Company Description
A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.
As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.
What we offer
- Impact – The work you do here matters to millions.
- Growth – Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it?
- Diversity & Inclusion – Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
- Benefits – We care about your well-being.
Agency Description
The Office of Sustainability (OOS) is within the portfolio of the Managing Director’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, & Sustainability (OTIS). Also included in this portfolio are the Streets Department, the Water Department, and the Office of Complete Streets. Together, the OTIS portfolio drives change through transportation and infrastructure systems with policies and programs that provide cost-effective, quality services with a focus on residents.
OOS works with partners around the city to improve quality of life in all of Philadelphia neighborhoods through addressing environmental justice, reducing the city’s carbon emissions, and preparing Philadelphia for a hotter and wetter future.
- Our Climate Resilience team builds resilience to climate change and advances environmental justice by understanding and communicating climate risk and developing programs, policies, and place-based strategies that reduce risk, protect residents, address historic injustice, and improves quality of life.
- Our Environmental Justice team advances environmental justice through education, policy advising, directly resourcing frontline communities, and supporting the resident-led Environmental Justice Advisory Commission.
- Our Climate Solutions team advances Philadelphia’s citywide equitable clean energy transition to meet climate goals through building energy benchmarking and performance policies and is developing an energy poverty alleviation strategy through Inflation Reduction Act funding opportunities.
- Our Municipal Energy Office reduces the City’s carbon footprint through strategic management of its energy portfolio by reducing energy use, using smart procurement, and increasing the use of renewable sources.
More information about the functions of OOS can be found at: Office of Sustainability | Homepage | City of Philadelphia.
Job Description
The Lower South Collaborative Project Manager will report to the Acting Chief Resilience Officer in the Office of Sustainability. Close coordination will be required with the Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, & Sustainability.
Context:
As the region prepares for a future with hotter, wetter, and more turbulent weather, the City of Philadelphia is dedicated to investing in collaborative solutions to address the threats to our public and private infrastructure. In no area of our city are these threats more pressing than near the lower Schuylkill River delta, where some of the city’s biggest infrastructure investments overlap with some of our most flood-prone zones.
To address this risk, the City of Philadelphia has convened a group of landowners, infrastructure operators, and major developers in the Lower South area of the city to collaboratively approach future planning, investment, and development decisions that protect the economic interests of the area while incorporating current climate data to protect its assets into future decades. To date, the group has convened to discuss their existing transportation challenges, medium- and long-term needs, and collective opportunities to address those needs in a resilient manner. Going forward, supported by a team of consultants, the group looks to address a series of important planning decisions that will affect the future makeup of this economically and culturally vital part of Philadelphia.
The Collaborative’s future suite of projects within the Lower South region will be influenced by successful applications for federal funding. The types of projects could include, but are not limited to improvements in transportation, clean energy and power, broadband, water, resiliency, mitigation, and environmental remediation.
The role:
The Lower South Collaborative Stakeholder Engagement Manager will be instrumental in overseeing deliverables, convening meetings, and building trust among Collaborative members to lead the group to solutions that both meet members’ infrastructure needs and properly integrate the most up-to-date science on climate-risk. Managed by the Office of Sustainability’s Acting Chief Resilience Officer and in close collaboration with the Director of Sustainability, the Engagement Manager will be well-supported to bring the Collaborative to the next level while actively contributing to the City’s climate resilience priorities.
The ideal candidate will have both experience in complex stakeholder engagement, preferably in a government, land development, or consulting capacity, and a strong understanding of resilience-informed infrastructure planning. Coordination to align City infrastructure priorities with outside agency priorities will be an important function of this role.
With the influx of federal funding anticipated by the City of Philadelphia through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) programs, the position will also focus on ensuring that the Collaborative is poised to mobilize these funds; managing relationships across sectors to fund and deliver complex capital projects will be critical. Because of the ambitious scope of the Collaborative, the project will be supported by an experienced team of consultants; thus, a key component of the role will be liaising with this team and ensuring the timely delivery of relevant and high-quality consultant deliverables.
Further project details:
The Lower South Infrastructure Collaborative builds on convenings organized by PennDOT as part of the Interstate 95 Section CSP (Central to South Philadelphia) Planning Study. The Collaborative includes: Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation/Navy Yard; PhilaPort; Sports Complex Special Services District and the Eagles, the Phillies, and Comcast Spectacor; Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Bellwether District, Norfolk Southern and Russo Development; PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and several City departments including but not limited to: the Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, & Sustainability, the Office of Sustainability, the Department of Aviation, the Philadelphia Water Department, and the City Planning Commission.
Essential Functions
While the detailed workplan for this role will evolve according to the deliverables prioritized by the Collaborative, the essential functions include:
- Build an understanding of current and planned initiatives in the Lower South area, as well as opportunities for collaboration and communication improvements across the Collaborative.
- Facilitate regularly scheduled Collaborative and special-purpose meetings; prepare agendas and meeting minutes, document action items, and work with Collaborative members and City departments to ensure follow-through.
- Coordinate across myriad City departments where service and operations missions align with the needs of Collaborative members. Serve as a representative on Lower South cross-departmental projects to ensure goals and actions are aligned with Collaborative member objectives.
- Serve as the interface between the Collaborative and the support team of consultants to manage deliverables and coordination.
- Consult with OOS’s and OTIS’s Grants Managers on appropriate federal and state grants to support the work of the Collaborative. With consultant support, contribute to grant applications and work with OOS’s Grants Manager on reporting, close out, and auditing.
- Coordinate with City and Collaborative members on special projects related to needed improvements within the public right-of-way, as needed.
- Provide on-call contract management, including invoice management and coordination of fund management with our fiscal sponsor.
- Track metrics and deliverables status to communicate the progress on Collaborative goals.
- Attend Collaborative member meetings, as requested.
- The position requires a general understanding of:
- Relevant policy, planning, and compliance topics affecting large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Climate resilience, especially as it relates to infrastructure planning and investment.
- Knowledge of how Federal, state, and local funding opportunities can be mobilized support major infrastructure improvement projects.
- Public right-of-way improvement synergies (e.g., improved roadway design that accommodates all modes of travel, context-appropriate use of nature-based stormwater management solutions, incorporation of resilience measures to major capital infrastructure projects, etc.).
- Racial equity and environmental justice issues, particularly as the Lower South area is proximate to environmental justice communities.
Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- The discretion to build trust and maintain effective relationships among departments and agencies whose priorities may compete or not always be aligned.
- Ability to effectively communicate complex information to diverse audiences.
- The ability to create a shared understanding of problems and/or projects to facilitate potential solutions.
- Skill in assessing alternatives and leading stakeholders toward win-win solutions.
- Very organized with a strong ability to prioritize among short- and long-term goals.
- Meet deadlines in an environment of competing/multiple and changing priorities.
- Passion for quality, professionalism, integrity, initiative, energy, dedication, innovation, and respect.
- Ability to work in a team-oriented environment and individually.
- Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills.
- Ability to take projects to completion.
Work-Life
Working hours are generally 37.5 hours per week. Our team is currently hybrid with both virtual and in-office days, however the position can opt to come in the office each day if desired.
Qualifications
- Strong organizational, communication, planning, and interpersonal skills are required.
- Experience managing high-profile stakeholders.
- Experience with state and federal grants is a plus.
- Master’s degree preferred but not required.
- A minimum of 7 years of relevant planning experience, preferably with a background in sustainability, transportation, or infrastructure.
Additional Information
TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.
Salary Range: $83,000 – $90,000
Job Training & Professional Development Statement
OOS is committed to building the capacity of staff members. In addition to access to external trainings, certifications, or other professional development opportunities, learning also occurs in a shared environment setting. All team members participate jointly in exploring new concepts, resources, and skills.
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 6 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 faqpchr@phila.gov.
For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx
