Director of Communications and Marketing

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 Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP) is one of the largest public library systems in the world. As an important cornerstone of the Philadelphia community, FLP has a mission to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity. The long-term vision of the FLP is to build an enlightened community devoted to lifelong learning.

The Office of Children and Families (OCF) aligns the City’s policies, resources, and services for children and families. The vision of the office is to improve outcomes for all of Philadelphia’s children, families, and adults and to reimagine a more inclusive and equitable world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities have access to strong schools, libraries, recreation, and public parks. OCF oversees the Department of Human Services (DHS), Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, and the Free Library of Philadelphia and administers several City-supported programs, including Out-of-School Time, WorkReady, Community Schools, PHLpreK, and Access Centers.

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Director of Communications and Marketing will be responsible for developing and overseeing FLP’s communications and marketing strategy. This role plays a significant role in FLP’s internal and external communications, messaging, branding, social media, and marketing of services to employees, clients, the public, agency providers, other City departments, City Council, and other partners. Other key duties will include public relations, media relations, copywriting, campaign coordination, and managing patron data collection (surveys, analytics, and other feedback methods). This position reports to the First Deputy Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia and will work in collaboration with the Chief of Communications & Strategies in the Office of Children of Families, Communications Director in the Mayor’s Office and the Communications Lead in the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation.

Essential Functions:

• Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of FLP’s communication/marketing strategy and work closely in alignment with our Engagement teams to lead and facilitate marketing and advertisement efforts.
• Secure positive and accurate press coverage of programs and initiatives.
• Manage communication efforts and streamline the flow of information between the Office of Children and Families, Mayor’s Office, Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, and other City agencies, provider agencies, community-based organizations, and residents.
• Streamline the flow of communication across all levels of the FLP organizational structure.
• Establish contacts with community groups to encourage community participation and develop programs and strategies to enhance the public’s perception of departmental services.
• Help create community awareness of library services through FLP’s Central and Neighborhood Libraries, media/marketing platforms, earned media, and paid campaigns.
• Oversee branding, design, and printing of informational materials.
• Work with the FLP and FLP Foundation’s leadership and program teams to identify emerging issues and plan communication strategies and messaging around those issues.
• Manage media relations, including responding to reporters, crafting statements, and drafting press releases, media alerts and op-eds.
• Manage allocated budget for communications and marketing. Work collaboratively to support projects across the FLP portfolio.
• Develop talking points for key staff.
• Plan, implement and publicize departmental events and functions.
• Support the selection and management of external communications contracts with vendors, as needed.
• Collaboratively oversee the work with the FLP’s graphic design and website content team to update the website and collateral.
• Supervise and lead communications staff.
• Oversee FLP’s patron recruitment and retention efforts.
• Perform related work as required.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Capable of responding effectively to the concerns and meeting the expectations of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to problem solve and think creatively to produce results.
• Some experience with collecting and analyzing marketing data.
• Strong organizational skills, including ability to handle simultaneous priority projects and meet established deadlines.
• Ability to supervise a diverse, creative, fast-paced, and multi-talented staff.
• Ability to exercise sound and independent judgment with general policy guidelines.
• Ability to work well with different team members and manage lateral reporting relationships.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts effectively and succinctly.
• Ability to anticipate public reaction and think strategically.
• Experience crafting messaging and communications campaigns.
• Must be able to work extended hours on an as-needed basis.
• Strong media relationships desired.
• Familiarity with, and understanding of, City of Philadelphia municipal operations and departments desired.
• Strong working knowledge of WordPress and social media platforms.
• Ability to work independently to achieve goals.
• Ability to problem solve and think creatively to produce solutions.
• Ability to respond appropriately to emergencies and/or crisis.
• Record of accomplishment in establishing and sustaining collaborative and effective working relationships with direct supervisor, peers, staff, consultants, service providers, and vendors.
• Ability to effectively communicate – verbally and in writing – with various stakeholders including your direct supervisor, peers, staff, consultants, service providers, and vendors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Communications, Marketing, or related field. Master's degree is a plus.
• At least 3-5 years of experience working in library systems, nonprofit, public service, or business organizations.
• Experience managing complex organizational systems.
• Experience with both digital and traditional communications.
• Experience in media relations and building relationships with local members of the press.
• Experience managing advertising and marketing campaigns.
• Fluency in other languages is not a requirement, but a plus.
• Experience with library systems, services and programing is preferred.

Additional Information

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

Salary Range: $95,000 - $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 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 or send an email to .

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: