Policy and Strategic Initiatives Specialist

Job Description

Position Summary

The MDO Strategic Initiatives Unit has responsibility for managing high priority initiatives that cut across multiple City agencies and affect the lives of the City’s most vulnerable residents. 

The Policy and Strategic Initiatives Specialist for Strategic Initiatives serves as a key advisor to the Deputy Managing Director for Strategic Initiatives. This high-impact role is responsible for advancing major cross-sector policy initiatives, citywide special projects, and strategic priorities that support the Mayor’s vision of a more equitable, efficient, and responsive municipal government.

The Policy and Strategic Initiatives Specialist will lead strategy and implementation on key high-priority cross-systems projects, collaborating with the Managing Director, Deputy Managing Directors, Commissioners (and other agency/program heads), and other senior leaders across MDO.  Projects will include work on (among other things) quality-of-life initiatives, the annual budget process, and city services improvements.

The Specialist reports to the Deputy Managing Director for Strategic Initiatives, and works closely with MDO leadership, as well as leadership and subject matter experts in partnering agencies, to analyze and document policy needs and processes, develop work plans to address problems/opportunities, lead the creation and execution of new initiatives, remediate troubled projects, and ensure high-priority projects have detailed plans and are launched correctly and on time.

Essential Functions

• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the Deputy Managing Director on a wide range of citywide initiatives, policy development, and strategic planning efforts.
• Assist with the design and execution of cross-departmental strategic initiatives that address complex urban challenges and improve service delivery to residents.
• Lead and manage the annual budget process for MDO and its constituent departments, ensuring strategic alignment with the Mayor’s vision, alignment with department priorities, and fidelity to the City budget.
  • Develop a strategic framework for the annual operating budget and capital program request process for MDO and its constituent departments.
  • Work in close collaboration with the City’s Budget Director and the Budget Office to ensure that MDO’s processes, documents, and submissions are high-quality and responsive to the Budget Office’s needs.
  • Work with MDO programs that live in MDO’s budget develop robust budget requests that support the Mayor and Managing Director’s priorities.
  • Work with other MDO departments to ensure that their budget requests and priorities are feasible and support the Mayor and Managing Director’s priorities.
  • Lead preparations for the Managing Director’s budget testimony
• Provide strategy and oversight for outside partner programs (e.g., PowerCorpsPHL)
• Represent the Deputy Managing Director at high-level meetings and internal briefings.
• Analyze local, state, and federal legislation and regulatory developments that may impact City operations; develop recommendations and assist with City responses.
• Build and sustain partnerships with City departments to advance strategic goals.
• Provide operational support on special projects, pilots, and programs launched through the Strategic Initiatives portfolio.
• Lead the identification, strategy, and execution of policy and implementation initiatives to improve structures, services, and outcomes for City agencies.
  • Effectively lead and collaborate with project teams to enable team to achieve project outcomes.
  • Assemble project teams, identify needed resources, assign responsibilities, and develop timeframes to facilitate successful completion of project activities and deliverables.
  • Actively manage tasks and team members’ work to ensure project requirements are achieved in a timely fashion and within budget guidelines, including tracking key project milestones.
  • Quickly address problems that arise and make recommendations regarding adjustments to leadership as needed.
  • Monitor and manage project costs and ensure delivery within budgetary guidelines.
• Convene and chair project meetings with internal stakeholders and external partners, and document meeting minutes.
• Prepare status reports, status summaries, and dashboards for presentation to MDO and City leadership.
• Perform cost/benefit analyses and develop options for leadership decision making.
• Manage high-profile interagency fiscal matters.
• Supervise interns.

Required Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Detailed understanding of the government budget and policy processes;
• Familiarity with the City of Philadelphia and its operating departments;
• Ability to think strategically and to lead multiple projects on tight timeframes with excellent attention to detail;
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with employees at all levels of MDO and its constituent agencies, as well as external entities as needed;
• Leadership qualities such as conflict/issue resolution, the ability to define and resolve complex issues;
• Strong policy research and analysis skills;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to create and present project reports and to communicate effectively with stakeholders and senior leadership; and
• Strong analytical skills and knowledge of the principles of project management and budgeting.

Qualifications

• Completion of a Bachelor’s degree program at an accredited college or university with course work in public policy, criminal justice, social service, Social Work/Social Policy, other Social Science, and/or other relevant fields is required.
• Completion of post-Bachelor’s degree is highly preferred but can be substituted with additional years of relevant experience.
• Five or more years of work experience in public policy, program development, program implementation, or project management.
• Two or more years of project management experience managing/coordinating multiple, large, cross-functional teams or projects.

Additional Information

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

Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000

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 [email protected].

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