2J52
PAY RANGE: EP23
GENERAL DEFINITION
This is legislative and regulatory affairs advisory and liaison work managing directly, or through a subordinate analyst, the monitoring of local, state, regional and federal legislation and regulatory initiatives that impact upon the policies, plans and operations of a department. Work includes interpreting such legislation for departmental review and developing position statements and strategies to respond to and influence key legislation and regulatory initiatives. The employee in this class functions as advisor to the departmental officials on legislative and regulatory matters, and serves as liaison to City Council in drafting legislation and overseeing its introduction and subsequent passage. An important aspect of the work involves planning, developing and implementing programs to improve customer relations which includes providing information and services to water and wastewater customers and the general public through customer information services, customer assistance policies and programs, public relations, and educational programs. Establishing and maintaining communication and working relationships with federal and state regulatory agency officials and local, state and federal legislators, representing the Department on various councils and committees, and conducting regular briefings for legislators and their staff on issues of importance to the department are significant aspects of the work. Work is performed under the direction of an administrative superior.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)
1. The position must direct the department's legislative and regulatory affairs program.
2. The position must be responsible for monitoring local, state, regional and federal legislation and initiatives that impact upon the policies, plans and operations of the department.
3. Only one position may be allocated to this class per department.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
Manages directly, or through subordinate analysts, the monitoring of federal, state, regional and local governments for legislative and regulatory initiatives affecting departmental concerns; directs the activities of staff specialists engaged in eliciting the concerns, needs and interests of civic and special interest groups and intra‑governmental agencies; prepares written or oral reports interpreting and detailing relevant legislative and regulatory developments for departmental review; proposes appropriate strategy for response to legislation and regulatory initiatives in order to influence and advance the interests of the City; implements strategies in concert with City officials and departmental personnel; advises departmental personnel on all legislative and regulatory matters governing the area of concern; reviews and critiques reports, speeches, administrative statements and testimony for department officials; may interface with the news media.
Develops the Department's policy and prepares position papers on key legislation and regulations at the state, federal, regional and local levels; organizes and leads departmental policy groups to analyze and gather comments on proposed legislation; develops departmental responses to major long‑term regulatory initiatives; represents the Department's position as a member of national and state industry and intra‑governmental groups, as requested by the Commissioner.
Drafts local government legislation in the interest of the Department and supervises its introduction and passage in City Council; functions as the Department's liaison to City Council in relation to maintaining an information network; establishes and builds communications and working relationships with members of Congress, other officials, and lobbying agencies at the federal, state, regional and local governmental levels; conducts regular briefings for legislators and their staff on issues of importance to the Department; provides similar liaison with interagency and community groups explaining the Department's legislative programs and objectives; establishes and maintains working relationships with state and federal regulatory agencies.
Develops, organizes and coordinates the activities of regional and advisory councils; coordinates the presentation of current and proposed departmental plans, operations and policies to the advisory Councils; communicates the advisory councils' recommendations to the Department; manages the Department's responses.
Assists the customer requests and intervention for Commerce, the Mayor’s Office of Business Services, and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation that may range from metering discrepancies to customized payment agreements with the Water Revenue Bureau.
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with customers; serves as a primary contact for commercial customers; visits commercial facilities; assists commercial customers with applying to (SWAP) Stormwater Assistant Program; explains SWAP fees and services to customers; confers with business customers regarding specific problems with the Water Department or Water Revenue Bureau and arrange for the resolutions of discrepancies and deficiencies; interprets and explains Water Department rules, regulations and procedures to business customers; coordinates the preparation of new and updated informative materials for business customers of Water Department programs.
Educates businesses and the general public on the Stormwater Parcel-Based billing system; develops literature and coordinates business and community meetings to inform customers about billing changes; serves as first level contact to customers regarding new billing system issues and for appeals related to stormwater charges.; meets with divisions and units within the Water Department to help develop Stormwater related policies and regulations.
Administers the water conservation assistance program; meets with clients to determine cost saving measures; provides water conservation education to customers; handles all correspondence inquires related to the program; manages subcontractors for the program by approving all work plans, reports, advertising materials, and invoices submitted and all plumbing, conservation, and educational materials recommended by the subcontractors.
Performs related work as required.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
· the principles, precedents and practices of local, state, regional and federal legislation and regulations which affect the activities of concern
· the operations, functions and structures of legislative bodies and regulatory agencies
· the methods and techniques of interpreting, analyzing and critiquing governmental legislation and regulations
· the principles and practices utilized in notifying interest groups and the public of proposed legislation and regulatory mandates
· the methods, practices and techniques of monitoring governmental legislative and regulatory agendas and identifying those initiatives that impact upon local governmental agencies
· the methods, techniques and practices of drafting and introducing local legislation to local governing bodies
· the methods, techniques and practices used in briefing legislators, regulatory officials and lobbying personnel at all levels of government on matters of importance to the department
· water conservation principles and practices
· water and wastewater billing practices and procedures
· customer relations principles and practices used in the preparation and dissemination of informational and educational materials regarding the Stormwater Parcel-Based billing system
ABILITY TO:
· supervise analysts engaged in monitoring and analyzing governmental legislation and regulations that impact upon the City's water utility
· simplify the text of governmental legislation and regulation for departmental comprehension and review
· function as liaison between the department and other governments and their officials
· develop position papers and strategies to advance the interests of the department with key governmental legislators and their support staff and lobbying officials and to influence proposed legislation and regulations that affect the operations of the department
· advise the department on water utility legislative and regulatory matters
· oversee the passage of local legislation
· represent the department on various local, state, regional and federal utility councils
· develop and manage lobbying contracts
· organize and manage an advisory council within the local community
· review and resolve customer appeals of storm water charges
· review plans, reports and invoices submitted by contractors
· establish and maintain effective working relationships with local, state, regional and federal governmental officials and their staff, lobbying agencies, regulatory agencies, professional associates, other departments, businesses, and the general public
· present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
· participate in departmental policy and decision making processes.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 4/91.)
EDUCATION:
Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Three years of legislative and administrative liaison experience.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:
Two years of experience monitoring or drafting local, state, regional and federal legislation and regulatory initiatives and developing strategies and responses to major regulatory and legislative issues.
Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources that has included completion of a bachelor's degree program as an educational minimum and the specific experience described above.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
Class Established: 2/88
Spec. Rev.
CSC - 1/92; Ad. Board - 2/92
Latest Spec. Rev.
CSC - 6/12; Ad. Board - 7/12
SRM