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 coordinates the deployment of resources and personnel dedicated to violence prevention for the City of Philadelphia. Within the Office of Public Safety is the Office of Safe Neighborhoods.

Philadelphia’s Office of Safe Neighborhoods (OSN) prioritizes public safety within our communities, with an emphasis on ending gun violence in Philadelphia.

Our objective is to disrupt the detrimental cycle of gun violence by implementing a comprehensive strategy that tackles the root causes and offers rehabilitation and prevention resources. By supporting and expanding upon local innovations that enhance public safety in Philadelphia and building upon evidence and place-based initiatives, OSN aims to create a safe and resilient Philadelphia equipped with the essential resources for achievement.

The Office of Safe Neighborhoods recognizes the significant impact of trauma on the perpetuation of gun violence. Consequently, as a social support initiative, OSN prioritizes addressing community mental health through community outreach and engagement. We also recognize that the most effective services come from within our communities, and our Office demonstrates this understanding through our robust partnerships with community organizations throughout Philadelphia.

Job Description

Position Summary

We seek to hire a highly motivated and talented Director to lead the coordination, implementation, and oversight, specializing in Philadelphia's Office of Safe Neighborhood's Tactical and Rapid Response Program. The director will coordinate program services and community outreach initiatives. 

With the reinstitution of the Tactical Team, the City has taken a coordinated response to areas that experience the highest rates of shootings and homicides. This position will manage the coordination of the weekly tactical meetings, as well as establish and implement a Rapid Response Protocol comprised of key representatives from the City with the ability to mobilize teams and direct needed services and supports to assist victims, witnesses, and others in the community impacted by a recent shooting or homicide that requires a unified crisis response. 

Essential Functions

The Director of Tactical and Community Response leads the operations of the tactical team, which provides essential context for the gun violence within the designated police districts' pinpoint and GVI areas to the City's environmental and social service providers. The following duties include:

• Schedule and facilitate weekly tactical meetings with PPD, City Departments/Agencies, community partners, etc.
• Monitor and track the progress of requests from police captains.
• Foster relationships with PPD and community members to create buy-in to the Tactical program.
• Develop a system of reporting and accountability for operating departments
• Work with OSN's Executive Director to identify and engage social service and community-based organizations external to city government to serve as stakeholders for tactical meetings and rapid response protocols.
• Manage, coordinate, and provide direction to the City of Philadelphia’s Rapid Response Team under the leadership provided by the Executive Director of OSN.
• Lead, facilitate, and develop agendas for inter-departmental meetings and meetings with community stakeholders to plan, manage, and implement rapid response activities.
• Available on call to assist with mobilizing the Rapid Response Team whenever a unified crisis response is needed.   
• Assist in the development of new initiatives and programs that focus on addressing community trauma and promoting community resilience, which includes restoring and rebuilding neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence.
• Network and build relationships to address community trauma and promote community resilience, including developing partnerships with stakeholders from the local, state, and federal governments, community-based organizations, non-profit organizations, and private entities.
• Conduct rigorous follow-up to assess the impact of services and supports provided by the Rapid Response Team, including data collection and tracking outcomes.   
• Develop training to support the deployment of the Rapid Response Team.
• Extensive outreach and engagement in communities across Philadelphia to identify needs and solutions for communities exposed to violence.    
• Implement and oversee Philadelphia’s 211 Violence Prevention Hotline.  
• Oversee and delegate projects to program specialists to support the implementation of OSN programming.
• Other duties as assigned by Executive Director.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Social and behavioral sciences, with an extensive understanding of trauma, the impact exposure to violence has on individuals and communities, and the risk factors associated with community violence. 
• Individual- and community-level strategies to address community trauma and promote community resilience.
• Principles of emergency management, including best practices related to synchronizing the activities of relevant stakeholders to achieve a common purpose. 
• Social, cultural, and economic characteristics of Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City agencies com, community partners, and other individuals and organizations the Rapid Response Team engages.
• Analyze complex problems and develop protocols to ensure effective decision-making.
• Present ideas effectively in oral and written communication.
• Work under pressure while managing multiple assignments;
• Prepare and supervise the preparation of action plans and other reports and records; and
• Exercise sound judgment and use creative and innovative approaches to solve problems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Applicants without a degree but with relevant experience will also be considered.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of relevant experience in victim services, criminal justice, other public safety fields, community engagement, or advocacy.
• Experience in developing and implementing policy is required.
• Experience convening stakeholders to build consensus, plan, and execute around shared goals is required.
• Experience with strategic communications, community engagement, and constituent services is preferred.

Additional Information

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

Salary Range: $85,000 -$90,000

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 8 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