Communications Specialist

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 Managing Director’s Office (MDO) manages and oversees the operations of the City. Working with five Cabinet-level Deputies, operational oversight is divided into specific departmental clusters: Community Services, General Services, Arts, & Events, Health & Human Services, Public Safety & Criminal Justice, and Transportation, Infrastructure, & Sustainability.  

The Capital Program Office (CPO) is a newly created office within the Office of the Managing Director’s purview, responsible for capital planning and implementation for a number of City agencies, including but not limited to Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Police, Fire, Prisons, Health, Office of Homeless Services, Fleet, The Free Library and Public Property. CPO is assigned to work with the City Planning Commission, Budget Office and client departments in the creation of the annual capital budget and capital program, by evaluating proposed capital projects in terms of cost, schedule of work, timetable for completion, utility and practically as well as benefit to the City and compliance with the priorities of the Administration. The CPO oversees the engineering and architectural functions for, and otherwise is responsible for implementing projects set forth in the City’s current and future capital budgets and programs. 

Position Summary 

 The Communication’s Coordinator will assist the Communications Director in implementing  communications strategies to promote public understanding of the work of the Capital Program Office and the many projects managed through the CPO – ensuring that residents, as well as businesses and schools, see their tax dollars at work and understand how capital projects improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods and business communities.  

Communications support of CPO will include, but is not limited to, developing and managing print & digital communications content, assisting with milestone event planning & scheduling, supporting media relations, curating a responsive digital presence for the program by regularly updating the Capital Program Office website, creating digital content for social media channels, and developing partner, stakeholder, and resident communications as appropriate. 

Essential Functions 

• Support the Communications Director in the development and execution of the Capital Program Office Communications Strategy, and ensure all communications align with the overall strategy. 

• Create social media toolkits and print collateral as needed. 

• Manage Capital Program Office website content and calendar.  

• Support with and execution of all ribbon cutting and groundbreaking press events including but not limited to:  

• Coordinating schedules 

• Creating social media toolkits 

• Promoting events on NextDoor 

• Writing talking points  

• Managing project before and after photo/video needs.  

• Overseeing the distribution of media advisories, press releases, and ICYMI announcements on Mailchimp. 

• Support Capital Program Office Project Managers and the Director of Community Engagement with site and project specific digital communications such as website updates, blog posts and social media ads for RFP announcements and contract opportunities, community engagement meetings calendar. 

• Assist with the development of a regular CPO progress report for stakeholders, and residents. 

• Assist with creating annual Capital Program Office ‘By the Numbers’ report (content and design). 

• Assess social media landscape, propose and manage Capital Program Office’s digital plan including day-to-day content calendar for Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

• Assist Communications Director with pitching and otherwise leveraging interactions with media to tell engaging stories about specific Capital Program Office projects and their impact on residents and the community.  

• Work closely with the Communications Director and subject matter experts at all levels of Capital Program Office client departments to accomplish the above functions.  

• Support external contractors to deliver creative content and Capital Program Office communications assets. 

• Support the Communications Director in the development and execution of CPO Communications 

• Strategy, and ensure all communications align with the overall strategy. 

• Create and print materials as needed 

• Support CPO staff with site and project specific communications including website updates, posts and social media ads for RFP announcements and contract opportunities, community engagement meetings calendar. 

• Assist Communications Director with communications related needs, including but not limited to, drafting content for the social media calendar, talking points, constituent correspondence responses, media advisories, and press releases 

• Proofread a wide range of communications, as needed 

Required Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Outstanding oral and written communications skills for various audiences, strong interpersonal skills and ability to build effective relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. 

• Ability to take complicated financial/budget and project development “speak” and turn into clear, accessible language for target audiences. Knowing when to write more technical and detailed, and when to write in simple statements/content. 

• Ability to drive change in challenging and complex projects, and to be a self-starter with the flexibility to both work independently and as part of a team. 

• Known for attention to detail, prioritizing tasks, and record keeping.  

• Ability to use sound and accurate judgement and think creatively to resolve complex problems and the ability to multi-task under tight deadlines. 

• Ability to “go with the flow, stop and start projects when deadlines and priorities change.   

• Ability and interest to bring new ideas to the table and suggest ways to execute. 

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, such as other departments, partners and sponsors, the public, local, civic and business, and elected officials, and news organizations. 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet tight deadlines. 

• Excellent self-direction and the ability to take ownership and drive responsibilities through to completion. 

• Ability to build relationships with cross-sector partners and work as part of a collaborative team. 

• Ability to work on nights and weekends, as needed. 

• Ability to travel to all project sites. 

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Humanities or a related field. 

At least two years of relevant experience in Communications, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Content Creation, Marketing, or related field 

Experience with writing press releases, media alerts, Q&A, and digital content. 

We value diverse experiences and are open to flexible qualifications. If you are passionate about this role and meet some of the key criteria, we encourage you to apply. 

Note: This position is on-site, in-person, 5 days a week.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: $50,000-$70,000 

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 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 [email protected].

Interested candidates should apply through Smart Recruiters:  

Any questions related to this position should be directed to Lydia Furst, Chief Deputy City Solicitor, Affirmative & Special Litigation Unit ([email protected]). 

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