Director of Grants - City of Philadelphia

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 Office of Public Safety (OPS) was launched in 2024 to make communities safer, improve public perceptions of safety, and help communities heal from the traumas of violence. In pursuit of those goals, OPS coordinates multi-disciplinary public safety efforts across City government and with community and institutional stakeholders. Currently, OPS has over 100 staff and is home to five (5) individual offices: Office of Criminal Justice, Office of Safe Neighborhoods, Office of Reentry Partnerships, Office of Victim Advocate, and Town Watch Integrated Services.

The Office of Safe Neighborhoods (OSN) implements strategies and initiatives to prevent, reduce, and end violence in Philadelphia. OSN is particularly focused on addressing gun violence.

The Office of Criminal Justice (OCJ) advances the Parker’s Administration’s goals of public safety and community well-being through collaborative and data-driven initiatives in Philadelphia’s criminal and juvenile justice systems.

Town Watch Integrated Services (TWIS) is a volunteer focused safety effort. Residents of the community who wish to volunteer for their community will receive assistance from Town Watch Integrated Services.

The Office of Reentry Partnerships (ORP) was formed in August 2019 to elevate and organize citywide reentry efforts and support the Parker Administration’s goal for criminal justice reform, violence prevention, and community reinvestment.

The Office of the Victim Advocate (OVA) was opened in February 2022 to provide coordination, strategic planning, and service provision for the oversight for victims, co-victims, and survivors of crime, with a special emphasis on gun violence and homicide.

The inaugural OPS Director of Grants will lead our efforts to coordinate acquisition of public safety grants across City government. This work will expand opportunities for innovation, foster multi-disciplinary collaboration, and leverage City funds, while expanding the local public safety knowledge base. Key collaborators will include City agencies such as Public Health, Behavioral Health, Police, and more, as well as institutional and community partners. The Director of Grants may also be asked to support our community partners, both contractors and grantees, on building grant-seeking capacity.

Essential Functions

The Director of Grants will be responsible for the following duties:

• Build and maintain familiarity with the current operations and strategic priorities of OPS.
• Facilitate development of OPS funding priorities.
• Build and maintain an inventory of the funding landscape, including: funders and their funding priorities, current and forthcoming funding opportunities, and emerging trends in grant making.
• Build and maintain relationships with funders, both locally and nationally.
• Provide education, and possibly also coaching and mentorship, to OPS grantees.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• An entrepreneurial, creative approach to carrying out a new position in a new office.
• Robust understanding of various funders, including government, philanthropy, and beyond.
• Excellent written and communication skills.
• Collaborative mindset and affinity for working in teams, including as a team leader.
• Knowledge of the current state of public safety, public health, and related fields, including practice, theory, and research is a plus.
• Familiarity with route grant compliance obligations is a plus.

• Bachelor’s degree is required; relevant graduate degree preferred.
• Established track record of securing grant funds in public safety, public health, social services, healthcare, or other relevant areas.
• Experience cultivating relationships with funders.
• Experience leading teams in preparation and submission of grant applications.
• Experience with grant compliance is a plus.
• Experience with education for community-based organizations on funding diversification and organizational growth a plus.
• Experience working for a funder, particularly as part of the grantmaking decision process, a plus.

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

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 6 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