Senior Project Manager of Early Childhood Initiatives and Partnerships

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.  Position Summary  This position reports to the Chief of Early Childhood Education and is responsible for supporting the city’s most needed ECE initiatives and working alongside other city departments to ensure those initiatives are fully supported.  The successful candidate will be responsible for interacting with local, regional, and national ECE leaders and thought partners to develop and execute policies to best prepare children and families of Philadelphia for the Kindergarten and elementary school experience. Some/all the initiatives this individual will be responsible for managing include:  Workforce Development: Oversee successful implementation of a strategic plan for a future well-trained and compensated ECE workforce that is nationally competitive and locally representative of the community(ies) it intends to serve. This includes engaging with local training providers to ensure an ample supply of ECE Directors, Lead Teachers, Assistant Teachers, and staff are available. Reports and data analysis will be required for the ECE workforce landscape, considering demographics, quality, and professional development opportunities.  Early Intervention: Support the systemic remodeling of the process of identifying and serving children with exceptionalities for children between the ages of 3-5. This will require supporting the Local Education Agency (and relevant partners) responsible for screening, identifying, and serving children with exceptionalities between the ages of 3-5. It will further require developing a more streamlined process that includes mental, emotional, and behavioral health supports.   Intragovernmental Partnerships: Lead all partnerships with other city and governmental agencies that support the initiatives necessary to operate Philadelphia’s public early learning sector. This includes, but is not limited, to the Departments of Public Health, Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities, Community Behavior Health, Free Library of Philadelphia, Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Commerce, Business and Economic Development, Licensing & Inspections, and   Stakeholder Engagement: Provide a variety of opportunities to engage a broad base of stakeholders, including parents, ECE providers, K-12 educators, advocates, policymakers, business and philanthropy throughout the year. Oversee the development of an annual report on the state of early learning in Philadelphia.  Other Initiatives, as needed: emergency