Senior Project Manager of Early Childhood Strategy, Policy and Planning

Job description

Position Summary This position reports to the Chief of Early Childhood Education and will be primarily responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of expanding Philadelphia’s public preschool system, which includes: Establishing and managing the list of priorities that ensures the city’s public preschool sector is meeting the needs of children, families, teachers, staff, and the communities being served. Aligning the priorities of the PHLpreK program with the selection process of local early learning centers that receive federal, state, and local funding and supports. Managing the coordination of a centralized enrollment system with users that include the School District of Philadelphia, a fiscal fiduciary, over 300 public preschool centers, and families. Mapping the supply, demand, utilization, quality, and other relevant factors to efficiently deploy high quality early childhood education resources to early learning centers across Philadelphia. The selected individual will work closely with multiple departments, Commissioners, and senior leadership to monitor progress, troubleshoot challenges, and identify opportunities for innovation and collaboration. The role requires strong political acumen, excellent communication skills, and the ability to lead projects that promote equity, efficiency, and measurable outcomes for children, families, and early learning centers. Essential Functions Track PHLpreK milestones, budgets, performance metrics, and risks; escalate issues to executive leadership with actionable recommendations. Secure additional resources, as needed, to fully operationalize the PHLpreK program’s priorities. Serve as a strategic liaison between the City’s Early Childhood Education division and City departments to align on timelines, deliverables, and priorities for the PHLpreK program. Build and maintain collaborative relationships with Department Heads, Commissioners, and other senior stakeholders to ensure cross-functional coordination and policy alignment. Manage high-priority, cross-departmental projects from concept to implementation, ensuring they are executed on time, within scope, and in accordance with the Mayor’s vision and strategic goals. Anticipate political, operational, and community-related risks or barriers, and proactively propose solutions to address challenges and maintain momentum. Lead and facilitate planning sessions, project check-ins, and decision-making meetings with senior stakeholders, ensuring transparency, accountability, and shared ownership of outcomes. Prepare and deliver clear, concise, and data-informed briefings, memos, and presentations to the City’s Chief Deputy Mayor, Chief of Staff, Chief of Early Childhood Education, and other senior level staff. Represent the Mayor's Early Childhood Education division in high-level meetings, public engagements, and intergovernmental forums, articulating project goals and maintaining strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. Draft executive-level materials including talking points, public remarks, and status updates to support the Chief of Early Childhood Education and senior staff. Analyze policies and proposals tied to key initiatives, assessing their feasibility, impacts, and alignment with city goals and recommending improvements where needed. Ensure all projects reflect and advance the administration's commitment to equity, transparency, and operational excellence. Any other duties as assigned. Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Values and encourages diversity of thought, background, and perspective. Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff and community members Demonstrated skill in understanding of cultural differences. Capable and detail-oriented multitasker who can prioritize and remain professional in demanding situations. Knowledge of and familiarity with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Quality Rating System, Keystone STARS. Knowledge of and familiarity with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s licensing and certification requirements of childcare providers. Ability to interpret relevant local, state, and federal rules and regulations pertaining to childcare program administration. Ability to reference and identify small and medium business best practices. Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization. Ability to learn quickly and succeed in a rapidly changing environment. Ability to project manage a variety of tasks while meeting deadlines. Ability to exercise sound judgement in a politically savvy environment. Team player capable of resolving organizational roadblocks. Experience in trauma responsive services and related program development, implementation and evaluation Talent for listening, asking effective questions, and synthesizing information. Bachelor’s degree in Education, Policy, Strategic Management, or similar field required, Master’s degree in related field preferred. At least 5 years of overall professional experience. Early Childhood experience preferred. 2+ years of experience in strategic planning. Data Analytics experience preferred. Knowledge of word processing software, presentations, spreadsheets, and databases. TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, writing sample, and references. Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000 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 . For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: 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 On January 2020, under Executive Order No. 2-20 by the Mayor of Philadelphia, the Office of Children and Families (OCF) was established to improve the outcomes for all of Philadelphia’s children and families, build stronger communities, and support great schools in every neighborhood. The Office of Children and Families oversees the following City programs and services: Department of Human Services (child welfare and juvenile justice) PHLpreK, the City’s free, quality pre-K program for three- and four-year-olds Prevention Support Services (Out-of-School Time, Youth Workforce Development, Truancy, Access Centers) Philly Reading Coaches Food Access PHLpreK Program The mission of the PHLpreK program is to increase access to quality early learning by offering free pre-Kindergarten to children regardless of their family’s income. Beginning in August 2026, PHLpreK offers free quality pre-K to 5,350 children. To achieve this, the Office of Children and Families partners with more than 230 early childhood education providers to provide: A safe, well-equipped classroom staffed by trained teachers. A challenging, proven, play-based curriculum. Careful attention to the whole child (academic, physical, social, and emotional needs). Parental engagement and a transition plan for Kindergarten. Each year, the City seeks to enhance the quality of PHLpreK services and further develop the groundwork necessary to continue the expansion of the program. The City prides itself on its diversity and strives to have that diversity reflected in the business community and the workforce of the city. PHLpreK not only supports pre-kindergarten programming for children but also serves as a means for economic opportunity by providing growth for businesses, large, small, and diverse in nature. Since January 2017, the PHLpreK program has expanded the number of seats available to families by over 160%. This rapid expansion has been supported by investments in quality improvement services that assist providers in enhancing the early learning experiences children receive. As a result, the number of free, full-day preschool seats available to families that are rated STAR 3 or 4 in the state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) has grown by over 40%, beginning with 1,119 of the 2,000 (56%) available PHLpreK seats in January 2017 to 5,133 of the 5,250 (98%) seats in the most recent (2025–26) program year.