STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Economist

Recruitment #230530-3150AR-001

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Introduction



Are you looking to make a difference on a new and dynamic team? Are you passionate about clean energy and fighting climate change? If so, we have the opportunity for you! 

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has an exciting position available for an energy professional to join our team as an Economist.  This position will join the Utility Performance and Analysis unit within the Office of Technical and Regulatory Analysis located in New Britain, Connecticut. 

This hybrid position is full time on first shift, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
In addition, the State puts an emphasis on:
  • Providing limitless opportunities;
  • Hiring for diversity and fresh perspectives;
  • Performing meaningful work and;
  • Encouraging a healthy work/life balance!
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
PURA has an opportunity for an Economist in its dynamic new Utility Performance and Analysis (UPA) unit which is focused on innovative approaches to realizing Connecticut's public policy goals, including advancing the State's ambitious greenhouse gas emission targets, modernizing utility regulation, and improving public utility performance.  The Economist will support the work of UPA in meeting these goals and in effectuating the agency's Performance-Based Regulation (PBR) Framework and Equitable Modern Grid (EMG) initiative. 

Through the EMG initiative, PURA has developed new programs such as the Energy Storage Solutions Program and the Electric Vehicle Charging Program, and is currently working to advance innovative approaches to deploy novel technologies, improve the integration and interconnection of distributed energy resources, provide opportunities for non-wires solutions to replace traditional poles and wires, and increase grid resilience and equitable outcomes for all ratepayers. 

The Economist will also assist PURA in implementing its PBR Framework for the state's electric distribution utilities or companies (EDCs).  The PBR proceedings are a comprehensive review of Connecticut's EDC regulatory approach with the potential to transform EDC incentives and business models to ensure alignment with the public interest and policy goals.

Duties specific to this position include:  
  • Conducting rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis of utility, energy, and economic datasets.
  • Documenting analysis methodologies used and findings discovered to communicate insights to agency leadership, docket participants, and the public.
  • Managing projects including but not limited to, gathering of and analysis of record evidence, advancing docket priorities and timelines, producing deliverables in support of Authority objectives.
  • Producing written deliverables – such as internal briefs and memos, external docket communications, PowerPoint presentations, and others – to communicate analysis findings, docket process and objectives, and regulatory decisions.
  • Collaborating in a positive and effective manner with Authority staff at all levels of the agency. 
ABOUT US
PURA is a quasi-judicial agency that implements the State’s energy, climate, and infrastructure policies through its regulation of Connecticut's investor-owned utilities and its jurisdiction over competitive energy and telecommunications markets.  The Authority is statutorily-charged with ensuring the State’s electric, natural gas, water, and telecommunications public service companies provide safe, clean, reliable, and affordable utility service and infrastructure to the public.  PURA’s mission is essential to advancing the State’s energy, economic, and environmental goals and is critical to maintaining public health and a robust economy.

PURA interprets and applies statutes and regulations governing all aspects of Connecticut’s utility sector. 

Among other things, PURA:
  • Sets the rates charged by investor-owned utilities,
  • Advances the modernization of the electric distribution system,
  • Implements federal requirements for natural gas pipeline safety, 
  • Ensures adequate water system infrastructure investments, 
  • Reviews mergers and acquisitions,
  • Provides education and outreach for consumers, and;
  • Regulates the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure.

             

Selection Plan

TO APPLY
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AFTER YOU APPLY
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Benjamin Beaudry at Benjamin.Beaudry@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in economics.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Acts as a working level economic specialist in a state agency on economic matters;
  • Assists in the planning, development and improvement of business and commerce in the state;
  • Conducts economic studies including research and analysis in industrial, commercial, labor, financial and regulatory areas to develop data related to programs or services of the agency assigned and formulates recommendations concerning these studies;
  • Conducts and reviews cost/benefit analyses on economic development programs;
  • Studies trends in labor and/or business activity and its components;
  • Researches and provides oral and written reports;
  • Researches and provides testimony on legislative proposals;
  • Develops procedures and econometric tests for improved monitoring of financial institutions;
  • Participates in economic model building and forecasting;
  • May perform studies of corporate expansion into Connecticut including site location, fiscal incentives, utilities rates and labor market skills availability;
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Knowledge of
    • advanced economic theory and analysis;
    • principles, techniques and factors involved in financial and/or regulatory economic development;
    • urban and regional economics;
    • methods and techniques of inferential statistics and econometric modeling;
  • Skills
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills;
  • Ability to
    • develop programs and use prepackaged computer programs to perform economic, statistical and econometric analysis;
    • perform varied assignments on economic matters;
    • organize and conduct economic studies and surveys.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of professional experience in applied economics or economic research.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training in economics or a closely related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equallling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
  • A Master's degree in economics or in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
  • A doctoral degree in economics or closely related fields may be substituted for two (2) additional years of the General Experience.
  • Successful completion of a Connecticut Careers Trainee program approved by the Department of Administrative Services may be substituted for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • A bachelor's degree in economics, political science, engineering, finance, or environmental studies;
  • An advanced degree in economics, business administration, public policy, renewable energy, environmental studies, climate change, public utility regulation, or finance;
  • Experience working in utility economics, energy economics, utility regulation, or management consulting;
  • Experience working on utility grid modernization initiatives, deployment of clean and renewable energy programs or climate change policy;
  • Experience writing technical reports, white papers, position papers, policy papers or academic articles for a general audience that provide conclusions or recommendations supported by documented evidence;
  • Experience conducting quantitative analysis using utility economic datasets including but not limited to, energy production and usage data, company financial statements, or utility rate and billing data;
  • Experience managing two or more projects simultaneously, while adhering to deadlines and fulfilling project objectives;
  • Experience collaborating with colleagues across disciplines, building relationships;
  • Experience using Microsoft Office 365 applications.

Conclusion

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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.




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