ECMC - Enforcement Advisor (Compliance Specialist IV)

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) regulates the development and production of Colorado's natural resources, including oil and gas, geothermal energy, and carbon capture and storage. The ECMC's mission is to do so in a way that protects the environment, public health, safety, and welfare. The Enforcement Unit exists to ensure that the exploration for and development of Colorado's oil and gas and deep geothermal resources, and the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide, is done safely and in a manner that protects public health, safety, welfare, the environment, and wildlife resources. ECMC rules are designed to ensure these potentially dangerous activities are conducted in the safest manner possible and the Enforcement Unit brings non-compliant operators back into compliance as quickly as possible while providing technical knowledge and guidance to the regulated community, ECMC Staff, and external stakeholders. If compliance cannot be reached through outreach, training, or the issuance of corrective actions or warning letters, a notice of alleged violation (“NOAV”) is issued to formally demand compliance. NOAVs initiate a formal hearing process managed by the Enforcement Unit. The team includes enforcement advisors, enforcement supervisors, an NOAV Specialist, and the unit manager. The purpose of the Enforcement Advisor position is to engage in negotiations to bring non-compliant operators into compliance as quickly as possible, and/or determine what corrective actions or penalties are required to remedy any damage to public health, safety, welfare, the environment, and wildlife resources due to operator non-compliance. This position litigates allegations of non-compliance identified by other ECMC staff through negotiated settlements and contested hearings, assembling and leading teams of subject matter experts and lawyers. This position serves as a Work Lead for enforcement actions brought by the Engineering Unit to ensure accuracy, consistency, and timeliness where non-compliance is identified by that team.

Requirements

Seven (7) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position OR A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to seven (7) years.
Experience and/or education related to reading, writing, interpreting and applying legal documents, regulations, statutes, etc.

Nice To Haves

Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
Knowledge and/or experience with Colorado oil and gas industry, including current rules and regulations.
Knowledge and/or experience with ECMC rules, regulations, and regulatory processes.
Law degree from an accredited institution.
Excellent legal writing and legal research skills.
Professional experience participating in trials and hearings.
Demonstrable experience in negotiations, including crafting and memorializing settlements.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, to include public speaking.
Experience managing multiple projects with differing deadlines in order to meet agency needs.
Experience negotiating and/or enforcing legal agreements.

Responsibilities

Prepare notices for hearing, draft Administrative Orders by Consent (AOC’s), manage enforcement cases from beginning to end, directly negotiate AOCs to resolution and prepare settlement documents to resolve enforcement actions.
Works with the operator (or its attorney) and ECMC staff to ensure that all violations by the operator are well-documented, that the appropriate corrective action and penalty assessed are included, and that any additional information that can be provided by the operator is incorporated into the final AOC.
Will identify witnesses and exhibits, prepare witnesses, prepare direct and cross examination, prepare opening and closing statements, and prepare draft and final Commission enforcement orders.
Assist and consult with management to provide technical staff operational guidance and direction on the ECMC enforcement and compliance program and the issuance of Notices of Alleged Violation (NOAVs).
Work with engineering, environmental, compliance, permitting, production, and financial assurance units to implement a consistent approach to compliance and the initiation of enforcement actions by issuance of NOAV’s.
Training, preparing process flow documents, determining enforcement priorities, reviewing existing and draft NOAVs, operator outreach regarding systemic or discrete compliance issues, preparing penalty calculations, project managing a warning process with another unit, or preparing suggested regulatory and statutory changes that would improve the enforcement process.
Works with ECMC staff to assess compliance issues ranging from field operations, to environmental impacts, to un-submitted paperwork and ensures that when an enforcement matter is initiated against an oil and gas operator, all other aspects of its operations are assessed so that any additional violations are included in any enforcement action taken.
Other Duties Assigned.

Benefits

Medical, Vision and Dental plans
Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
Employee Wellness programs
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Accounts
11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program