Vice President, Public Safety

Center City District (CCD), a nationally recognized business improvement district, is seeking an experienced and dynamic Vice President of Public Safety to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight in a complex urban environment, serving the Center City Philadelphia community.

The Vice President of Public Safety provides operational leadership and strategic direction for a comprehensive business improvement organization operating within a complex public-sector environment, responsible for Public Safety, Community Service Representative, and Homeless Outreach operations. The position is responsible for ensuring the safety, security, preparedness, and well-being of employees, residents, visitors, clients, and other members of the community while maintaining the highest standards of public service, accountability, and professionalism.

This position serves as a highly visible senior leader and trusted organizational representative, working closely with executive leadership, elected and appointed officials, employees, community members, public safety agencies, labor representatives, partner organizations, and other stakeholders.

The Vice President balances operational demands with the organization's broader public-service mission. The role emphasizes employee relations, workforce development, leadership effectiveness, community and stakeholder engagement, and responsive customer service.

The successful candidate will be an accessible and collaborative leader who understands that effective public safety depends not only on sound operations, but also on trust, communication, employee engagement, community relationships, and confidence in public institutions.

Essential Responsibilities

Executive & Strategic Leadership

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the organization's public safety, community outreach/hospitality, and homeless outreach operations and related programs.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive public safety strategy aligned with organizational priorities, community needs, applicable laws and regulations, and established policies.
• Advise executive leadership and other organizational leaders on public safety, security, emergency preparedness, risk, and operational matters.
• Establish clear organizational goals, performance expectations, policies, and standards for the public safety function.
• Ensure public safety operations are conducted consistently, professionally, equitably, and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and professional standards.
• Lead organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives designed to strengthen public safety services and community outcomes.
• Evaluate emerging public safety issues, trends, technologies, and best practices and recommend appropriate organizational responses.

Workforce Leadership & Employee Relations

• Lead a diverse public safety workforce with an emphasis on employee engagement, professional development, accountability, and retention.
• Establish a culture of respect, professionalism, inclusion, service, and accountability throughout the organization.
• Maintain regular visibility and communication with employees at all levels, including frontline personnel and supervisors.
• Partner closely with Human Resources and organizational leadership to address employee relations matters, workplace concerns, performance issues, and organizational challenges.
• Ensure employee concerns are addressed fairly, consistently, promptly, and in accordance with applicable policies, collective bargaining agreements, and employment laws.
• Develop and implement comprehensive leadership-development, succession-planning, mentoring, and career-development initiatives.
• Build a strong pipeline of capable public safety leaders through coaching, professional development, training, and meaningful performance management.
• Recognize employee contributions and establish practices that promote morale, engagement, retention, and organizational pride.
• Promote a workplace where employees understand organizational expectations and feel empowered to contribute ideas and identify opportunities for improvement.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a highly visible representative of the organization on public safety matters.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with community members, residents, businesses, elected officials, government agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Engage regularly with stakeholders to understand concerns, communicate priorities, address issues, and build trust.
• Ensure public safety services are responsive to the needs of the communities and populations served.
• Develop and support community engagement strategies that promote communication, transparency, collaboration, and confidence in public safety services.
• Respond appropriately and professionally to sensitive or high-profile community concerns.
• Participate in public meetings, community forums, organizational events, and other settings where executive public safety leadership is required.
• Communicate complex operational and public safety matters clearly to both internal and external audiences.

Intergovernmental & Public Safety Partnerships

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with local and federal law enforcement partners and other relevant City and state agencies.
• Establish clear protocols for interagency coordination and mutual support.
• Promote information sharing, coordinated planning, and collaborative problem-solving among partner agencies.

Emergency Management & Organizational Resilience

• Provide executive oversight of emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and continuity programs.
• Ensure the organization maintains appropriate plans, procedures, training, exercises, and resources to respond to emergencies and critical incidents.
• Participate in executive decision-making during significant emergencies, public safety incidents, and other high-consequence events.
• Coordinate with internal departments and external agencies during emergency response and recovery activities.
• Conduct after-action reviews and ensure lessons learned are incorporated into policies, training, and operational practices.
• Strengthen organizational resilience and preparedness for natural disasters, infrastructure disruptions, public safety incidents, and other emerging threats.

Customer & Constituent Service

• Establish a strong culture of public service within the public safety organization.
• Ensure employees understand that every interaction with a resident, employee, visitor, business, client, or community member is an opportunity to build trust in the organization.
• Develop service standards and performance expectations that promote professionalism, responsiveness, accessibility, and respect.
• Establish mechanisms for receiving, evaluating, and responding to stakeholder feedback.
• Work directly with stakeholders to understand service concerns and develop appropriate solutions.
• Ensure public safety services are delivered in a manner that is responsive to community needs while maintaining operational integrity and established policies.
• Promote a problem-solving approach to public safety that emphasizes collaboration and long-term community outcomes.

Policy, Compliance & Accountability

• Develop, review, and update public safety policies, procedures, standards, and operating protocols.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, organizational policies, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Maintain appropriate systems for operational oversight, performance measurement, documentation, and accountability.
• Provide regular reports, briefings, and recommendations to executive leadership and, as appropriate, governing bodies or elected officials.
• Support transparency and accountability through appropriate reporting, performance metrics, and communication practices.
• Monitor emerging legislative, regulatory, and policy developments affecting public safety operations and workforce management.

Budget & Resource Management

• Assist in developing the department budget in alignment with organizational priorities and community needs.
• Ensure public resources are managed responsibly, efficiently, and transparently.
• Evaluate staffing, equipment, technology, facilities, and other resource requirements.
• Develop business cases and recommendations for investments that improve safety, service delivery, workforce capability, and organizational resilience.
• Oversee contracts, vendors, grants, and external service providers as appropriate.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency while maintaining appropriate levels of public safety and service.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Public-service orientation — A genuine commitment to serving the community and strengthening public trust.
• Visible leadership — A willingness to be present, accessible, and engaged with employees, stakeholders, and the community.
• Employee-centered leadership — A demonstrated ability to develop people, navigate employee relations, build trust, and create a high-performing workforce.
• Operational judgment — The ability to make sound decisions in complex, high-pressure, and rapidly changing environments.
• Collaboration — The ability to build effective partnerships across departments, agencies, jurisdictions, labor organizations, and community groups.
• Accountability — A commitment to ethical conduct, transparency, responsible stewardship of public resources, and measurable performance.
• Communication — Exceptional interpersonal, written, verbal, and executive communication skills.
• Community awareness — An understanding of the importance of community relationships, constituent service, cultural awareness, and public confidence in effective public safety.
• Strategic perspective — The ability to connect day-to-day operations with long-term organizational and community objectives.