Senior Staff Attorney

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 youre 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 Board of Ethics is an independent body that administers and enforces the Citys ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying laws. The Boards mission is carried out by a dedicated team of approximately ten staff members, including attorneys and compliance professionals. Board Staff carries out the day-to-day functions of the Board, subject to the Boards oversight. Board Staff provides advice, training, and compliance assistance to City workers, candidates, lobbyists, businesses, and City residents. Board Staff iinvestigates and prosecutes violations of the Citys campaign finance and lobbying laws, financial disclosure requirements, conflict of interest rules, political activity restrictions, and other ethics rules.

Position Summary:
The Board of Ethics is seeking an attorney with at least five (5) years of legal experience. The Senior Staff Attorney will report to the Boards General Counsel. In addition to providing guidance on ethics, campaign finance, lobbying, and financial disclosure laws and regulations, the Senior Staff Attorney will develop and deliver engaging training and educational content on these topics. This position will involve significant interaction with City officials as well as members of the external regulated community. This is a non-supervisory position for an experienced attorney that provides a unique opportunity for growth and development under the supervision of experienced government ethics professionals.

Essential Functions:

The Senior Staff Attorneys primary duties consist of providing guidance to individuals and organizations subject to the Citys ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying laws.

The Senior Staff Attorney is expected to, among other things:

• Give accurate and timely advice to prospective, current, and former City officials on City ethics laws
• Draft formal advisory opinions for issuance by the Board and General Counsel
• Evaluate, draft, and recommend regulatory and legislative changes
• Build and nurture relationships with partners within and outside City government
• Research and analyze complex legal issues
• Facilitate engaging and creative training on City ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance laws to a variety of audiences with the goal of helping them understand legalese with ease
• Develop educational resources and outreach communications
• Provide advice to the regulated community on the campaign finance and lobbying laws administered by the Board

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Commitment to public service and government integrity
• Desire to develop expertise in new areas of law
• Ability to independently prioritize and manage a varied workload
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to listen, answer questions, and explain complex legal requirements
• Ability to deliver effective presentations and training programs for diverse audiences
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work on teams and collaborate with colleagues from other City offices
• Proactive and resourceful problem-solver
• Ability to grasp new concepts quickly across multiple practice areas
• Ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to identify and analyze complex issues and propose viable solutions
• Excellent research skills, including proficiency in electronic legal databases and use of government agency websites to locate statutory, regulatory, and administrative materials
• Strong technology skills, including proficiency in Teams, Zoom, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Acrobat Pro

Required Education and Experience

A minimum of five full years of legal practice experience

Law degree from an accredited law school

Member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar (or eligible for transfer)

Preferred Experience

Seven to ten years of legal practice experience

Experience in a highly regulated industry or other administrative law experience

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

Salary Range: $90,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTAs 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 [emailprotected].

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