Program Assistant, Office of Policy & Strategic Initiatives - Commerce

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 mission of the Department of Commerce is to ensure that Philadelphia is a globally competitive city to which employers flock, entrepreneurs thrive and innovation abounds; to recruit and retain a diverse set of businesses; to foster economic opportunities for all Philadelphians in all neighborhoods; and to partner with workforce development programs and local businesses on talent development ensuring that all Philadelphians can find and retain living-wage jobs. For more information about the Department of Commerce, visit www.phila.gov/commerce. 

The Office of Policy & Strategic Initiatives oversees functions needed to support and promote all of the above Commerce Department priorities.  The unit is comprised of the job functions that focus on department-wide strategic initiatives including communications, policy coordination, data collection and analysis, research, report preparation, performance metrics, process improvement, and business advocacy.  The work involves collaborating with teams across the department on special projects and initiatives, and across City government and our many partners as needed.  

The Program Assistant assists the Deputy Director and staff in the Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives (OPSI) in fulfillment of their tasks and completes administrative details as assigned.  

Essential Functions 

• Provide support to the team, including database and file management, reports, and recommendations for program efficiencies on all OPSI initiatives and projects.  

• Gather information and assist with creation of staff presentations and reports, including the Commerce Annual Report 

• Maintain the Deputy Director’s calendar 

• Schedule internal staff meetings, meetings with external partners, and take meeting minutes/notes as requested. 

• Coordination of field visits with all necessary parties.  

• Assist staff with occasional travel coordination, reimbursements, and event expenses  

• Assist with outreach and surveys, using tools such as Constant Contact, Formstack, MS Forms. 

• Create and maintain timelines for OPSI initiatives, including logistics, key tasks, and deadlines. 

• Track supplies, equipment, swag items, and other resources as needed for OPSI.   

• Participation in Commerce Tactical Team for administrative and operation support across the department. 

• Other duties and special projects as assigned 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Verbal, written, and computer communication skills are essential. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite products. MS Word and Excel are essential. Experience with GIS, Constant Contact, Quickbase, Customer Relationship Management, and/or Formstack are a plus! 

• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work with individual across different disciplines 

• Ability to communicate and/or experience working with ethnically and economically diverse populations is required.  Understanding of economic development, Philadelphia neighborhoods, and/or Philadelphia government is a plus. 

• Candidates must be energetic, well organized, flexible and convey a positive attitude and strong work ethic.  

• Strong time management and organizational skills, including attention to detail and abilities to prioritize tasks and keep multiple tasks moving simultaneously. 

• Ability to learn departmental functions, operations, and organizations and make judgmental decisions where several courses of action are presented. 

• High school degree or equivalent is required; an associate or bachelor’s degree is a plus but not required. 

• Three years of experience in program administration or other administrative roles, one year of which shall have been at the full performance level. 

• OR any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Senior Directors of the Small Business Resources Unit  

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

Salary Range: $55,000 - $65,000

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