Director of Strategic Planning - Police job

The City of Philadelphia is a best-in-class employer offering a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and opportunities to grow and excel. With a workforce of over 30,000 people across more than 1,000 job categories, the City values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work.

About the Role

The Director of Strategic Planning plays a critical role in translating the Philadelphia Police Department’s strategic vision into action—ensuring that the new five-year strategic plan and aligned major initiatives are coordinated, implemented effectively, and deliver measurable improvements in public safety and organizational performance.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Strategic Planning, this role leads the implementation of the Department’s strategic priorities and oversees the Project Management and Delivery Office (PMDO). The PMDO serves as the central function for coordinating, managing, and tracking strategies included in the strategic plan and aligned initiatives, ensuring they are translated into actionable plans and monitored for measurable outcomes.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape a new and transformative effort to embed lasting systems that enable the PPD to implement, manage, and sustain change effectively within a large public sector organization.

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.
  • 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Pay

Salary Range: $107,000 - $120,000

Benefits

• Transportation: Unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program.
• Parental Benefits: 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Health Coverage: Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Wellness Program: Eligibility into the discounted medical plan.
• Paid Leave: Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Retirement: Generous retirement savings options.
• Student Loan Forgiveness: Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• Tuition Discounts: Access to tuition discounts and scholarships (10% to 40% savings) through partnerships with over a dozen colleges and universities, extending to employees, spouses, and dependents in some cases.

The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire.