Communications Director

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 Philadelphia Department of Human Services is the county child welfare and juvenile justice agency serving approximately 10,000 children per year with a workforce of over 1,500 employees. With a budget of over 900 million dollars, the Department’s goal is to improve outcomes for children and families. The core mission of the Department of Human Services is to engage and positively impact Philadelphia’s children, youth, families, and communities by delivering prevention, child welfare, and juvenile justice services with a focus on maintaining children with their families and their communities.

Position Summary

This is a professional position in the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services (DHS). This position reports to the DHS Commissioner. The director will play a significant role in DHS’ internal communications, messaging, branding, social media, and marketing of services to employees, clients, the general public, agency providers, other City departments, City Council, and other partners. This position involves on-site tasks, such as meeting with leadership and system and community partners, the media, and providing in-person services to address communication requests.  

Essential Functions

• Manage public relations and crisis communications.
• Manage media relations including handling press inquiries, facilitating media interviews, and securing press coverage of programs and initiatives.
• Preparing press releases, op-eds, and media pitches that convey important information about the agency’s work, successes, and challenges.
• Engage users with social media presence to promote the Department’s mission and programs.
• Lead and direct advertising efforts to promote programs and enhance recruitment.
• Develop talking points for key staff.
• Publish performance management reports.
• Ensure branding and graphic standards are followed and consistent throughout the office.
• Streamline the flow of information within DHS and among other City agencies, provider agencies, community-based organizations, and neighborhood residents.
• Build relationships with community-based organizations and other stakeholders to encourage community participation and strategies to enhance the public’s perception of departmental services.
• Oversee branding, design, and printing of informational material.
• Work with the DHS leadership and program teams to identify emerging issues and plan communication strategies and messaging around those issues.
• Plan, implement, and publicize departmental events and functions.
• Support the selection of and management of external communications contracts with vendors, as required.
• Reporting to leadership on communication outcomes and adjusting strategies based on feedback and results.
• Work with the design and content team to update website and collateral.
• Support media coordination for PHL Pre-K, Out of School Time, and Career Connected Learning.
• Supervise and manage subordinate staff.
• Coordinate with Mayor’s Press Office and other City agencies as needed.

• Other duties as assigned.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts.
• Strong organizational skills, including ability to handle simultaneous priority projects.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and implement long- and short-term communication strategies.
• Ability to navigate high-pressure situations, such as public relations crises, calmly and effectively.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances or priorities, especially in fast-moving situations such as media responses or policy changes.
• Track record in establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with direct supervisor, peers, staff, consultants, service providers, and vendors.
• Ability to exercise sound and independent judgement with general policy guidelines.
• Ability to identify issues or challenges early on and devise creative and effective solutions.
• Ability to understand the big picture and relate well to staff, communities, and the press.
• Ability to collaborate effectively internally, across departments, and with various organizations. 
• Ability to maintain high standards of quality and attention to detail.
• Experience crafting messaging and communications campaigns.
• Strong commitment to ethical guidelines, especially regarding confidentiality, privacy, and respect for children, youth, and families.
• Familiarity with analytics tools to track the effectiveness of communications campaigns.
• Must be flexible and able to work extended hours on an as-needed basis.
• Familiarity with, and understanding of, City of Philadelphia municipal operations and departments desired.
• Strong working knowledge of WordPress and social media platforms.
• Ability to work independently to achieve goals.

• 5 – 7 years of paid experience in communications, journalism, public affairs, or a related field
• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Experience in supervising a team.
• Experience managing complex organizational systems.
• Experience with both digital and traditional communications.
• Experience in media relations and building relationships with local members of the press.
• Experience managing advertising and marketing campaigns.
• Experience with child welfare/juvenile justice systems, child protection laws, and regulations preferred.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a resume.

Salary Range: $90,000 - $105,000

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 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
• 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 [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx