Job Description

This position is within the OIT and assigned to the Department of Planning and Development’s (DPD) IT unit. The IT division is made up of the Help Desk Support Team, Software Development Team, and Geographic Information System Teams. The IT Team is responsible for providing end user technical support, the creation of spatial data and online web applications and tools to support community planning and housing strategies. DPD regularly engages with the public, city officials and a wide array of stakeholders. Geospatial data and web applications are used to obtain input on the formulation of neighborhood, district, and housing plans and to communicate the work of the department with the public. DPD comprises the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC), Philadelphia Historical Commission, Art Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA), Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and partners with the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC).

The primary responsibility of this role is managing the IT personnel and daily operations within the Department of Planning and Development (DPD). As the IT Manager, you will be responsible for managing various IT functions, including the internal IT Service Desk team, Infrastructure Operations and Engineering team, AD/M365 administration, IT operational security, and related IT support activities. Given our hybrid/remote staff setup in the City of Philadelphia and the presence of Windows VM Servers, the IT Manager of Operations plays a crucial role in maintaining infrastructure performance, enhancing security measures, and responding swiftly to outages and incidents. Additionally, this role serves as the primary point person for disaster recovery efforts in case of prolonged disruptions at the DPD and its partner agency, PHDC. You will report directly to the Deputy Chief Information Officer of the DPD.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Chief Information Officer at DPD, the qualifications for this role require candidates to possess a proven history of practical hands-on experience in IT operations and engineering. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate their capability to monitor emerging IT trends and successfully execute infrastructure enhancements to align with the department's operational requirements. Furthermore, candidates for this position should also bring leadership and management experience to the table.

Essential Functions

• Manage and supervise staff in completing IT projects and the handling of daily IT support desk tasks.

• Conduct training sessions for employees to proficiently utilize software and hardware and offer troubleshooting assistance as required.

• Evaluate departmental needs, identifying vulnerabilities, and enhance productivity, efficiency, and accuracy to inform business decisions.

• Develop comprehensive documentation for critical IT procedures and produce end-user training materials.

• Effectively communicate technical information to non-technical staff members.

• Ensure the seamless integration and optimal performance of network components to align with business objectives, while staying updated on new features.

• Administer and maintain an up-to-date inventory of IT assets.

• Working with Continuity of Operations Plan Manager to ensure all IT related business requirements are updated with key personal information

• Performing physical duties as needed, such as moving server and workstation equipment, running cables.

• Overseeing and executing administration tasks for Local Area Networks, encompassing servers and connected workstation computers.

• Carrying out database server administration duties.

• Managing the repair and troubleshooting of server and workstation computer equipment when problems arise.

• Performing technical tasks in a demanding, high-pressure environment.

• In emergency situations, performing and determining the optimal mix of IT services required during emergency situations.

• Instructing users in the operation and proper use of computer equipment, and telephones when needed.

• Determining the right balance of IT services that will be used in an emergency.

• Prioritizing critical services and assessing their feasibility within the specific field environment.

• Other duties as assigned

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Apply logical and sequential reasoning

• Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills

• Recognize and assess different communication pathway options

• Employ tact and diplomacy when engaging with end users

• Best practices in Windows system administration and security

• Project management principles and best practices

• Wireless networking principles

• Microsoft Office Suite components, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Project

• Storage technologies pertinent to server infrastructure

• Troubleshooting desktop applications

• Diagnosing network issues

• Expertise in managing IIS, Active Directory, MSSQL, MySQL, DNS, File and Print servers

• Configuration of Microsoft Group Policies

• Development of IT infrastructure and services

• Familiarity with PC and application deployment technologies

• Resolving printer-related issues

• Proficiency in systems analysis and enterprise architecture

• Crafting server-side scripts utilizing Windows batch files and Windows PowerShell

• Competence in VMware, including shared storage and virtualization experience

• Managing VoIP phone systems

• Some experience with Audio Visual systems

• Knowledge of Mass Messaging Systems or Public Alerting

• Some experience coding or knowledge or programming languages

• Effectively convey information through both verbal and written means to diverse audiences

• Collaborate effectively within project teams of varying levels of seniority and technical expertise

• Function autonomously as well as collaboratively within a team environment

• Adhere to deadlines and consistently deliver high-quality results

• Comprehend and synthesize information presented in various formats, such as written, verbal, diagrams, schedules, and more

• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends as necessary for critical issue resolution or after-hours project implementations

• Apply diagnostic skills and creative problem-solving approaches

• Maintain a commitment to continuous learning and professional development as both a professional and a technologist

• Passionate about leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance business operations and drive efficiency

Qualifications

Completion of a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in Computer Science, a related engineering field, or equivalent experience

• Minimum 5 to 10 years of experience in a technical role

• Demonstrated Leadership and Management Experience a plus

• Experience providing technical support to a wide variety of applications a plus

• Experience working in a large governmental, or non-profit agency is a plus but not required

Additional Information

Salary Range: $90,000 - $100,000

Starting salary to be determined based on experience and qualifications.

All applications should include the following:
• Cover Letter clarifying your interest and qualifications for the role.
• Resume
We won’t accept or review incomplete applications.

Work Setting: in-person (onsite)

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:
• 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.
• Enjoy a Free Commute on SEPTA - Starting September 1, 2023, eligible City employees will no longer have to worry about paying for SEPTA public transportation. Whether you're a full-time, part-time, or provisional employee, you can seize the opportunity to sign up for the SEPTA Key Advantage Program and receive free Key cards for free rides on SEPTA buses, trains, trolleys, and regional rails.
• 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.