Chief of Staff

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 Property Assessment (OPA) is responsible for determining the value of all real property in Philadelphia and is dedicated to doing so in a fair, accurate, and understandable way. OPA's primary goal is, through ongoing assessments, to improve the accuracy and uniformity of all property values and to instill confidence in Philadelphia taxpayers regarding the fairness of the property tax system, as well as the competency and professionalism of Philadelphia's assessment office.

• The Chief of Staff provides advanced administrative, managerial and analytical support to the Chief Assessment Officer (CAO).  The position assists with managing a broad range of the daily workflow as well as workflows related to the yearly assessment cycle.
• The position requires a working knowledge of a wide array of government functions and policies, and advanced knowledge of the organization and culture of City government.  The Chief of Staff acts as a liaison between the OPA and other City agencies, including City Council.
• A major focus of this position will be project management for a variety of short- and long-term projects. The Chief of Staff will also provide professional assistance and support to the CAO on a wide range of topics; research, analyze and provide recommendations regarding wide-ranging policy areas; serve as the CAO's liaison at meetings; and perform related duties as assigned.
• Responsibilities are broad in scope and require a high degree of administrative discretion. This includes project scheduling, written correspondence and other related communications, and managing multiple projects with minimal supervision.

Essential Functions

• Work with leaders to set strategic priorities, identify areas where leaders should direct their focus as well as metrics for success, and revisit those metrics regularly and evaluate progress against them.
• Bring together important stakeholders and help drive decisions, follow up on action items to ensure timely progress, and track impact on department operations.
• Act as a key thought partner, brainstorming and identifying solutions to challenges.
• Manage large, often cross-functional, organization-wide projects or initiatives, including maintaining project calendars and tracking of multiple projects.
• Ensure execution of CAO's preparation for important internal and external meetings and events.
• Provide communications support including the drafting of emails, reports, memos, presentations, internal and external communications, and other correspondence and written communications on behalf of the CAO. Work with the Mayor's Office of Communications to handle press requests requiring responses from OPA.
• Serve as liaison between OPA and other City departments, including working with City Council staff on legislative and constituent services issues related to OPA.  
• Other duties as assigned.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers.

• Orchestrates multiple activities at once.
• Shows a high level of discretion.
• Possesses strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Uses resources effectively and efficiently.

• Strategic thinker who is data-driven and analytical when approaching and solving problems.
• Able to learn complex topics and find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability learn to communicate in someone else's "written voice."
• Adept at making public presentations and explaining topics clearly to audiences with different levels of understanding.
• Excels at building relationships and networks and influencing others to achieve outcomes.
• Spends the extra effort to put others at ease, build rapport, and be a good listener.
• Displays a positive attitude about the work to be done, co-workers, customers, management, and employer policies.

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.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Master's degree in Economics, City Planning, Data Science, Business Administration, Accounting, Government Administration, Public Policy, or related field preferred and may be substituted for work experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of two years working in government, budget, accounting, financial analysis or real estate development is preferred but not required. 
• Familiarity with systems used by the City of Philadelphia is preferred but not required.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Experience working with government officials and staff is preferred but not required.

Technical Skills:

• Strong working knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Project and other common software applications.

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

Salary Range: $95,000 - $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 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].

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