Senior Project Manager of Early Childhood Strategy, Policy and Planning

City of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA

4d • $85,000 - $100,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Children and Families (OCF) was established to improve the outcomes for all of Philadelphia’s children and families, build stronger communities, and support great schools in every neighborhood. The OCF oversees various City programs and services including the Department of Human Services, PHLpreK (the City’s free, quality pre-K program), Prevention Support Services, Philly Reading Coaches, and Food Access.

The PHLpreK program's mission is to increase access to quality early learning by offering free pre-Kindergarten to children regardless of their family’s income. The program partners with over 230 early childhood education providers to offer safe classrooms, a proven curriculum, attention to the whole child, and parental engagement. The City aims to enhance the quality of PHLpreK services and expand the program, which has seen significant growth in available seats and quality ratings since 2017. PHLpreK also serves as a means for economic opportunity by supporting businesses in the early childhood education sector.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Policy, Strategic Management, or similar field required
• At least 5 years of overall professional experience.
• 2+ years of experience in strategic planning.
• Knowledge of word processing software, presentations, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Demonstrated skill in understanding of cultural differences.
• Capable and detail-oriented multitasker who can prioritize and remain professional in demanding situations.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Quality Rating System, Keystone STARS.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s licensing and certification requirements of childcare providers.
• Ability to interpret relevant local, state, and federal rules and regulations pertaining to childcare program administration.
• Ability to reference and identify small and medium business best practices.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to learn quickly and succeed in a rapidly changing environment.
• Ability to project manage a variety of tasks while meeting deadlines.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement in a politically savvy environment.
• Team player capable of resolving organizational roadblocks.
• Talent for listening, asking effective questions, and synthesizing information.
• The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in related field preferred.
• Early Childhood experience preferred.
• Data Analytics experience preferred.
• Experience in trauma responsive services and related program development, implementation and evaluation

Responsibilities

• Establishing and managing the list of priorities that ensures the city’s public preschool sector is meeting the needs of children, families, teachers, staff, and the communities being served.
• Aligning the priorities of the PHLpreK program with the selection process of local early learning centers that receive federal, state, and local funding and supports.
• Managing the coordination of a centralized enrollment system with users that include the School District of Philadelphia, a fiscal fiduciary, over 300 public preschool centers, and families.
• Mapping the supply, demand, utilization, quality, and other relevant factors to efficiently deploy high quality early childhood education resources to early learning centers across Philadelphia.
• Track PHLpreK milestones, budgets, performance metrics, and risks; escalate issues to executive leadership with actionable recommendations.
• Secure additional resources, as needed, to fully operationalize the PHLpreK program’s priorities.
• Serve as a strategic liaison between the City’s Early Childhood Education division and City departments to align on timelines, deliverables, and priorities for the PHLpreK program.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with Department Heads, Commissioners, and other senior stakeholders to ensure cross-functional coordination and policy alignment.
• Manage high-priority, cross-departmental projects from concept to implementation, ensuring they are executed on time, within scope, and in accordance with the Mayor’s vision and strategic goals.
• Anticipate political, operational, and community-related risks or barriers, and proactively propose solutions to address challenges and maintain momentum.
• Lead and facilitate planning sessions, project check-ins, and decision-making meetings with senior stakeholders, ensuring transparency, accountability, and shared ownership of outcomes.
• Prepare and deliver clear, concise, and data-informed briefings, memos, and presentations to the City’s Chief Deputy Mayor, Chief of Staff, Chief of Early Childhood Education, and other senior level staff.
• Represent the Mayor's Early Childhood Education division in high-level meetings, public engagements, and intergovernmental forums, articulating project goals and maintaining strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Draft executive-level materials including talking points, public remarks, and status updates to support the Chief of Early Childhood Education and senior staff.
• Analyze policies and proposals tied to key initiatives, assessing their feasibility, impacts, and alignment with city goals and recommending improvements where needed.
• Ensure all projects reflect and advance the administration's commitment to equity, transparency, and operational excellence.
• Any other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program.
• 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Eligibility into the discounted medical plan through the wellness program.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Generous retirement savings options.
• Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• Access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships (10% to 40% savings) with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities.

What This Job Offers

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