Office of Human Resources

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) administers Philadelphia's civil service system, the merit-based rules by which most City employees are recruited, tested, classified and promoted. It acts "under the guidance of the Civil Service Commission" and works to attract, select and retain a qualified, diverse and effective workforce.^[1] OHR is one of the departments in the cluster led by the Chief Administrative Officer. Mayor Cherelle Parker appointed Candi Jones, formerly Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources and Administration at the Water Department and First Deputy Director of OHR, as Chief Human Resources Officer in November 2024.^[2]

1 Civil service functions

OHR's duties include workforce planning, job classification, pay evaluation, exam development and administration, test scoring and review, and drafting new or revised Civil Service Regulations to reflect changes in operations and labor agreements.^[1] The Commission, a separate body with its own role in adopting the regulations and deciding appeals, is described in the article on the Civil Service Commission. The merit principle means, in broad terms, that eligible candidates are ranked by examination and hiring managers choose from certified lists, with exempt positions (appointed by officials, including most executives) outside those lists. OHR's staffing figures show that of its own 106 positions in FY26, 10 were exempt.^[1]

2 FY27 priorities

In its March 2026 testimony to Council, OHR listed priorities: modernizing Civil Service hiring and identifying barriers, including the time it takes to hire; strengthening HR practice across departments through "HR University" training and circles for department HR managers; streamlining employee records and administration; and improving employee well-being and benefits education.^[1] It cited Executive Order 3-24, which promotes alternative pathways to four-year college degrees for suitable jobs. The service-level target for civil service time-to-hire is 90 days or less. OHR also works with the City College for Municipal Employment (CCME), which trains residents for City careers; CCME and OHR are linked to the economic mobility agenda in the FY27 budget.^[1][3]

3 Labor relations and unions

Most City workers are represented by unions, notably AFSCME District Council 33 (blue-collar and clerical workers), AFSCME District Council 47 (white-collar and professional workers), the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 and IAFF Local 22. OHR supports the administration's labor-relations function, working with the Law Department and the Mayor's office. Jones's biography credits her with helping negotiate a contract extension for about 8,400 DC 33 members before the July 2025 strike, which is covered in 2025 DC 33 Strike.^[2] The FY27-31 Five Year Plan includes a Labor Reserve with deposits totaling more than $605 million from FY26 through FY31 to fund future agreements.^[4] The framework governing bargaining is explained in Public Sector Bargaining in Pennsylvania.

4 Size, vacancies and hiring speed

The Finance Department reports that the City has nearly 31,000 active employees paid through Central Payroll.^[5] OHR itself had 95 of 106 budgeted positions filled as of November 2025 and requested 108 for FY27, adding two positions transferred from the CAO. The CAO's testimony credits OHR with reducing time to hire and vacancies and creating HR University.^[6] Council appropriated about $23.0 million to OHR from the General Fund for FY27.^[7]

5 Applying for a City job

Openings, exam announcements and the application portal are listed on the City's jobs website at phila.gov. Applicants for civil service titles typically apply for a specific exam or posting, may be required to take a written or performance test, and are ranked on certified lists. Residency rules (most employees must live in Philadelphia within a set period after hire) are set by ordinance and the Charter. Questions about discrimination or discipline may go to the employee's union, the Civil Service Commission or the Commission on Human Relations. See also How to Get Help From the City.

See also: Civil Service Commission, Chief Administrative Officer, Organized Labor in Philadelphia, Office of Workforce Development.

References

1. Office of Human Resources, "Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Testimony," March 31, 2026 (phlcouncil.com).
2. City of Philadelphia, "Mayor Parker announces newly appointed leadership at the City's Office of Human Resources and the Budget Office," November 25, 2024 (phila.gov).
3. City of Philadelphia, The Mayor's Operating Budget in Brief for Fiscal Year 2027, Introduction (phila.gov).
4. City of Philadelphia, FY27-31 Five Year Plan per Council Approved Budget and Budget in Brief, June-July 2026 (phila.gov).
5. Office of the Director of Finance, "Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Testimony," March 25, 2026 (phlcouncil.com).
6. Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, "Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Testimony," March 31, 2026 (phlcouncil.com).
7. City of Philadelphia, Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriation Ordinance, item 2.57 (phila.gov).