City of Philadelphia · 4 hours ago
Chief Creative Strategy Officer (CSO)
Philadelphia, PA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$160K/yr - $175K/yr
10+ years expThe City of Philadelphia's Office of Innovation and Technology is seeking a visionary leader to serve as Chief Creative Strategy Officer. This role involves transforming civic media, leading creative strategy, and managing communications to enhance engagement with residents.
Law EnforcementNewsPublishing
No H1B
Responsibilities
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Qualification
Required
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
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
Preferred
Experience working in government, public sector, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred
Benefits
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
Company
City of Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the fifth-most-populous city in the United States.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
A
Alan Burstein
Chief Surveyor
A
Alba Collazo-Irwin
Chief Deputy
Recent News
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