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 Department of Public Health (PDPH), with some 900 staff and a budget of $350 million, promotes and protects the health of all Philadelphians and provides a safety net for the most vulnerable. The agency leads programs to prevent communicable diseases; prevent chronic diseases and promote healthy behaviors; prevent environmental health risks; investigate outbreaks of disease; respond to public health emergencies; and promote the health of women, children, and families. In addition, the department operates eight primary care clinics. PDPH has been on the vanguard of public health, proposing policy solutions to problems like smoking, gun violence, and opioid overdose deaths, and intends to continue that tradition with creative solutions to both long-standing urban health problems and new crises. Most recently, PDPH has taken the lead on the City of Philadelphia’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Work-Life

Working hours are generally 37.5 hours per week. Our team is currently hybrid with both virtual and in-office days

Position Summary

Urban Health Policy Fellows will work on priority health issues that the City is facing. Examples include opioid addiction and overdose, smoking, obesity, HIV, lead poisoning, childhood asthma, and innovative use of electronic health record data. Fellows will work on teams addressing issues such as these, and will be assigned specific projects that help the agency understand the problem, engage with stakeholders, develop policy solutions, recruit support for interventions, and/or implement policies.

To ensure that the experience is broad, Fellows will rotate among different Divisions in the health department over the two-year program. In addition, Fellows will learn about the entire agency by attending management meetings and participating in small-group sessions with internal and external public health experts.

Essential Functions

Urban Health Policy Fellows will work directly with senior leaders of one of the nation’s most innovative health departments on high priority projects, while receiving on-the-job training in public health policy development.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrate interest in public health topics.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to contribute and coordinate work in a team
• Ability to learn quickly and take initiative on individual projects
• Strong attention to detail
• Proficiency in data analysis, including basic concepts in epidemiology and statistics
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software (Word, PowerPoint, Excel); previous use of analytical software like SAS a plus

Completion of a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited college or university in Public Health, Global Health, or Community Health within the last two years (or before July 1, 2023).

To apply, electronically submit:

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in the fellowship;
• A resume that summarizes your educational experience, your work experience, and your skills with data analysis;
• A 3-5 page sample of your writing (for example, a paper that you wrote for a class assignment or an article that you wrote for a school publication);
• An undergraduate transcript (unofficial is fine); and,
• The names and contact information for two persons who can serve as references, one of whom is a faculty member and one of whom served as a supervisor for a work or internship experience.

The deadline for the application is Friday, March 24, 2023; applications should be sent to UPHFellow@phila.gov.

Salary: $40,000

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

Please note that effective September 1, 2021 the City of Philadelphia is requiring all new employees to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

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