Chief Deputy City Solicitor - Regulatory Law Unit

Company Description

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 City of Philadelphia Law Department acts as general counsel for the entire City government structure. We provide legal advice to all City officials, employees, departments, agencies, boards, and commissions concerning any matters related to the exercise of their official powers.  

The Law Department's civil practice includes unique issues involving public interest in business, health, safety, commerce, civil rights, taxation, and community development. We employ more than 220 attorneys and 100 professional staff to support seamless operations, reduce legal liability for the City, and challenge threats to quality of life impacting the taxpayers of Philadelphia.  

We are an ever-evolving Department where all are empowered to reach their full potential, to collaborate with clients as true partners, and to see their work have real impact on the city of Philadelphia. We celebrate the diversity of our staff, the City’s workforce, and the residents whom we serve and promote an environment of comradery, accountability, and inclusiveness.  

The Corporate and Tax Group includes the Commercial Law Unit, Tax Litigation & Collections Unit, Property Assessment, Boards & Commissions Unit, Regulatory Law Unit, and Real Estate & Development Unit.  The Regulatory Law Unit of the Law Department represents the City and its officials in a wide variety of utility, transportation, environmental and sustainability matters.  Primary clients include the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS), the Philadelphia airport system, the Departments of Health, Streets and Water and the Office of Sustainability. The Unit provides general legal and regulatory support including: department operations, complex commercial transactions, real estate transactions, professional service agreements, enforcement actions, utility rates, legislation/regulation and administrative appeals. 

Job Description

Position Summary 

The Chief Deputy City Solicitor of the Regulatory Law Unit supervises four divisions:  Airport, Environmental, Right-of-Way and Utilities, and Water.  The Unit currently has 21 attorney positions.  The Chief Deputy’s direct reports include four Divisional Deputy City Solicitors (managers).  The Chief Deputy oversees the general/regulatory counsel role for the Water Department and the Philadelphia airport system.  Six Unit attorneys are located with the Water Commissioner and his staff.  The seven attorney positions in the Airports Division are located with the airport executive team at Philadelphia International Airport.  The Environmental Division provides environmental/regulatory counsel to all City departments, but in particular to the Health Department.  Philadelphia is the permitting authority for air emissions from Philadelphia sources, and the Unit provides advisory and enforcement support for the Air Management Services division of the Health Department. It also provides legal support for the Office of Sustainability and several City departments with their sustainability initiatives.  The Right-of-Way and Utility Division provides advice and regulatory counsel and transactional services to the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS), the Streets Department and other City departments and offices in legal, regulatory, and transactional matters involving streets, sidewalks, pedestrian corridors, railroads, transportation infrastructure and public utilities.   

 

Essential Functions 

In addition to the Position Summary, responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Managing all four Divisions and supervising direct reports 

• Advising City officials including Commissioners, CEOs and directors, and ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state and Philadelphia law. 

• Establishing a standard of excellence and accessibility in the provision of legal services 

• Meeting regularly with the Deputy Managing Director for OTIS, Commissioners and other City management staff to ensure that legal services are meeting client needs 

• Communicating with all Unit staff on a regular basis and maintaining an open door for staff concerns 

• Providing opportunities for attorney training and mentoring 

• Fostering and maintaining a collegial, inclusive, and professional environment that recognizes and values all forms of diversity 

• Participating in external efforts to raise the profile of the Unit and the Law Department. 

 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Knowledge of environmental laws, aviation law, utility law, highway and motor vehicle laws, administrative procedure, government regulations, and executive orders 

• Knowledge/Experience with legislative and regulatory processes 

• Knowledge/Experience with government procurement and complex commercial transactions 

• Knowledge/Experience with public utility law and utility rate making 

• Ability to supervise and inspire a team of managers, attorneys and support staff 

• Ability to foster and maintain a collegial, inclusive, and professional work environment 

• Ability to communicate information and ideas in writing and orally so that both lawyers and non-lawyers will understand  

• Ability to independently manage a large volume of complex regulatory and transactional matters 

• Ability to train and mentor staff  

• Ability to educate clients on applicable legal requirements 

• Excellent judgment and critical thinking 

Qualifications

• This is a senior level supervisory position, with a minimum of nine (9) years of legal experience relevant to the subject matter and/or responsibilities of the Unit required.  

• Candidates must have a law degree from an ABA accredited law school and must either be a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar, or currently eligible to be admitted by reciprocity to practice in Pennsylvania (Pa.B.A.R. 204). Continued employment of attorneys not admitted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within six (6) months of hire is at the discretion of the Law Department. 

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: $141,648 to $167,291 - Commensurate with education and experience

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• 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
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

Interested candidates should apply through SmartRecruiters:  

Any questions related to this position should be directed to Ji Jun, Chair, Corporate & Tax Group (ji.jun@phila.gov). 

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

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