Director, Talent Strategies

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA•Philadelphia, PA

6d•$80,000 - $100,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Talent Strategies will serve as a senior externally facing leader responsible for helping establish and advance the Greater Philadelphia Growth Partnership’s talent agenda across priority growth industries. Working closely with employers, workforce organizations, economic development partners, educational institutions, and regional stakeholders, the Director will develop a deep understanding of employer demand, workforce challenges, and sector needs and help translate those insights into coordinated action, practical initiatives, and measurable progress. The Director will lead employer engagement and sector activation efforts across the Partnership’s priority industries, helping identify opportunities, advance initiatives, and coordinate partners around shared talent priorities. Working across Partnership and Chamber teams (including research, business attraction and expansion, and employer engagement staff), the Director will help move initiatives from concept to implementation while strengthening regional coordination around talent and workforce challenges. Over time, the Director will help shape and grow the Partnership’s talent function, including supporting talent-focused staff and refining approaches to employer engagement, sector activation, and cross-sector collaboration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, public policy, economic development, workforce development, public administration, or a related field; equivalent professional experience will also be considered
5-10 years of experience in economic development, workforce development, partnerships, industry engagement, strategy, consulting, or a related field
Deep, practical understanding of how employers experience the labor market and work to fill high-priority roles
Demonstrated ability to build relationships and communicate effectively with employers, cross-sector stakeholders, and senior leaders
Strong facilitation, communication, and presentation skills with the ability to translate complex information into practical action
Experience managing cross-functional initiatives, partnerships, or stakeholder-driven projects in collaborative and matrixed environments
Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
History of navigating ambiguity, taking an entrepreneurial approach, and demonstrating impact building something new
Demonstrated ability to move between strategic thinking and practical execution
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and related productivity and collaboration tools, including artificial intelligence tools to support efficiency and productivity

Nice To Haves

Experience working in or with the Greater Philadelphia region and understanding of its economic and workforce landscape
Experience engaging directly with employers and industry stakeholders on workforce, talent, or competitiveness issues, especially in one of the Partnership's opportunity industries [https://www.greaterphlgrowth.com/opportunity-industries] (precision manufacturing, biomedical engineering and production, or enterprise digital solutions)
Familiarity with workforce development systems, economic mobility initiatives, sector partnerships, or intermediary organizations
Experience facilitating employer convenings, working groups, coalitions, or regional partnerships
Comfort working with labor market information, talent analytics, dashboards, or performance metrics
Experience operating in highly collaborative, cross-sector, or public-private partnership environments
Strong understanding of employer demand and the ability to translate employer needs into actionable initiatives and partnerships

Responsibilities

Advance sector talent priorities
Build and maintain strong relationships with employers, industry associations, workforce organizations, educational institutions, and regional partners; serve as a primary day-to-day point of contact for employers participating in Partnership talent and sector initiatives.
Draw on employer engagement, Partnership research, sector analysis, and regional data sources to understand employer demand signals and identify workforce challenges, talent bottlenecks, and sector opportunities; translate those insights into practical recommendations, partnership opportunities, and actionable priorities.
Help design and advance sector partnerships, “quick win” and longer-term pilot efforts, and other initiatives that address priority workforce needs and shape long-term employer practice change (e.g., on topics like workforce partnerships, hiring practices, skills-based hiring, talent retention, and sector collaboration); support planning, prioritization, and execution of sector initiatives across the region, helping move ideas and partnerships into action.
Facilitate employer-led conversations, sector alliances, working groups, and collaborative efforts; coordinate across workforce boards, county partners, funders, consultants, and other ecosystem stakeholders; and represent the Partnership in employer convenings, regional meetings, and sector discussions related to workforce, economic mobility, and economic competitiveness.
Help identify and mobilize the partners, resources, and structures needed to advance sector initiatives and address talent bottlenecks.
Shape the Partnership's talent function
Help shape and evolve the Partnership's emerging talent function, operating model, and approach to employer engagement and sector activation over time.
Coordinate closely with Partnership and Chamber teams (e.g., research, business attraction and expansion, partnerships, and employer engagement staff) to align priorities and advance sector initiatives.
Provide direction, coaching, and support to talent-focused team members and support future team growth as the function expands.
Help establish and refine processes, tools, and ways of working that enable the talent function to operate effectively and scale over time.