Chief of Staff – Executive Office

Job Description

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.
Job Description
The City of Philadelphia Law Department seeks an experienced licensed PA attorney to support the City Solicitor as Chief of Staff.
The Chief of Staff provides advanced administrative, managerial and analytical support to the City Solicitor.
This individual will support administrative functions of the office, assist in the development of internal procedures and practices department-wide, manage priority projects, and serve as liaison for key internal and external stakeholders including offices of elected officials. They will also ensure effective and efficient day-today operations of the executive team and staff, and support coordination of the organization’s priorities across the department and externally as needed.
The Chief of Staff will analyze and provide recommendations to the Solicitor; serve as the Executive Director’s liaison at meetings as needed; and conduct appropriate follow-ups after meetings. Responsibilities are broad in scope and require a high degree of administrative discretion.
In addition, this position is responsible for working closely with the leadership team and will support implementation of processes and systems to maximize employee performance in an environment that promotes positive morale, equity, diversity and inclusion. Duties include a broad range of activities including acting as primary liaison between employees to implement department policies, practices, and procedures as well as trouble shooting issues as they arise.
Essential Functions

Work with Solicitor and Law’s Director of Communications for all needs related to communications and coordination with the Mayor’s Office, City Councilmembers, other City elected officials.  Facilitate collaboration and communication with multiple agencies, city departments, non-profits, and other stakeholders, both external and internal to ensure strong working relationships.
Represent the Solicitor as needed with internal and external stakeholders and attend meetings and events on their behalf.
Oversee special projects in tandem with the Solicitor and act as a key thought partner, brainstorming & identifying solutions to challenges.
Develop overarching policy priorities for the Law Department with the Solicitor and Executive Leadership team.
Monitor key legislative, legal, and political developments and trends affecting the work of the Law Department.
Lead various projects and working groups and ensure all objectives and milestones are met and/or corrective action is communicated and implemented.
Assign, communicate, and clarify context of tasks, priorities and projects directed as needed by the Solicitor.
Respond to urgent issues while maintaining discretion and being strategic in decision-making.
Monitor and evaluate performance of the Department and utilize data-driven decision and policies.
Establish and maintain collaborative and effective working relationships with staff and stakeholders.
Work with Executive Team to ensure and foster collaborative, supportive working environment to reach program goals, including activities such as planning staff retreats, celebrating accomplishments and formulating new staff policies as needed.
Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Strong leadership and management skills;
Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
Orchestrate multiple activities at once; uses resources effectively and efficiently;
Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal;
Excellent active listening skills;
Strong analytical & problem-solving skills;
Work effectively with all levels in the government;
Ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences;
Ability to coach and influence senior leaders and move toward a common vision or goal;
Experience in group facilitation, coaching & leading teams/organizations in performance improvement strategies that result in higher performance;
Experience in managing client relationships;
Experience in cross system collaboration work, information sharing and data sharing;
Analysis of complex legal issues and impact on policy;
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules and process;
Ability to analyze large amounts of information, determine relevant facts, and propose viable solutions.
Work-Life

The Law Department supports a robust work-life balance.  Working hours are 37.5 hours per week, Monday through Friday.
Qualifications
Education: The ideal candidate would have at least 10 years in practice; candidates must have a law degree from an ABA accredited law school.
Residency: Candidate must either be a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar, or eligible to become a member of the Pennsylvania Bar within six (6) months.
Project Manager: Ability to create high level strategy and outline the steps needed to meet all objectives; strong organization skills; detail-oriented; thorough in completing tasks; and persistent in pursuit of goals. Decisive: Able to operate under pressure, use discretion as needed, and make well informed, strategic decisions quickly and effectively.
Collaborative: Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, such as other departments, partners and sponsors, the public, local, civic and business officials, and news organizations.
Mission-oriented: passionate about and dedicated to improving Philadelphia.
Creative and Critical thinker: proven ability to work through complex problems/ tasks and the ability to prioritize and multi-task to meet deadlines.
Adaptable: ability to understand and respond quickly to changes in the environment or direction; ability to toggle between big picture and details; able to be motivated about many different kinds of tasks and projects; self-starter with the flexibility to work independently and as part of a team.
Effective Communication: strong oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, high level of emotional intelligence, and a track record of building effective relationships with people of diverse backgrounds.
Additional Information
TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: Up to $145,035 – 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 6 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!

*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