Chief Creative Strategy Officer (CSO)

Company Description

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.

The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT) is seeking a visionary, hands-on creative leader to serve as Chief Creative Strategy Officer. This role blends creative direction, digital media production, communications leadership, and equity-driven storytelling to reimagine how the City connects with residents.

This executive will be responsible for transforming Channel 64 into a modern, compelling civic media platform; leading video, production, and creative strategy across OIT; managing the Digital Equity team; and overseeing communications to ensure Philadelphia’s innovation work is visible, human-centered, and impactful.

This is not a traditional strategy role. It is a builder role for someone who understands video production, content ecosystems, creative storytelling, and digital-first strategy, and who can translate complex technology and equity initiatives into accessible, engaging narratives for residents.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

1. Creative & Content Strategy Leadership

• Define and execute a bold, cohesive creative vision for OIT across video, broadcast, digital, and social platforms.

• Lead creative strategy that translates technical and policy-driven work into compelling stories that resonate with residents.

• Establish standards for visual identity, tone, storytelling, and content quality across all media.

• Serve as OIT’s senior creative voice, ensuring consistency, originality, and clarity in all public-facing materials.

2. Channel 64 & Video Production

• Reimagine and modernize Channel 64 as a flagship civic media channel, including programming strategy, format innovation, and audience growth.

• Oversee all aspects of video production, including concept development, scripting, filming, editing, and distribution.

• Introduce new formats (short-form, documentary-style, live, educational, community-driven content) that meet residents where they are.

• Ensure production workflows, timelines, and quality standards support high-impact storytelling at scale.

3. Communications & Public Narrative

• Lead OIT’s communications strategy across traditional media, digital platforms, and internal channels.

• Oversee messaging, press strategy, and public-facing campaigns that elevate OIT’s work and demonstrate value to residents.

• Ensure clear, inclusive, and resident-centered language across all communications.

• Manage crisis and high-visibility communications with creativity, clarity, and confidence.

4. Digital Equity Leadership

• Directly manage and support the Digital Equity team, ensuring their work is strategically aligned, well-resourced, and highly visible.

• Elevate digital equity initiatives through storytelling that centers residents, communities, and outcomes.

• Partner with community organizations to co-create content that reflects lived experience and builds trust.

• Ensure equity is embedded not only in programs, but in how the City communicates and engages.

5. Team Leadership & Creative Culture

• Lead a multidisciplinary team spanning creative, communications, video production, and digital equity.

• Foster a culture that values experimentation, collaboration, feedback, and continuous improvement.

• Develop staff talent through mentorship, clear creative direction, and opportunities to innovate.

• Effectively manage vendors, agencies, freelancers, and production partners as extensions of the team.

6. Strategic Partnerships & Innovation

• Build partnerships with media organizations, creative agencies, educational institutions, and technology partners.

• Identify emerging trends in digital media, storytelling, and civic engagement and bring them into City work.

• Represent OIT at conferences, public events, and community forums as a creative and strategic leader.

7. Data-Informed Creative Strategy

• Use audience insights, analytics, and performance metrics to inform creative decisions and content strategy.

• Balance data with creative intuition to test, iterate, and scale what works.

• Measure success through reach, engagement, trust, and resident understanding, not just output.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Media Production, Film, Journalism, Creative Strategy, Public Administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience leading creative, media, communications, or digital strategy work, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.

• Demonstrated experience overseeing video production, broadcast or digital media, and creative teams.

• Experience working in government, public sector, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred.

Skills & Attributes

• Deep understanding of video production, storytelling, and modern content ecosystems.

• Strong creative vision paired with the ability to execute and manage complex projects.

• Excellent communicator who can translate technical or policy topics into accessible narratives.

• Collaborative leader who balances creative freedom with accountability and structure.

• Comfort operating in ambiguity and building new systems, platforms, and approaches from the ground up.

• Strong commitment to public service, equity, and resident-centered design.

Additional Information

Salary Range: $160,000 - $175,000

Salary Range cannot exceed $175,000

All applications must include a cover letter. Applications without a cover letter will be considered incomplete. 

Did you know?
● We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer : 25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities

● 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

*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

Client-provided location(s): Philadelphia, PA

Job ID: 99fba088-1b2d-4006-b280-9b1e8120fc97

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-01-28T15:55:05