Chair, Corporate & Tax Group - City of Philadelphia

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 240 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; Real Estate & Development Unit; Property Assessment, Boards & Commissions Unit; Regulatory Law Unit; and Tax Litigation & Collections Unit. Its major clients include the Office of the Director of Finance, the Department of Revenue, the Office of Property Assessment, the Philadelphia Water Department, the Philadelphia International Airport, the Streets Department, the Department of Planning and Development, and all Boards & Commissions. For transactional matters, the Unit represents, among other City agencies, the Procurement Department, Office of Innovation and Technology, the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, the City Treasurer, and the Departments of Public Health and Human Services.  

Its responsibilities include negotiating technology-related services, professional services, and procurement contracts; drafting and providing guidance concerning municipal bond issues; drafting and negotiation for real estate transactions and economic development projects; advising on countywide property reassessment matters; representation in matters relating to highway, rail, and mass transportation; and providing advice and counsel to the City’s various departments, boards, commissions, and agencies, including City Council. This program also includes the Tax Litigation and Collections Unit, which handles tax litigation by initiating and prosecuting actions for collection of delinquent taxes owed to the City, in close coordination with the Department of Revenue.

Position Summary

The City of Philadelphia Law Department seeks an experienced licensed PA attorney to Chair the Corporate & Tax Group.  The Corporate & Tax Group oversees all transactional, regulatory, and tax units in the Law Department.  The Corporate & Tax Group Chair oversees, manages, and further develops legal representation and services to all departments, agencies, elected officials, and employees of the City of Philadelphia.  The Corporate & Tax Group Chair will be responsible for managing over 90 people (over 65 attorneys, over 25 staff).  The Corporate & Tax Group Chair is also a member of the Law Department’s Executive Team and reports directly to the City Solicitor and First Deputy City Solicitor.

Essential Functions

The duties of the Corporate & Tax Group Chair primarily consist of providing coordinated legal representation and advice to all departments, agencies, elected officials, and employees of the City of Philadelphia.  These duties include but are not limited to:

• Managing and overseeing the Senior Management structure in the Corporate & Tax Group, which currently consists of five Chief Deputies, i.e. the Commercial Law Unit; Real Estate & Development Unit; Property Assessment, Boards & Commissions Unit; Regulatory Law Unit; and Tax Litigation and Collections Unit (approximately 70 attorneys when at capacity); 
• Advising senior City officials including Commissioners and ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and Philadelphia law;
• Managing, at a macro level, legal and policy issues for our City agencies, as it pertains to corporate and tax strategy;
• Counseling and advising senior city officials on systemic reforms and fluctuating legal landscapes, including  reforming the contracting processes, adapting to changing regulatory structures, and ensuring efficient tax collection strategies;
• Serving as lead negotiator on significant corporate developments and providing guidance to City officials and operating departments in creating legal policy and strategy;
• Counseling and consulting with the City Solicitor, Chief of Staff, and Client Stakeholders on high profile matters, which includes the drafting of responses to press/media inquiries;
• Participating and providing counsel to various City Work Groups;
• 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 Group and the Law Department;
• Overseeing and managing interview process for all Corporate & Tax Group Attorney vacancies.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong leadership and management skills;
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Influence and run cross-functional teams to drive change and stay aligned with overarching strategy;
• Orchestrate multiple activities at once; uses resources effectively and efficiently;
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Excellent active listening and emotional intelligence skills;
• Strong analytical & problem-solving skills;
• Proven project management skills that meet projected deadline and results;
• 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.

• The ideal candidate would have at least 12-15 years in practice, including experience managing attorneys.  Significant experience in a diverse corporate and/or tax practice is preferred.  The candidate must be able to work collaboratively with the leadership and staff of the various City departments and the other stakeholders to solve the myriad issues that may arise when addressing a variety of legal issues facing the City.
• 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 hire is at the discretion of the Law Department.

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

Salary Range: Up to $182,573 - 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!

*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