Director, Clean and Green Initiatives - MDO

Position Summary 

The Director of Clean and Green Initiatives, is a Cabinet level position, that provides executive leadership and strategic direction for the City of Philadelphia’s efforts to improve neighborhood cleanliness, environmental conditions, and quality of life. The Director leads the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives and is responsible for developing and implementing a coordinated, data-driven strategy to address litter, illegal dumping, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, vacant lots, nuisance properties, and other persistent neighborhood conditions. 

The Director provides executive oversight of the Department of Sanitation, the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP), and the PHL Taking Care of Business Clean Corridors Program. The position establishes citywide priorities, aligns resources and operations across these functions, and works with City leadership, departments, community organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders to achieve measurable improvements in neighborhood conditions, with particular emphasis on historically underserved communities. 

This role reports directly to the Mayor.  

Essential Functions 

• Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives and establishes citywide priorities, policies, goals, and performance expectations related to neighborhood cleanliness and quality-of-life conditions. 

• Provides executive oversight of the Department of Sanitation, Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP), and PHL Taking Care of Business Clean Corridors Program, ensuring alignment of operations, resources, policies, and performance with the City's Clean and Green strategy. 

• Directs the development and implementation of a comprehensive, data-driven citywide action plan to address litter, illegal dumping, graffiti, abandoned automobiles, vacant lots, nuisance properties, and related neighborhood conditions. 

• Establishes performance measures and accountability systems; evaluates operational and neighborhood-level data to identify trends, service gaps, resource needs, and opportunities for improved service delivery. 

• Coordinates large-scale and cross-departmental initiatives involving sanitation, code enforcement, neighborhood improvement, environmental services, public space maintenance, and related City operations. 

• Advises the Mayor, Chief Deputy Mayor, Managing Director, and other senior City officials on policies, operational strategies, resource needs, and emerging issues affecting neighborhood cleanliness and quality of life. 

• Develops and recommends policies, programs, legislation, and operational improvements to strengthen the City's ability to prevent and respond to persistent quality-of-life issues. 

• Provides executive oversight of financial and organizational resources within the Clean and Green portfolio, including operating and capital priorities, staffing strategies, contracts, grants, and other investments. 

• Builds and maintains partnerships with City departments, community organizations, business associations, residents, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders to coordinate neighborhood improvement initiatives and increase community engagement. 

• Represents the City and the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives before City Council, community organizations, governmental partners, the media, and other stakeholders and communicates progress toward citywide cleanliness and quality-of-life goals. 

• All other duties as assigned.  

Required Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

Knowledge 

• Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of executive management, public administration, organizational leadership, and strategic planning. 

• Thorough knowledge of municipal operations and service-delivery systems related to sanitation, neighborhood services, code enforcement, public spaces, and quality-of-life initiatives. 

• Considerable knowledge of performance management, data-driven decision-making, program evaluation, and operational improvement. 

• Considerable knowledge of governmental budgeting, resource allocation, contracting, and organizational management. 

• Considerable knowledge of community engagement, intergovernmental relations, and stakeholder management in a large urban environment. 

Skills 

• Strong executive leadership and strategic planning skills. 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to translate data into operational priorities and policy recommendations. 

• Strong organizational and management skills with the ability to oversee multiple departments, programs, and complex citywide initiatives. 

• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. 

• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and collaboration skills with diverse internal and external stakeholders. 

Abilities 

• Ability to provide executive direction to large, complex operational departments and programs. 

• Ability to establish citywide strategy and translate policy priorities into measurable operational outcomes. 

• Ability to analyze complex organizational, operational, financial, and policy issues and develop effective solutions. 

• Ability to coordinate activities across multiple City departments and establish accountability for shared outcomes. 

• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion and effectively advise and represent senior City leadership.