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.

The Law Department's Child Welfare Unit (CWU) represents the City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) in all aspects of its work in investigating reports of child abuse and child neglect and providing services to children and families in need. The CWU is a collegial, fast-paced, challenging unit in which attorneys are, with appropriate training and supervision, expected to independently manage their case files from start to finish. 

This position will supervise all legal assistants, senior legal assistants, legal assistant supervisors and support staff in the Child Welfare Unit who report to the Chief Deputy of Administration and Specialty Practice.  The duties include but are not limited to coordinating court team assignments and supervisory structure, assisting with maintaining attendance and ensuring that timesheets and other personnel requests are completed and submitted in a timely fashion, scheduling interviews for both legal and non-legal staff, assisting in onboarding procedures,  tracking/coordinating responses to DHS case file requests and coordinating support staff assignments.  This position with also assist both Chief Counsels in the Child Welfare Unit with other administrative requirements as needed.

Essential Functions

Duties of an Office Manager in the Child Welfare Unit include but are not limited to:

• Schedule meetings and interviews for both Chief Deputies in the Child Welfare Unit
• Maintain unit PTO calendar
• Coordinate on-boarding and office/cubicle assignments for new staff
• Train newly hired legal assistants and support staff on the functions of our Unit and the different systems
  • Case II, HighQ, PFDS, CPCMS, Banner
• Process OnePhilly timesheets
• Fiscal Reporting of CWU data to Law Department Administration
• Oversee and manage the team member(s) in the processing of clerical functions including but not limited to:
• Review all incoming mail
  • Acceptance of service of Complaints and Subpoena
  • Ensure subpoenas are properly served and delivered to DHS Social Workers/employees
  • Forward subpoenas and record requests to assigned paralegals
  • Direct all non-CWU mail to appropriate entities/other law department units
  • Submit payment requests through appropriate channels
  • Coordinate with various City departments
  • Submit OIT requests for SharePoint access and other systems used by the CWU
  • Update CWU database re:
    • Record requests
    • Maintain log of litigation matters filed against DHS and/or CUA
  • Follow-up/communicate with requestors on status of record requests
  • Sending out correspondence
• Oversee and manage the legal assistant supervisors and team member(s) in the processing and filing of legal documents in Dependency Court
• Act as liaison with Court Administration re: filing issues
• Process quarterly reports, and other functions as needed under supervision of the unit’s Chiefs and Chair
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors and associates
• Perform related work as required

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent organizational, customer service, and time management skills
• Effective and professional oral and written communication
• Ability to work independently and think proactively
• Ability to manage and prioritize numerous assignments
• Detail oriented
• Computer skills required/desired for the position include:
  • MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access)
  • Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms)
  • Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets, OpenOffice Calc)
  • Email (mail merge, filters, folders, rules)
  • Case II Database (or alternative Law Department database)
  • Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other virtual platforms

• This position requires five (5) years plus of relevant experience within a legal setting is preferred.
• Candidates must have at a minimum an Associate’s Degree and experience managing/ supervising employees in a legal setting.

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

Salary Range: $72,284 to $81,932 – 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 [email protected].

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