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

In June 2021, Mayor Kenney signed legislation to authorize the Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) to become a new, independent agency responsible for conducting oversight of the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD). This legislation allowed for the previous oversight agency for the Philadelphia Police Department, the Police Advisory Commission (PAC), to transition into CPOC following the seating of the 9 Commissioners, in May 2022.

Civilian oversight of police can take many forms. Review-focused models allow civilians outside of a police department to review police misconduct investigations once they are completed. Investigation-focused agencies employ professionally trained investigators to investigate police misconduct complaints. Auditor/monitor-focused agencies engage in policy and trend analysis and promote broad organizational change within the police departments they oversee. CPOC is uniquely envisioned to be a hybrid of these three models of oversight, with expansive authority and a broad mission.

Although civilian oversight of the Philadelphia Police Department has existed in some form for many years, the new CPOC will bring an unprecedented level of oversight to police operations. This will be a vast undertaking - the PPD is the fourth largest police department in the country, with over 6300 sworn members and 800 civilian personnel and a budget over $700 million.

The authorizing legislation for CPOC comprehensively lists the oversight functions that CPOC will fulfill. The legislation notes that CPOC may conduct investigations, data analysis, and audits related to any pattern, policy, or practice of the police department. These investigations shall include, but are not limited to, misconduct, policy, training, practice, and customs. Additional functions include investigations of complaints made by residents or PPD personnel about any misconduct ranging from verbal abuse to sexual misconduct, critical incident reviews and investigations, large-scale data reviews, disciplinary recommendations, hosting public meetings and hearings to share information with the public, participation as adjudicators in PPD discipline hearings, administrative prosecution of discipline cases, reporting on data and statistics, and reviewing and investigating all police uses of force, among other functions.

CPOC will approach police accountability from many different angles, and as such, CPOC will have a variety of units to focus on different aspects of police oversight. Each unit will require specialized staff with a deep understanding of policing and community-police relations. CPOC will be composed of staff dedicated to professional, unbiased, and thoughtful oversight of the Philadelphia Police Department.

CPOC is hiring for several positions currently, we request you review all other positions and apply for whichever one position best meets your skills, experience, and career aspirations. The full list of positions include: Police Oversight Auditor/Monitor, Senior Policy Analyst, Community Outreach & Constituent Services Specialist, and Social Media & Communications Officer. Please check out https://www.phila.gov/jobs to review the other postings.

Please note positions will be hired as exempt and be transitioned into Civil Service.

The Community Outreach and Constituent Services Specialist for the Citizens Police Oversight Commission plays a key role in the Commission by performing regular outreach to communities to spread awareness of CPOC and increase engagement, among other objectives. This role is responsible for ensuring constituents are served in a coordinated, person-centered approach, particularly as their needs can involve various city departments. The Community Outreach and Constituent Services Specialist will report to the Director of Community Engagement to help fulfill the Commission’s mission of providing oversight of the Philadelphia Police Department.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinate closely with staff to plan strategic approaches for community outreach and engagement on behalf of the Commission.
• Assist with intake of Complaints Against Police, providing courteous, compassionate, and professional service to complainants.
• Ensure that constituents are served in a respectful and coordinated manner when their needs involve various city departments.
• Assist residents in communicating with Philadelphia Police Department personnel to problem-solve when their concerns do not rise to the level of a complaint.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Philadelphia Police Department’s community relations liaisons and other city departments.
• Maintain productive relationships with stakeholders and community leaders
• Develop recommendations for programmatic and operational modifications for the Commission and/or Philadelphia Police Department, as they arise.
• Assist with all community outreach initiatives and programing for the Commission.
• Assist with the coordination of the Commission’s monthly community meetings, establishing potential speakers and community partners.
• Engage the community through outreach to facilitate communication and understanding between the public and the police. 
• Help to maintain transparency between the Commission, the Police Department, elected officials, and the public.
• Work with Public Relations and Communications Manager on various community engagement initiatives.
• Receive training on PPD procedures, policies, and discipline code; adjudicate discipline cases and make disciplinary recommendations as a rotating member of the PPD Police Board of Inquiry
• Other responsibilities as assigned by Director of Community Engagement and Executive Director. 

COMPETENCIES, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES. 

• Strong organization skills, including the ability to handle simultaneous priority projects and meet established deadlines.
• Experience working with the public, or other comparable experience.
• Good communication and listening skills, capable of influencing others and keeping others informed.
• Ability to creatively problem solve with persistence.
• Ability to perform regular street outreach and comfort in working within all neighborhoods of the City of Philadelphia.
• Values and encourages diversity of thought, background, and perspective.
• Experience and fluency in MS Office software programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Dependable, reliable, and punctual.
• Ability to be outside in various conditions for extended periods (i.e. summer, winter, snow emergencies).
• Helpful, respectful, approachable, and team-oriented; committed to building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
• Comfort, patience, and ability to diffuse challenging situations.
• Receptive to feedback. 

WORK-LIFE

Working hours are generally 37.5 hours per week. Following an initial three (3) month probationary period of full time in-office work, employees work in a hybrid schedule. Over a two-week period, you will be scheduled to be in office half of the time and work from home the other half. This amounts to two days in office one week, and three the next. Your schedule is set with your supervisor. Working from home is a privilege; work violations may result in amendments to the hybrid schedule.

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant combined education and/or experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in community outreach, community engagement, constituent services, or a related field.
• Experience leading programs and project management is a plus.
• Bilingual required; Spanish speaking preferred.
• Knowledge of Philadelphia and communities of Philadelphia a plus.

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

Salary Range: $65,000 - $70,000

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