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, Customer Experience and Capital Development Group (CDG)
Support commercial strategy development, including market research, benchmarking, business planning, and identifying new opportunities.
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Support the development of grant applications or funding proposals for commercial innovation
Serve as a flexible resource to help directors and vice presidents move important projects forward during periods of high demand
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Highly organized with ability to prioritize multiple projects at once
Exceptional communicator who can synthesize complex information for executives.
Thrives in ambiguous environments and learns new domains quickly.
Strong stakeholder-management skills—able to lead through influence rather than authority.
Strong analytical and writing skills—able to communicate clearly and persuasively to executives.
A systems thinker who enjoys connecting dots and building structure in evolving environments
Qualifications
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, urban planning, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred)
4+ years of experience in project management, consulting, strategy, or public sector innovation
RESIDENCY
New hires must establish and maintain residency in the city of Philadelphia within 6 months of appointment. Current City of Philadelphia employees must maintain residency in the City of Philadelphia while employed in this position.
SECURITY REQUIREMENTS
Obtainment of a Security Badge is a condition of employment. Must pass and maintain SIDA (Security Identification Display Area) and AOA (Airfield Operations Area) clearance at the time of appointment and during tenure of employment.
Additional Information
TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a resume.
Salary Range: $72,000 - $90,000
Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:
- Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
- Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
- 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.
- 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.
For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx
Perks and Benefits
Health and Wellness
Parental Benefits
Work Flexibility
Office Life and Perks
Vacation and Time Off
Financial and Retirement
Professional Development
Diversity and Inclusion