Description

Position Summary

The Law Department’s Tax Unit seeks to hire a Senior Legal Assistant to work with Tax Unit attorneys and Revenue department staff in the day-to-day management and oversight of the City’s professional collection services contracts.  The Department presently has eight (8) collection contracts.  The Senior Legal Assistant’s place of work will be the Collections Unit of the Department of Revenue.  The Senior Legal Assistant will have dual reporting responsibilities to the Chief Revenue Counsel and to the Deputy Revenue Commissioner for Collections.

As the Senior Legal Assistant masters the primary position responsibilities for professional collection services contracts, the managers will assign other duties and projects to the legal assistant as may be feasible.

Essential Functions

The functions listed below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this role. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or essential functions. Duties may be modified, assigned, or reassigned as operational needs evolve, consistent with applicable law.

• Create, oversee, evaluate and amend contracts; monitor contracts for conformance.
• Help to establish controls for accounting, processing of invoices including approvals, monitoring and reporting.
• Serve as liaison between high level officials/department heads, executive vendors, and others to facilitate disputes and resolutions in the City’s interest.
• Collaborate with collection agencies regarding customer needs, data sharing, increased revenue, reduced costs, contract conformance and improved communications.
• Monitor and compare collection agency performance.
• Develop statistical reporting and communicate findings to allow stakeholders to better monitor and strategize collection efforts.
• Supervise staff of three (3) employees.

Requirements

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Familiarity with contracts required
• Excellent written and oral communication
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Ability to work in a demanding and fast-paced setting
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse team members
• Experience with Word and its redlining function required
• Experience with DocuSign preferred
• Ability to learn promptly to use custom City applications (ACIS and APMS) required

Qualifications (Education and Experience)

Preferred candidate will possess a Bachelor’s degree, paralegal certificate or equivalent and have three or more years’ experience in a legal setting, preferably in a law firm or an in-house legal department. 

Work Location & Onsite Expectations

This position is designated as fully onsite and employees are expected to report in person five (5) days per week, in accordance with the City Policy. Regular on-site presence is an operational requirement of this role.

Who Thrives in This Role

This position is well-suited for candidates who are adaptable, collaborative, comfortable making decisions in real time, and able to manage competing priorities while maintaining a high standard of professionalism in a fast-paced, in-person environment.

Additional Information 

Did you know?

• 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 are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer
• 25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities.
• 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. 

Interested candidates should apply through SmartRecruiters: https://smrtr.io/yjw8q 

Any questions related to this position should be directed to Frances Beckley, Chief Counsel to the Revenue Department (frances.beckley@phila.gov). 

The successful candidate must be a resident of the City of Philadelphia within 6 months of hire.

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