Energy and Environmental Protection Office Director (Legal)

At the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), we are dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment- and increasing the availability of cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is statutorily charged with regulating the rates and services of Connecticut's investor owned electric, natural gas, water and telecommunication companies and is the franchising authority for the state's cable television companies.  Ensuring affordable and reliable service from these sectors is critical to maintaining public health and safety and a thriving economy in the state of Connecticut.  PURA is statutorily charged with regulating many aspects of Connecticut's utility sector, including but not limited to: ensuring the prudence of electric system modernization, natural gas system expansion and water system infrastructure investments, reviewing mergers and acquisitions in all the above regulated sectors, conducting periodic utility rate cases, overseeing service quality, safety, and investment for the state's telecommunications infrastructure, and implementing federal requirements for natural gas pipeline safety.

PURA currently has a job opportunity for an Energy and Environmental Protection Office Director (Legal).The Office Director (Legal) manages all aspects of the PURA Legal Program, including management and supervision of Adjudications, Intergovernmental Matters, Ethics and Governmental Accountability, and PURA Case Coordinators. 

The position will be located at Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT.

This position is 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Applicants must include a resume within the "Resume Tab" of their application. 

Questions about this position should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: Anne.Dana@ct.gov, (860)424-3354.

This position is non-examined. Open to the public.

Candidates invited to interview will have to provide three (3) professional references. 

Candidates currently employed by the state will be asked to provide their last two performance appraisals

 

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection this class is accountable for the direction of the staff and programs of an office.

Performs a variety of difficult, complex and sensitive legal work; researches and advises Commissioner and senior level staff on matters pertaining to legislation, regulations, enforcement, administrative procedures and adjudication; drafts legislation and regulations; conducts hearings and prepares decisions; coordinates and negotiates resolution of enforcement actions; assists staff and Office of Attorney General with court preparation; acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies, municipal, state and federal governments; provides assistance to staff in regard to enforcement issues and orders and civil penalties; directs staff and operations of office; determines priorities and coordinates, plans and manages activities; formulates office goals and objectives and ensures implementation of same; reviews and evaluates effectiveness of established or proposed policies and/or programs assessing options and developing recommendations for improvement; conducts performance evaluations; prepares reports and correspondence; recommends policy; drafts policy statements and regulations; prepares or assists in development of office budget; performs related duties as required.

Specific responsibilities of the this position include, but are not limited to:

Conducts complex and sensitive legal analysis associated with all matters coming before PURA.

Directs the work of the PURA Director and staff of Adjudications, conducts performance evaluations, formulates goals and objectives and ensure implementation of the same, and coordinates staff training and assistance to ensure superior and consistent quality of legal support and administrative procedures across PURA Adjudications.

Directly advises the Chair of PURA on difficult, complex, and sensitive legal issues related to policies, statutes, regulations, and decisions necessary to implement present and future agency goals and objectives, including drafting language, analyzing legal and fiscal impacts, and negotiating final policies, statutes, and regulations with appropriate stakeholders.

Supports PURA participation in regional and federal energy policy matters, including in public proceedings concerning the electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications sectors over which PURA has jurisdiction. Such matters may arise before the Federal Energy Regulatory Authority (FERC), the Federal Department of Energy (U.S. DOE), and with the Independent System Operator, New England (ISO-NE), the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL), the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE), and other public proceedings involving legal and technical issues.

Assists the Chair of PURA in the negotiation of complex regulatory matters and enforcement cases, and recommends to the Chair of PURA resolutions and settlements to such cases including stipulated orders and penalties.

Assists and directs staff in matters involving the Attorney General, the Connecticut Siting Council, other governmental entities, and other legal matters as assigned by Chair of PURA.

Makes recommendations to the Chair of PURA on legal issues involved in new policy initiatives.

Conducts hearings on contested cases taking into consideration pertinent laws and precedent decisions and rules of practice under the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act (UAPA).

Ensures agency compliance with ethics, records and freedom of information laws and regulations. 

 

Considerable knowledge of relevant environmental, energy, and conservation programs, laws and regulations; considerable knowledge of environmental protection and energy principles, practices and issues; knowledge of administrative law; skill in researching and preparing matters involving contested cases; ability to comprehend and interpret complex laws and regulations; knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to apply relevant agency policies and procedures; ability to initiate and direct programs; analytical, negotiating and organizational skills.

 

Four (4) years of experience in the practice of law including administrative law with some responsibility for research, development, planning and review of legislative and /or regulatory programs.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been responsible for performing energy or environmental protection work.

Experience in NEPOOL/ISO/FERC tariffs and grid modernization;

Knowledge of energy, water, telecommunications, and/or utility law; 

Knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; 

Knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut; 

Knowledge of the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act, FOI, ethics, the Code of Judicial Conduct, and civil procedures; 

Knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation;

Knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; Knowledge of the rules of evidence; 

Knowledge of the legislative process; 

Ability to apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statutes; 

Ability to comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases; 

Training or coursework covering project planning, problem solving, and coordination of multiple administrative tasks to meet specified project deadlines.

Incumbents in this class must be a member of the Connecticut Bar.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.