Carlton Williams was appointed by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker to serve as the City of Philadelphia’s Managing Director, effective August 17, 2026. The Managing Director is the City’s chief operating officer (COO) and a principal member of the mayor’s cabinet.

A lifelong Philadelphian with more than 26 years of City service, Williams most recently served as Director of the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions in the Philadelphia Departments of Parks & Recreation, Licenses & Inspections, and Streets, earning a reputation as a collaborative leader who brings agencies together to solve complex operational challenges and deliver measurable results.

Under the Parker Administration, Williams has led many of the Administration’s signature quality-of-life initiatives, including the One Philly Citywide Cleanup Program, the creation of the Clean and Green Cabinet, expanded neighborhood cleaning operations, enhanced illegal dumping enforcement, twice-weekly trash collection pilots, and the Gateways to Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti & Highway Beautification Project ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.

Director Williams helped lead the city through one of the heaviest snowstorms to hit Philadelphia in over 30 years and has helped deliver nearly 300,000 quality-of-life services since 2024, prioritizing underserved communities and contributing to an 11 percent reduction in Philadelphia’s citywide Litter Index.