Director of Strategic Planning - Police

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Benefits  - We care about your well-being. 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.  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  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  TO APPLY:   Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume and Writing Sample. Salary Range: $107,000 - $120,000 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. 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