Deputy Director of Community Wellness and Recovery

Company Description

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 Managing Director’s Office (MDO) is a cabinet-level office with oversight of the City’s operating departments. The MDO works with these departments to:

• Create and successfully enact new policies.
• Deliver efficient, effective, and responsive public services.
• Implement the mayor’s vision.

The MDO oversees the following divisions:

• Capital Program Office
• Community Services
• Community Safety
• General Services
• Health and Human Services
• Office of Children and Families
• Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems 

Job Description

Position Summary

The Deputy Director of Community Wellness and Recovery (Deputy Director) will be the primary staffer for the Executive Director of Community Wellness and Recovery (Executive Director). The Executive Director is the face of Mayor Parker’s initiative to address the twin problems of homelessness and opioid crisis and provide leadership in developing, planning, and organizing programs focused on wellness and recovery. The initiative involves a $100M capital funding infusion (FY25 capital budget year) to spur development of a wellness campus to provide continued housing and supports for individuals working on recovery and sobriety.

The Deputy Director will assist the Executive Director with all oversight and operations at Philly Home at Girard, opened in May 2024, which provides safe haven and recovery-oriented housing to approximately 180 individuals (with room to expand), and with identifying additional opportunities for residential programming as well as push-in and outpatient services for existing and new sites. It is anticipated that wellness opportunities will expand beyond the two current sites.

The Deputy Director reports directly to the Executive Director.

Essential Functions

• Assist Executive Director with coordinating City departments (including but not limited to Office of Homeless Services, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, MDO-Health and Human Services, Public Property, Licenses and Inspections, Law Department, Capital Program Office), Office of Public Safety, Philadelphia Police Department to execute strategy around expanded wellness activities (with a specific focus on homelessness and opioid use disorder)
• Research and keep current with best practices or emerging interventions related to homelessness, housing, opioid use disorder, workforce development, and community re-entry following incarceration.
• Maintain current knowledge on public safety and criminal interventions related to opioid use and drug trade
• Understand and build knowledge base on range of opioid substances in addition to emerging trends within opioid use and supply
• Assist with preparation of responses to City Council inquiries and concerns; assist with community communications and receive/respond to community concerns
• Prepare presentations, white papers, communication briefs related to work and initiatives the Office is planning or implementing
• Develop and scope out potential new opportunities (both service providers, property or land opportunities, etc.)
• Assist Executive Director with leading and managing various service providers, including identifying on revenue opportunities or seeking relevant licensing.
• Seek or establish additional funding and revenue opportunities to augment existing funding streams (general fund, capital fund, opioid settlement funding)
• Collaborate on iterative planning processes to ensure wellness activities and programm