Assistant City Solicitor or Deputy City Solicitor – Regulatory Law Unit – Airport Division

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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 Airport Division of the Regulatory Law Unit represents the Department of Aviation of the City (the “DOA”). The DOA owns and operates Philadelphia International Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport. These airports are operated as commercial businesses to the greatest extent feasible given their ownership by the City. In addition to City regulations, the DOA is subject to extensive Federal regulations, particularly by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration, and to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Bureau of Aviation regulation. Attorneys in the Airport Division handle a diverse set of regulatory and transactional matters, including structuring, drafting, and negotiating contracts and real estate transactions with a broad range of complexity, and responding to claims, among other duties.

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

• 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.

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

Salary Range: Assistant: $79,512 to $90,125; Deputy: $92,612 to $111,385 – Commensurate with education and experience

Any questions related to this position should be directed to Vijya Patel, Divisional Deputy City Solicitor (vijya.patel@phl.org).

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• 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.
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• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
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Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

• 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.

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For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx