Director, Mayor's Business Action Team Business Navigator

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 Department of Commerce is the economic catalyst for the City of Philadelphia helping all businesses thrive. Commerce creates equitable wealth-building opportunities through strategic investments and ecosystem partnerships to grow quality jobs, build capacity in under-resourced communities, and make it easier to operate a successful business in Philadelphia.

Strategic Priorities:

• Provide trusted guidance and a simplified process to establish, grow, and operate a business
• Drive equitable neighborhood revitalization that contributes to vibrant commercial corridors
• Attract and retain businesses through business resources and strategic investments
• Connect talent to growth industries and to jobs that pay family-sustaining wages
• Build wealth in communities of color through more equitable access to capital and contracting opportunities
• Leverage economic research to drive policy and strategy
  
  

Job Description

UNIT & POSITION SUMMARY

The Mayor’s Business Action Team Business Navigators play a vital role in assisting small businesses with complex cases that require coordination across multiple City departments. They provide hands-on support in all facets of business assistance—from licensing and permitting to compliance—helping entrepreneurs navigate bureaucratic challenges and connect to the resources they need to grow and thrive in Philadelphia. The Director for Business Navigators, is a management and supervisory role applying strategic planning and project management skills to all assignments.

Essential Functions

Drives strategic leadership of the Navigators team, addressing complex business issues through direct support and cross-agency coordination

Leadership responsibilities include the following:

• Supervise and support the Business Navigators team
• Lead ongoing training to streamline case management and ensure consistent, high-quality service
• Strengthen internal communication and improve resolution times for complex, multi-agency cases
• Plan and lead proactive outreach efforts, including workshops and public presentations
  

Additional responsibilities include:

• Provide one-on -one business assistance
• Conduct outreach to businesses
• Establish and maintain partnerships with other city departments
• Serve as key point of contact for business owners looking for help in navigating City services and regulations.
• Represent business concerns to other City agencies/departments
• Record and maintain business contacts and cases in the department database
• Learn and articulate the steps toward opening a business, regulations around permits and licenses, and other issues common to businesses operating in Philadelphia.
• Work closely with other units within Commerce and other City departments, i.e. City Planning, L&I, Revenue, Health, etc. to assist in implementation of plans for economic development or to find resolutions for outstanding issues.
• Track the progress of business client services and economic development projects through client management software.
• Clearly articulate resources and funding sources and refer businesses as appropriate.
• Represent the Mayor’s Business Action Team through public speaking engagements, presentations, and workshops upon request.
• Contribute to the goals of the Department through creative initiatives that spur economic growth and community vitality.
• Advocate for business-friendly process improvements while staying aligned with city regulations.
  

Qualifications

• Knowledge of small business operations.
• Knowledge of City, State and Federal economic development programs.
• Knowledge of private agencies that service the business community through funding, technical support and other resources, i.e. banks, CDFIs, Small Business Development Centers, neighborhood nonprofits, etc.
• Understanding of the principles and practices of community economic development including, but not limited to equitable development, inclusive growth, community organizing, capital improvements, real estate development, and especially small business needs.
• Knowledge of outreach/marketing and policy issues that impact small and/or minority owned businesses.
• Experience with City Contracting and RFP process preferred.
• Creativity: Be a conduit for innovation and creativity. Encourage your team to share diverse ideas.
• Planning: Set objectives to hit milestones and achieve goals. Ability to use strong facilitation and problem-solving skills to keep projects moving forward and risk management for inevitable unforeseen obstacles.
• People Management: Managing and motivating varied personalities and building a cohesive team. A demonstrated ability to work with ethnically and economically diverse populations.
• Adaptability: Ability to adjust and change direction to achieve goals and remain committed to outcomes
• Communication: Convey ideas verbally and in writing to explain, market, and/or achieve buy-in.
• Vison: Strategic thinking and analytical skills are required in order to anticipate and outline path.
• Decisiveness: Good judgement and ability to consider all facts and opinions and make confident decisions.
• Change Management: Strong process orientation and ability to communicate the vision and process for change as needed.
• Delegation: Ability to delegate difficult tasks and mentor staff to success.
• Other attributes will include education and/or experience in one or more of the following areas: planning, marketing, management of a non-profit agency or small business development, architecture, historic preservation, economics, public relations, promotions, special event coordination, design, planning, business or public administration.
  

Other Requirements

• Must be a US Citizen or have legal permanent resident status.
• Must establish residency in the city of Philadelphia within six months of appointment.
  
  

Additional Information

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

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 faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx