Job Description

This recruitment is open to Alaska residents.

The Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development,

Regulatory Commission of Alaska

Is recruiting for a Hearing Examiner 1

located in Anchorage!
What you will be doing:
Hearing Examiner 1\'s or HE1s manage and preside over public utility matters before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA), including granting certificates, approving utility rates, services, and practices, investigating consumer complaints, and promulgating rules and regulations for utilities. The primary duty of HE1s is to draft RCA orders based on hearings, staff memorandums, Commission adjudication meetings, and independent research. HE1s are responsible for control of the procedural schedule and preside over any required evidentiary hearings or conferences.

Our organization, mission, and culture:
The RCA regulates electric utilities, water and wastewater utilities, refuse utilities, and gas distribution and utility pipelines by certifying qualified providers of services and ensuring that utilities provide safe and adequate services and facilities at just and reasonable rates, terms, and conditions. The RCA communicates with utilities and the public primarily through orders and other written documents and HE1s are responsible for drafting clear, accurate, and legally permissible language in those communications. As licensed attorneys, HE1s are also responsible for determining the legal impacts of statutes and regulations in dockets.

The benefit of joining our team:
RCA matters encompass a broad range of knowledge and disciplines including administrative law, engineering, finance and economics, telecommunications, and government/public policy. Matters proceed on long timelines keeping workloads manageable and consistent. Healthcare, retirement, and partial telework are available.

The working conditions you can expect:
The RCA is located in downtown Anchorage at the former Conoco Phillips building. This position has a private office. The office environment is professional but relaxed and allows for a healthy work life balance. Telecommuting will be made available on a part time basis upon a showing of competency and dependability. The telework is accomplished via Microsoft Teams, phone, and email. Long statutory timelines and the ability to plan allows for vacation/leave time and outside commitments

Most days are filled with small to medium length tasks, e.g. reviewing filings and orders, communicating with staff and commissioners, drafting short 1-10 page orders, with occasional larger and longer drafting requirements up to 100 pages or more. Being organized and planning ahead is essential to meeting deadlines. HE1s manage dockets independently and have an assigned paralegal to assist them.

We are looking for these position specific knowledge skills and abilities addressed in your cover letter (please see cover letter instructions listed below):

The RCA regulations and procedures are unique. Preference will be given to candidates who have previous experience in the utility industry or administrative law or state agency law and candidates who are strong writers. Fundamental finance, economics, accounting, and science/engineering knowledge is also useful. There is a significant learning curve so an interest in the subject matter and a willingness to learn are most important.

A large portion of the position involves writing and drafting orders and communications, and those are all reviewed by at least one other HE1s in the section before issuing. Therefore, strong writing and editing skills are desired. HE1s must be able to incorporate multiple written sources and verbal discussions/adjudications into a single document that cohesively encapsulates the RCA\'s thoughts and decisions in a consistent form and format. All RCA communications are reviewed by multiple people, so the ability to take and give constructive feedback is important.

Docket management is the other large portion of the position. HE1s must be highly organized and punctual. HE1s oversee the procedural posture of matters including scheduling and filing deadlines. Dockets have hard, statutory deadlines and involve multiple rounds of prefiled testimony and exhibits and subsequent discovery, prior to a hearing. Dockets often resolve by other means so hearings are infrequent and usually last 3-10 days, occasionally longer. When hearings occur, they often involve large amounts of technical documents and testimony which the HE1 (with the court reporter and paralegals) is responsible for organizing and entering into the record.

Minimum Qualifications

Admitted to practice law in Alaska or eligible for admission by reciprocity;

AND

Two years of legal or quasi-judicial experience.

Special Notes:

1) A successful candidate eligible for admission to the Alaska Bar Association by reciprocity must seek admission on motion prior to appointment.

2) Some positions may require being admitted to practice law for at least two-years prior to appointment due to statutory compliance. Positions with this requirement must be stated in the recruitment bulletin.

Some positions in this job class are in the Partially Exempt Service under AS 39.25.120(c)(18) or other applicable statute(s).

Additional Required Information

**PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS & INFORMATION CAREFULLY**
Cover Letter Instructions:
Provide a professionally written cover letter that articulates: * Why you are interested in the position; and

• What you would bring to the position, specifically addressing each position-specific knowledge, skills and abilities listed above.

Please attach the cover letter to your application before submitting it online or, if unable to attach to your application, email it to the contact provided in the job posting (if email is not an option, please call the contact person to obtain a fax number). Since writing is an important part of this position, the cover letter will be used as a writing sample. Applicants who fails to submit a professionally written cover letter, and does not address each of the position-specific competencies, will not progress to the interview stage.

Documents to be Attached to the Application:

• Current, complete and professional resume;
• If you do not have 5 years of legal work experience please include transcripts from an accredited law school;
• Two (2) Writing Samples (in addition to the cover letter).

Documents Needed at the Time of Interview:
If you are selected to advance to the interview phase of the recruitment process, you must provide the following at the time of the interview:

• Copies of your most recent three (3) evaluations; and
• Three (3) professional references who have had supervisory responsibility over you along with their daytime contact phone numbers.

Education:
If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position. Transcripts must be attached at the time the application is submitted.

Multiple Vacancies:
This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

EEO Statement:
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

Contact Information:
If you have questions regarding Workplace Alaska, the application process and/or problems being able to submit your application or attachments online, please call the Workplace Alaska hotline at 800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465- 4095. If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the \'govermentjobs.com\' domains.

For information on allowing emails from the \'governmentjobs.com\' domains, visit the Lost Password Help page located at

Contact Information

For specific information in reference to the position please contact the hiring manager:

Hiring Manager: Jeffrey Davis

Title: Hearing Examiner 2

Email:

Government Jobs