SENIOR ASSOCIATE COUNSEL - 66039

Executive Service

The starting salary for the appointee will depend on the individual's experience.

Applicants should submit a cover letter of no more than 500 words, resume, and three professional references and upload it to the application. All materials should be combined into a single PDF file. Some applicants may be asked to provide a persuasive writing sample.

For more information, visit the link below:

https://www.tn.gov/tpuc.html

The Commission operates under a hybrid working arrangement that includes in-office presence and some opportunity for remote work flexibility.

Who we are and what we do:

The Tennessee Public Utility Commission (Commission) seeks an experienced attorney interested in public service to join the Commission as a Senior Associate Counsel. This position reports to and works at the direction of the General Counsel. A Senior Associate Counsel at the Commission should expect to work closely with executive-level directors, policy experts, regulatory analysts, and professionals in a variety of fields.

The Commission is the regulatory body created by the General Assembly to provide general supervisory and regulatory oversight over all aspects of Tennessee's privately-owned natural and methane gas, electric, telephone, water, and wastewater public utilities. In addition, commission personnel mediate complaints against utility service providers and provide consumer-focused outreach.

The Gas Safety Division exercises delegated federal authority to inspect all intrastate pipelines and enforces federal and state safety law. Finally, Commission staff also provide administrative and investigative support to the 17-member Underground Utility Damage Enforcement Board (Board).

Job Overview:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide ongoing legal support to General Counsel and internal agency divisions and program areas.
• Review and analyze utility petitions and evidence that includes financial, accounting, engineering, and other technical data and issues related to public utilities.
• Provide expert legal advice and recommendations on complex, technical, and financial matters related to public utility regulation and other matters entrusted to the Commission by the General Assembly.
• Research, interpret, and prepare both written opinions on a wide variety of relevant legal issues, including the impact of statutes, rules, legislation, ratemaking policy, and decisions of the Commission on agency operations, policies, and precedent.
• Represent and defend the Commission, Board, their members, and staff in their official capacities in trial court litigation before the various Tennessee courts including courts of appeal, and at times before the Commission or Board itself.
• Draft agency orders, memorandums, pleadings, appellate briefs, policies and procedures, regulations, and other legal documents, clearly and accurately within time-sensitive deadlines.
• Prepare and give verbal opinions and presentations in multiple settings (open meetings, court, legislature, regulatory associations, etc.), as the opportunity arises; and
• Additional related duties and projects as position requires.

DEMONSTRATED SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Adherence to the highest standards of personal and professional integrity, judgment, and conduct.
• Skilled in working as a member of a team, aptitude to work in a collaborative, collegial, and respectful manner, and ability to maintain positive, professional interactions with outside counsel and public officials.
• In-depth knowledge or demonstrated ability to master complex technical, financial, and economic concepts, such as those inherent to public utility regulation and related legal developments.
• Self-starter requiring general to minimal supervision with proficiency to achieve stated objectives while managing varied, competing matters and projects.
• Experience and high-level proficiency drafting legal documents including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Superior oral communication and public speaking skills.

Minimum Qualifications:

The applicant must be a licensed Tennessee attorney in good standing with 5+ years full-time relevant legal experience, preferably with experience in state or federal administrative law, administrative hearings, or litigation related to regulation and general civil matters.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws