Director of Strategic Planning - Police at City of… · Philadelp…

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Agency Description
Within the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD), the Office of Strategic Planning (OSP) is responsible for shaping the Department’s long-term vision, strategic direction, and operational effectiveness. A core focus is ensuring that strategic initiatives are data-driven, transparent, and designed to build public trust while addressing evolving public safety challenges.
To support this work, the OSP is establishing a Project Management and Delivery Office (PMDO), which will:
Drive successful execution of the strategic plan
Build organizational planning and implementation capacity
Institutionalize organizational and policy change
The PMDO will be a diverse, agile team tasked with planning and coordinating the implementation of strategic and policy initiatives aligned with the Department’s strategic plan and top priorities, as identified by the Police Commissioner. Its portfolio will include:
Intensive project management and delivery support for high-priority initiatives
Strategic support for broader change management efforts
Research, problem-structuring, and advising on new policy initiatives
This is an exciting time to join the team. The PMDO represents a new and transformative effort to embed lasting systems that enable the PPD to implement, manage, and sustain change more effectively. Senior leaders and team members will help shape a model for how large public sector organizations build planning and delivery capacity from the ground up.
jobDescription
Director of Strategic Planning – Office of Strategic Planning
The Director of Strategic Planning plays a critical role in translating the Philadelphia Police Department’s strategic vision into action—ensuring that new five-year strategic plan and aligned major initiatives are coordinated, implemented effectively, and deliver measurable improvements in public safety and organizational performance.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Executive Director of Strategic Planning, the Director of Strategic Planning will lead the implementation of the Philadelphia Police Department’s strategic priorities and oversee the Department’s Project Management and Delivery Office (PMDO). This role is responsible for managing a portfolio of high-impact initiatives, supervising the project management team, and ensuring that strategic priorities are translated into effective, measurable action across the Department.
The Project Management and Delivery Office serves as the Department’s central function for coordinating, managing, and tracking the strategies including in the new five-year strategic plan and aligned major initiatives. The office supports leadership by ensuring that strategic priorities are translated into actionable plans, implemented effectively, and monitored for measurable outcomes.
Working closely with Department leadership, City partners, and external stakeholders, the Director will guide implementation of the Department’s strategic plan, coordinate complex cross-departmental initiatives, and ensure projects are delivered effectively and aligned with organizational goals.
This role requires strong strategic leadership, operational management, and the ability to guide complex organizational change within a large public safety organization.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning and Implementation
Lead implementation of the Department’s Five-Year Strategic Plan and associated priority initiatives
Translate strategic goals into actionable implementation plans with defined milestones, timelines, and performance measures
Coordinate implementation across operational and administrative units to ensure alignment with Department priorities
Identify opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness, operational performance, and service delivery
Advise executive leadership on implementation strategies, policy considerations, and emerging challenges
Project Management and Delivery Office Leadership
Lead and oversee the Department’s Project Management and Delivery Office (PMDO)
Supervise and provide leadership to the Department’s project management team
Establish and maintain project management standards, governance structures, and implementation frameworks across the Department
Develop and manage the Department’s portfolio of strategic initiatives and major projects
Prioritize initiatives and allocate project management resources to support Department priorities
Ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within scope, and aligned with operational and strategic objectives
Strategic Initiative Oversight
Provide executive oversight for complex, cross-functional initiatives that support implementation of the strategic plan
Coordinate work across Department units, City departments, and external partners
Identify implementation risks, resolve barriers, and guide teams in developing mitigation strategies
Support Department leadership in launching and advancing major initiatives tied to public safety priorities
Provide guidance and mentorship to project managers overseeing major initiatives
Performance Management and Strategic Reporting
Develop systems to track implementation progress and measure outcomes across strategic initiatives
Use data analysis, dashboards, and performance metrics to monitor progress and identify improvement opportunities
Conduct program and project evaluations to assess effectiveness and inform decision-making
Ensure consistent reporting on initiative progress to Department leadership
Prepare executive briefings, reports, and presentations on strategic plan implementation
Organizational Change and Stakeholder Engagement
Lead cross-department collaboration to support implementation of major initiatives
Facilitate strategic planning sessions, implementation workshops, and working groups
Support organizational change management efforts related to new programs, systems, and policies
Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to advance shared goals
Promote adoption of best practices and continuous improvement across the Department
Leadership and Organizational Support
Serve as a senior advisor to the Executive Director on strategic planning and implementation priorities
Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development for project management staff
Support the development of policies, processes, and tools that strengthen project delivery and organizational effectiveness
Lead special initiatives and assignments from the Executive Director or Police Commissioner
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge
Advanced knowledge of strategic planning, program management, and organizational change
Strong understanding of project and portfolio management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Waterfall)
Experience establishing or managing a Project Management Office (PMO/PMDO) or enterprise project delivery function
Experience with performance management systems, evaluation frameworks, and data-driven decision-making
Familiarity with public sector budgeting, policy development, and regulatory compliance
Strategic communications and stakeholder engagement practices
Skills
Strategic leadership and organizational problem-solving
Strong team leadership, coaching, and management skills
Ability to translate complex operational and policy challenges into actionable initiatives
Portfolio management and prioritization of competing initiatives
Strong facilitation, executive communication, and stakeholder management skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Microsoft Office Suite, and related project management tools
Preferred Domain Expertise
Financial and Policy Initiatives: Budget strategy, grants management, policy development
Communications Initiatives: Strategic messaging, stakeholder engagement, public communication
Talent and Organizational Development: Workforce development, leadership development, training programs
Technology and Data Initiatives: Technology implementation, system modernization, cybersecurity, Agile/Scrum
Abilities
Lead complex initiatives within large, multi-layered organizations
Manage and prioritize a portfolio of initiatives across competing operational needs
Build trust and foster collaboration across internal and external stakeholders
Navigate ambiguity while maintaining strategic focus and accountability
Communicate effectively with executive leadership, operational staff, and external partners
Promote equitable and effective systems, policies, and organizational practices
qualifications
Master’s degree in public administration, public policy, business, Juris Doctor, or a related field required.
Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean Six Sigma, or related certification preferred
7–10 years of relevant professional experience, including leadership of growing teams and complex cross-functional initiatives
Experience supervising project managers or managing a project management office strongly preferred
Experience working in government, public safety, or large public sector organizations preferred
additionalInformation
TO APPLY:Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume and Writing Sample.
Salary Range: $107,000 - $120,000
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Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
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*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.
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