Nutter's spokesman expected to take Philadelphia Gas Works job

There's a homecoming in the works for Doug Oliver.

Mayor Nutter's spokesman since the 2008 inauguration, Oliver is expected soon to announce that he is leaving the administration for a senior-level job with the Philadelphia Gas Works - where he worked for more than three years before the mayor took office.

Oliver would not comment Thursday except to say, "I'm serving as the mayor's press secretary. If there is something to say, there will be an announcement."

Oliver, who is paid about $114,000 a year, oversees a five-person staff.

One of the most visible members of Nutter's inner circle, the 35-year-old Oliver has been a steady presence in an administration that has confronted crises including police deaths, a recession, and feuds with independent city agencies such as the Board of Revision of Taxes.

At city-owned PGW, Oliver served as director of corporate communications. Before that, he worked as the press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. Oliver also has an MBA from St. Joseph's University.

"We all have tremendous respect for Doug," said Steven P. Hershey, vice president of regulatory and external affairs at PGW.

Other high-profile officials who have left the administration include Camille Barnett, who resigned June 30 as managing director with no immediate plans, and Andrew Altman, who left as commerce director and deputy mayor for planning and economic development last year to move to London to help with development in that city after the 2012 Summer Olympics.