Manager, Business Development

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 mission of the Department of Commerce is to ensure that Philadelphia is a globally competitive city to which employers flock, entrepreneurs thrive, and innovation abounds; to recruit and retain a diverse set of businesses; to foster economic opportunities for all Philadelphians in all neighborhoods; and to partner with workforce development programs and local businesses on talent development ensuring that all Philadelphians can find and retain living-wage jobs. For more information about the Department of Commerce, visit www.phila.gov/commerce.

Position Summary

The Business Development Manager will play a key supporting role in generating, advancing, and tracking business attraction and retention opportunities, with the goal of increasing the number of companies establishing and expanding operations in Philadelphia. This individual will collaborate on strategic initiatives that support the City’s high-impact industry sectors, including Advanced Manufacturing, Technology, and Life Sciences, among other priority areas.

In addition to supporting portfolio leads, this role will serve as a liaison between the Business Development Unit, including sector specialists, and the City’s International team, helping to strengthen Philadelphia’s global presence and position as a premier destination for business, talent, and investment.

The Manager plays a vital role in advancing Philadelphia’s business development efforts by engaging with regional, national, and international companies as they evaluate investment opportunities in the city. As a highly visible, outward-facing position, this role supports both domestic and international business attraction initiatives and serves as a key touchpoint for prospective investors.

Success in this role requires a strategic and analytical approach, including the ability to conduct in-depth research, perform competitive market analyses, track data, and assess emerging industry and workforce trends. These insights directly inform and strengthen the Business Development Unit’s portfolio strategies, enhancing the City’s ability to compete effectively for new business across diverse markets.

Additionally, the Manager collaborates closely with the Senior Manager of Strategy and Incentives to deepen the team’s understanding of available resources and incentive tools. This partnership ensures that attraction and retention efforts are data-driven, competitive, and aligned with the City’s broader economic development objectives.

The Manager will provide critical support to the Business Development Unit in the following areas:

• Partner with Business Development leadership on business attraction and retention initiatives.
• Respond promptly and effectively to project assignments, aligned with client needs.
• Conduct thorough research on market activity, delivering accurate and up-to-date insights into sector trends affecting Philadelphia.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across industries to advance the City’s business development objectives, domestically and internationally.
• Develop and sustain a deep understanding of economic trends at the local, national, and global levels.
• Collaborate closely with public and private economic development partners to strengthen a coordinated, strategic approach to business development.
• Coordinate with industry specialists and subject matter experts within the Business Development Unit to support the needs of international companies.

Essential Functions

• Communicate proactively and professionally with businesses and partners locally and internationally, maintaining confidentiality as needed.
• Support industry experts in attraction, expansion, and retention initiatives through research, analysis, and preparation.
• Promote Philadelphia as a world-class business destination through consistent messaging and outreach.
• Collaborate with the Communications Unit to ensure accuracy of messaging and data for Business Development initiatives.
• Assist in preparing presentation materials for the Business Development Unit and individual sector portfolios.
• Maintain and update the Business Development pipeline database (Quickbase), ensuring accurate tracking of prospective activity, timelines, and outcomes.
• Track and analyze relevant data, reporting on progress and impact across industry portfolios and the Philadelphia market.
• Support the Business Development Unit in achieving goals and performance metrics.
• Build and maintain working relationships across the Department of Commerce and partner agencies within Philadelphia’s economic ecosystem.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the direct supervisor or Deputy for Business Development.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate the work of Business Development and city initiatives to diverse audiences.
• Professional decorum and presence when engaging elected officials, business leaders, and international delegations.
• Strong research and analytical capabilities to support data-driven decision-making.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional and international teams.
• Ability to work efficiently, accurately, and with strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and client management software is essential.

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred in a relevant field such as Economic Development, Data Analytics, or Domestic and International Policy/Relations.
• 2–3 years of professional experience in business development, economic strategy, or related areas.
• Demonstrated ability to take a strategic, data-driven approach to business growth and market analysis.
• Experience engaging with multiple stakeholders with competing interest
• Foreign language proficiency (reading and writing) is a plus.

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

Salary Range: $57,000-$65,000

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 [email protected].

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