Policy and Strategic Initiatives Specialist

City of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA

3h • $85,000 - $95,000 • Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of post-Bachelor’s degree is highly preferred but can be substituted with additional years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness program eligibility
• Tuition Discounts and Scholarships (10% to 40% savings on educational expenses for employees, spouse and dependents in some cases)
• Unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program.
• 8 weeks of paid parental leave.

What This Job Offers

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