Manager, Commercial Special Projects

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 Philadelphia International Airport is the only major airport serving the 9th largest metropolitan area in the United States. It is one of the busiest airports in the country, serving more than 30 million passengers annually. Twenty-seven airlines, including all domestic carriers, offer nearly 323 daily departures to more than 120 destinations worldwide. The airport generates $16.8 billion to the economy and accounts for 106,000 full time jobs. 

The Northeast Philadelphia airport is situated on 1150 acres in the northeast part of the City of Philadelphia, PNE is Pennsylvania’s third busiest airport, providing “on call” US Customs, Immigrations and United States Department of Agriculture services to corporate international travel. The Airport averages 215-based aircraft, dominated by single engine aircraft, plus twins, jets, turboprops and helicopters. 

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Commercial Division oversees all revenue-generating activity for the Department of Aviation, including airport concessions (food & beverage, retail, and advertising), parking, ground transportation, air service development, and property management/real estate. In short, the team ensures the airport grows sustainably by expanding revenue, creating a sense of place, and building partnerships with airlines, tenants, local businesses, and internal departments. 

The Manager, Commercial Special Projects, will serve as a flexible, cross-functional resource who helps move important initiatives forward across this portfolio. Projects may support a specific business line—such as Parking or Concessions—or may cut across multiple teams, improving communication, coordination, and visibility for high-impact commercial work. 

This role is ideal for a versatile professional who can take loosely defined ideas, structure them into actionable workstreams, and bring together diverse stakeholders to achieve results. No aviation experience is required. The selected candidate will learn the industry over time while building a portfolio of visible contributions to PHL’s commercial strategy and developing subject-matter expertise across different lines of business. 

This position is well suited for a self-starter who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys variety in their work, and is motivated by bringing clarity, organization, and momentum to complex, collaborative projects. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Lead or support planning, coordination, and delivery of strategic commercial initiatives across the Department of Aviation (DOA) 

• Advance priority commercial initiatives by organizing tasks, coordinating stakeholders across the airport, and ensuring projects stay on track. 

• Develop clear, compelling materials—memos, presentations, dashboards, and briefings—that highlight project status, insights, and the Commercial Division’s overall impact. 

• Track, document, and share ongoing commercial work, including milestones, KPIs, risks, and lessons learned. 

• Identify and solve process gaps and recommend improvements that make the Commercial team more efficient and predictable. 

• Take on high-priority ad-hoc assignments, providing flexible support where the Commercial leadership team needs it most. 

• Monitor progress of strategic plan initiatives 

• Track and manage key milestones, stakeholder engagement, and performance outcomes for special projects and pilot program 

• Coordinate with cross-departmental working groups including Finance, Custo