborhoods, Office of Reentry Partnerships, Office of Victim Advocate, and Town Watch Integrated Services.

The Office of Safe Neighborhoods (OSN) implements strategies and initiatives to prevent, reduce, and end violence in Philadelphia. OSN is particularly focused on addressing gun violence.

The Office of Criminal Justice (OCJ) advances the Parker’s Administration’s goals of public safety and community well-being through collaborative and data-driven initiatives in Philadelphia’s criminal and juvenile justice systems.

Town Watch Integrated Services (TWIS) is a volunteer focused safety effort. Residents of the community who wish to volunteer for their community will receive assistance from Town Watch Integrated Services.

The Office of Reentry Partnerships (ORP) was formed in August 2019 to elevate and organize citywide reentry efforts and support the Parker Administration’s goal for criminal justice reform, violence prevention, and community reinvestment.

The Office of the Victim Advocate (OVA) was opened in February 2022 to provide coordination, strategic planning, and service provision for the oversight for victims, co-victims, and survivors of crime, with a special emphasis on gun violence and homicide.

Job Description

The primary duties of the Deputy Director of Communications are to support all aspects of assessing and implementing communications activities for the Office of Public Safety and all offices and programs within the Public Safety portfolio. Communications support will include, but is not limited to: media relations, community engagement, social media management, email marketing, and web content development. This position will also be responsible for attending OPS events to ensure we have digital materials for both documentation and for dissemination to media outlets and social media, when appropriate or as directed. This position reports to the Office of Public Safety’s Communications Director.

Essential Functions

Work with department staff to effectively execute all communications on behalf of the Office of Public Safety including, but not limited to the following duties:

• Implement the comprehensive communications strategy for the Office of Public Safety.
• Assist with the media relations, including responding to reporters, drafting press releases, and pitching stories.
• Oversee communications contracts with outside vendors.
• Assist with planning and implementation of community outreach activities including quarterly updates about the initiative.
• Develop digital content for web and social media.
• Create and disseminate an email newsletter and work to actively grow the list of subscribers.
• Develop a digital dashboard, content calendar and engagement calendar for internal team planning.
• Ensure full coordination of all communications with the Mayor’s Office of Communications.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Effective and persuasive leadership comfortable with all levels of staff and diverse community stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to handle simultaneous “priority” projects and meet established deadlines.
• Ability to exercise sound and independent judgement within general policy guidelines.
• Positive disposition.
• Ability to organize community events and mobilize people to attend and participate.
• Ability to largely manage your own daily responsibilities without significant oversight.
• Must be able to work extended hours on an as-needed basis.
• Strong understanding and expertise in the following social media platforms: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
• Strong working knowledge of WordPress.
• Familiarity with email marketing and list management.
• Graphic design skills are not a requirement but a plus, especially with a focus on social media, web, and/or email content.
• Prior work within the area of Public Safety and/or Criminal Justice preferred.
• Familiarity with, and understanding of, City of Philadelphia municipal operations and departments preferred, but not required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field.
• Two to Five years’ experience in communications field.
• Experience managing organizational systems.
• Experience with both digital and traditional communications.
• Experience with communications in social media.
• Experience in media relations and relationships with local members of the press.
• Experience in managing digital and traditional advertising campaigns is not a requirement, but a plus.
• Fluency in other languages is not a requirement, but a plus.

Additional Information

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

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 faqpchr@phila.gov.

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