Manager, Commercial Special Projects

City of Philadelphia • Tinicum Township, PA

4h • $72,000 - $90,000

About The Position

The Commercial Division oversees all revenue-generating activity for the Department of Aviation, including airport concessions (food & beverage, retail, and advertising), parking, ground transportation, air service development, and property management/real estate. In short, the team ensures the airport grows sustainably by expanding revenue, creating a sense of place, and building partnerships with airlines, tenants, local businesses, and internal departments.
The Manager, Commercial Special Projects, will serve as a flexible, cross-functional resource who helps move important initiatives forward across this portfolio. Projects may support a specific business line—such as Parking or Concessions—or may cut across multiple teams, improving communication, coordination, and visibility for high-impact commercial work.
This role is ideal for a versatile professional who can take loosely defined ideas, structure them into actionable workstreams, and bring together diverse stakeholders to achieve results. No aviation experience is required. The selected candidate will learn the industry over time while building a portfolio of visible contributions to PHL’s commercial strategy and developing subject-matter expertise across different lines of business.
This position is well suited for a self-starter who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys variety in their work, and is motivated by bringing clarity, organization, and momentum to complex, collaborative projects.

Requirements

• Highly organized with ability to prioritize multiple projects at once
• Exceptional communicator who can synthesize complex information for executives.
• Thrives in ambiguous environments and learns new domains quickly.
• Strong stakeholder-management skills—able to lead through influence rather than authority.
• Strong analytical and writing skills—able to communicate clearly and persuasively to executives.
• A systems thinker who enjoys connecting dots and building structure in evolving environments
• Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, urban planning, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred)
• 4+ years of experience in project management, consulting, strategy, or public sector innovation
• New hires must establish and maintain residency in the city of Philadelphia within 6 months of appointment. Current City of Philadelphia employees must maintain residency in the City of Philadelphia while employed in this position.
• Obtainment of a Security Badge is a condition of employment. Must pass and maintain SIDA (Security Identification Display Area) and AOA (Airfield Operations Area) clearance at the time of appointment and during tenure of employment.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support planning, coordination, and delivery of strategic commercial initiatives across the Department of Aviation (DOA)
• Advance priority commercial initiatives by organizing tasks, coordinating stakeholders across the airport, and ensuring projects stay on track.
• Develop clear, compelling materials—memos, presentations, dashboards, and briefings—that highlight project status, insights, and the Commercial Division’s overall impact.
• Track, document, and share ongoing commercial work, including milestones, KPIs, risks, and lessons learned.
• Identify and solve process gaps and recommend improvements that make the Commercial team more efficient and predictable.
• Take on high-priority ad-hoc assignments, providing flexible support where the Commercial leadership team needs it most.
• Monitor progress of strategic plan initiatives
• Track and manage key milestones, stakeholder engagement, and performance outcomes for special projects and pilot program
• Coordinate with cross-departmental working groups including Finance, Customer Experience and Capital Development Group (CDG)
• Support commercial strategy development, including market research, benchmarking, business planning, and identifying new opportunities.
• Support the development of grant applications or funding proposals for commercial innovation
• Serve as a flexible resource to help directors and vice presidents move important projects forward during periods of high demand

Benefits

• 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.
• 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
• As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• 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!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager