Technical Solutions Manager

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.

The Office of Innovation & Technology (OIT) is the central IT agency for the City of Philadelphia headed by the Chief Information Officer (CIO). OIT oversees all major information and communications technology initiatives for the City of Philadelphia - increasing the effectiveness of the information technology infrastructure, where the services provided are advanced, optimized, and responsive to the needs of the City of Philadelphia’s businesses, residents, and visitors. OIT responsibilities include: identifying the most effective approach for implementing new information technology directions throughout city government; improving the value of the city’s technology assets and the return on the city’s technology investments; ensuring data security continuity; planning for continuing operations in the event of disruption of information technology or communications services; and supporting accountable, efficient and effective government across every city department, board, commission and agency.

Job Description

The Technical Solutions Manager is responsible for overseeing the procurement, implementation, and optimization of software solutions across all city departments. This role ensures that departments do not procure multiple redundant solutions, creating a centralized and efficient approach to technology adoption. The strategist works closely with training teams, vendors, and departmental leaders to customize solutions, provide expert guidance, and recommend the most effective tools to meet organizational needs.
This role is responsible for bridging the gap between business operations and technical solutions, providing tailored recommendations for software solutions, and fostering collaboration to optimize internal workflows and systems.
The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with a deep understanding of software solutions, procurement processes, and training development, who can balance technical expertise with strategic thinking.

Key Responsibilities
Centralized Software Procurement Oversight:

• Ensure departments collaborate to avoid duplicate procurement of similar software solutions.
• Develop a centralized database to track citywide software usage, licenses, and contracts.
• Lead interdepartmental reviews of software procurement requests to assess redundancy and alignment with citywide goals.

Needs Assessment and Solution Recommendations:

• Partner with department leaders to identify operational needs and recommend the most effective software solutions.
• Conduct research and analysis to become an expert on existing and emerging software tools.
• Provide strategic recommendations based on functionality, cost, and scalability.
• Collaborate with department leaders and end-users to identify software requirements and pain points.
• Conduct stakeholder interviews, surveys, and workshops to understand current systems and gaps.
• Act as the primary point of contact between internal stakeholders and software vendors.

Customization and Vendor Management:

• Work closely with vendors to tailor software solutions to departmental needs.
• Act as the primary liaison for vendor negotiations, ensuring customization and support align with city requirements.
• Manage vendor relationships to maintain high-quality service and adherence to agreements.

Training and Knowledge Development:

• Collaborate with the training department to design programs that educate staff on how to use software solutions effectively.
• Deliver hands-on workshops, tutorials, and user-friendly documentation for new systems.
• Act as a subject matter expert and resource for department staff during and after implementation.