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 Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO) provides leadership on issues of economic justice by advancing racial equity and inclusive growth to ensure that all Philadelphians share in the city’s prosperous future and by alleviating the immediate impact of poverty on individuals, families and communities.  CEO is Philadelphia’s Community Action Agency (CAA); CAAs are private or public agencies created by the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act and federally designated to receive Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding.

Guiding Principles (We believe…)

• The people of Philadelphia deserve the opportunity to live happy, healthy, full lives. 
• City Government should both recognize its culpability in creating and sustaining inequity and aspire to its responsibility to provide opportunities, represent the best interests, and promote the well-being of all residents. 
• People can offer meaningful insights into both personal experiences and how systems around them function. 
• Poverty is a deliberately created systemic issue and city government can lead in calling for justice and dismantling the barriers that often prevent opportunities. 

Values (How we work)

• Dignity: We actively respect our individual colleagues and people in the community.
• Inclusivity: Our work is more beneficial, valuable, and valid when our full range of experiences, knowledge, and skills can contribute.
• Persistence: We recognize the challenges inherent in this work, and when we get discouraged, we find ways to be resilient, lift each other up, and push forward.
• Accountability: We are transparent and honest about our plans, our actions, and our results.
• Honesty: We create a space to have healthy, honest dialogues about systems, people, and misconceptions and then communicate truthfully.

Job Description

The Senior Director of Policy will lead CEO’s efforts to advance policies that create opportunities for stability, economic mobility, and prosperity for Philadelphians in poverty. This includes policy analysis, development, and advocacy on issues in CEO’s published Policy Agenda, as well as other opportunities that align with CEO’s programmatic work. The Senior Director of Policy is an integral part of the City’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO), an agency within the Office of the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. CEO’s work directly supports the Mayor’s goal of improving economic opportunities for all Philadelphians.  CEO’s mission is to advance economic justice through racial equity, to increase mobility out of poverty and to ensure that all Philadelphians can share in the benefits of economic growth. CEO also distributes federal Community Services Block Grant funding and other resources to support this work. This position reports to the Deputy Executive Director of Policy and Programs.

CEO’s Strategic Framework  
The Senior Director of Policy advances CEO’s Overarching Strategy to advocate at the program, operational, and system level for solutions for mobility out of poverty. The Director acts as an internal and external change agent to inform, advocate, and collaborate for policies with a focus on equity, economic mobility, and community inclusion.    

Essential Functions

• The Senior Director of Policy will advance the Mayor’s agenda for the people of Philadelphia through advocacy, policy, and regulatory improvements, and changes in practice and system improvements. Such areas may include:  

• Access to basic needs such as public benefits including Medical Assistance, LIHEAP and other utility assistance programs, SNAP and other support for health food, and more.
• Elimination of fines and fees that unfairly burden low-income Philadelphians and trap them in debt.
• Opportunities for economic mobility such as workforce development, job training, and employment access.
• Addressing Social Determinants of Health (aka Health Related Social Needs).
• Growing prosperity and financial empowerment, as well as protecting consumers from practices that strip them of wealth.  
• Reducing racial inequities that lead to disparate outcomes for people of color. 
• Strengthening Community Action Associations.
• Monitor activity of local, state, and federal policy making bodies to identify issues that may affect the Mayor’s priorities and CEO’s programmatic work and policy agenda.
• Act as liaison to City Council and the Mayor’s Policy Office.
• Build relationships and maintain regular communication with the Philadelphia delegation to the Pennsylvania House and Senate and the U.S. House and Senate, as well as key staff in the Office of the Governor, the Pa. Department of Human Services, and other state and federal agencies as relevant.   
• Work in collaboration with policy staff across City government on areas of alignment, and coordinate with relevant City of Philadelphia staff and/or contractors that represent the City before legislative bodies.    
• Support CEO leaders by strengthen their policy efforts within their portfolios to increase the impact of CEO initiatives and investments, including engagement of outreach staff that routinely talk to Philadelphians most affected by our policy agenda.  
• Elevate the voices of Philadelphians directly affected by these issues to inform policy development and advocate. 
• Build and maintain relationships with non-profit service providers and advocates to understand their policy priorities and help inform CEO’s work.
• Staff CEO’s Housing Security Working Group to convene quarterly meetings of housing staff across City government with external housing advocates and experts. 
• Produce policy documents, such as reports that include qualitative and/or quantitative research and policy recommendations. 
• Regular external communication such as writing of e-blasts, blog posts, Op-Eds, social media posts, public comments, public testimony to communicate CEO’s policy priorities.

• Support fundraising activities such as grant proposals that will help advance program and policy goals. 
• Other duties as assigned 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Deep familiarity with federal and state resources and policies in one or more of the areas listed above 
• Superior written and verbal communications skills  
• Ability to work with a diverse set of stakeholders, both internal and external 
• Advocacy and negotiation skills 
• Strong interpersonal relationship skills; ability to be a great team member and to work independently as appropriate  
• Values and encourages diversity of thought, background, and perspective  
• Tech savvy with experience and fluency in office software programs   
• Strong project management skills 
• Commitment to advancing racial equity

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience working in the non-profit and/or public sector at federal, state, and/or local level 
• Success in advancing policy and/or organizational change efforts 
• An advanced degree in public administration, social services or related field. Equivalent work experience can be substituted for this qualification 

Supervisory Responsibilities

 None at this time; supervisory responsibilities may change over time.   

Other Specialties, Certifications, Physical Requirements, and Work Conditions

• Regular, predictable attendance is required
• Successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Additional Information

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

Salary Range: $110,000 - $117,000

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 faqpchr@phila.gov.

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