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.
