Commission Policy Advisor

State of Oregon • Salem, OR

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Join the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) for an opportunity to shape Oregon’s evolving energy landscape! The PUC leads the state’s efforts to transform our energy systems to provide clean, safe, reliable, and equitable utility services at affordable rates. The regulated energy, telecommunications, and water sectors are rapidly changing due to shifts in consumption and growth, regional markets, and state and federal policy changes. At the forefront of it all in Oregon is the PUC. To help understand the many dynamics at play and consider policy options related to these changes, the PUC seeks a Commission Policy Advisor to support the work of our three Commissioners. The advisor will work out of the PUC’s Executive Office and will provide strategic, policy, and technical advice to Commissioners and the executive leadership of the agency. The Commission Advisor will have insight and exposure to the real-time evolution of regulatory and business issues affecting providers of energy, telecommunications, and water services. We are seeking a professional who is interested in providing expertise, support, and advice to agency decision-makers, and helping lead efforts to understand the impacts of emerging policy and technology changes on industries regulated by the PUC. About the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC): The PUC sets utility rates and terms of service through broad delegated legislative powers and must balance the interests and rights of multiple organizations and individuals representing divergent and conflicting business, consumer, and public interests. Investor-owned utilities currently receive approximately $4 billion in revenues annually from 2.9 million Oregon consumers. The PUC’s decisions on individual issues may be more than $100 million in annual revenues paid by Oregon consumers. The PUC receives no General or Lottery funds and instead is funded through a dedicated per-month fee on regulated natural gas, electric, telecommunication, and water utility bills. Our mission is to ensure Oregonians have access to safe, reliable and fairly priced utility services that advance state policy and promote the public interest. We use an inclusive process to evaluate differing viewpoints and visions of the public interest and arrive at balanced, well-reasoned, independent decisions supported by fact and law. More information about the PUC can be found online at: www.oregon.gov/PUC. What you will do as Commission Policy Advisor: Assist an individual Commissioner by providing advice on a wide range of policy and regulatory issues. The Commission Policy Advisor assists the Commissioner, and the agency’s executive leadership in creating policy for the Commission by analyzing all pertinent issues and information regarding the impact of proposed policy on the provision of services to customers of regulated utilities, analyzing and reviewing options, considering the resources necessary to implement policy in order to ensure the efficient and effective provision of utility regulation.

Requirements

• A skilled professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Engineering or a closely related field, and four years of professional-level work experience in Public Policy, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Engineering.
• OR Seven years of work experience in Public Policy, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or a closely related field; four of which must have been at a professional level.
• A Master's degree in Public Policy, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or a closely-related field, will substitute for one year of the professional-level work experience.
• A Juris Doctorate or a Doctoral degree in Public Policy, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or a closely-related field, will substitute for two years of the professional-level work experience.

Nice To Haves

• A Juris Doctorate, or a graduate-level degree in Public Policy, Economics, or a closely related field.
• Work experience developing public policies affecting energy utility operations and regulation.
• Work experience performing special studies by independently conducting examinations and policy analyses of energy utility-related issues, or proposed courses of action, as requested by the policy makers or senior corporate personnel.
• Work experience preparing legislative (or other) reports, background information, and position papers for use by policy makers in testifying before the Legislature or other bodies.
• Professional-level work experience developing written comments intended to inform or influence the decision makers of an organization and subsequent experience delivering oral presentations explaining your findings, responding to questions, and defending the analytical or quantitative methods you applied to reach your conclusions.
• Professional-level work experience overseeing complex and overlapping projects that required: guiding and mentoring assigned employees; developing project schedules; coordinating internal and external resources; reviewing the written product of others; working in partnership with legal resources; facilitating conversation with, and amongst, stakeholders; and evaluating compliance and/or best practices with established State and/or Federal statutory requirements.
• Work experience with a public utility commission, energy utility provider, regulated utility, or energy-focused consumer advocacy organization.
• Work experience that demonstrates the ability to convene and facilitate conversations with parties or people who have diverse perspectives.
• Work experience assessing costs and benefits of actions by Northwest Power Planning Council, Western Climate Initiative, or other federal, regional and state organizations on electric and natural gas utilities.

Responsibilities

• Helps inform Commission decision-making by serving as a policy advisor, and ensures Commissioners have information necessary to make informed, well-developed decisions.
• Assesses the impact of proposed legislation, executive orders, and federal policy changes with considerable utility policy implications.
• Evaluates, through study, major legislative proposals.
• Makes recommendations on impacts of legislation to ensure key components of legislation are clear and actionable by the Commission.
• Completes objectives by participating in seminars, conferences, and workshops; and by the use of qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze information from research to develop relevant policies.
• May direct task groups assigned to particular research projects and coordinate studies with utility company personnel.
• Monitors and tracks Commissioner and docket calendars, helping keep Commissioners apprised of upcoming events and deadlines for decision.

Benefits

• If you are hired, you will become a critical part of an important state agency at a dynamic time.
• Play a crucial role in protecting Oregonian ratepayers and achieving climate objectives set for the agency by the legislature, while balancing the competing demands of utilities and stakeholders.
• Utilize your skills and serve as expert resource within the Commission’s executive office.
• Colleagues who are innovative and passionate about public service.
• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and a competitive benefits package.
• Advancement and learning opportunities that will help grow your career with the State of Oregon.
• Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level