Assistant City Solicitor or Deputy City Solicitor

Job Description

Position Summary

The Regulatory Law Unit’s Airport Division is seeking a licensed Pennsylvania Attorney to fill an Assistant City Solicitor or Deputy City Solicitor position.  The attorney will work on a wide range of transactional and compliance matters handled by the Airport Division, including negotiating and drafting of contracts and advising the airport staff on legal and regulatory matters, as necessary, for the City to operate and develop its two airports.  The transactional matters include the preparation and review of letters of intent, leases, licenses, grant agreements, professional service contracts, pre-development and development agreements, reimbursement agreements, airline incentive agreements, easements, and concession agreements, as well as various other agreements related to the operation and development of the City’s airports. The attorney in this position also provides counsel on the application of Federal, Pennsylvania and City laws and regulations related to contract terms, contract structure, public safety, national security, commercial development, land use, environmental concerns, and other day-to-day legal issues.  Division attorneys’ offices are located next to the Philadelphia International Airport. 

Essential Functions

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

• Representing the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Aviation in matters relating to the operation and development of the two airports as detailed above.
• Structuring, negotiating, and drafting contracts, including leases, of a broad range of complexity as detailed above.
• Interfacing with other City departments, including Risk, Tax, Finance, Litigation, the Office of Sustainability, and the Office of Economic Opportunity.
• Reviewing and analyzing Federal, State, and City laws (including the Philadelphia Code and the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter) that affect the DOA’s operations and functions.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to analyze large amounts of information, determine relevant facts, and propose viable solutions to address matters described under Position Summary
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strong drafting and negotiating skills
• Strong legal analytical skills
• Experience in administrative and/or civil litigation or claims
• Familiarity with airport business and related commercial transactions
• Knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration regulations
• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules and processes of the City of Philadelphia
• Familiarity with transactional and/or administrative law experience
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion goals of the Law Department

Qualifications

• Assistant City Solicitor candidates must have one (1) plus years of relevant experience within a legal setting. This can be an entry level position.
• Deputy City Solicitor candidates must have a minimum of four (4) years of relevant legal experience.  Legal experience should include some or most of those described under Essential Functions.
• 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.