GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Under direction of the Chief of Staff or other supervisory position, assists the BPU’s Office of Government Affairs in tracking legislation, preparing BPU communications with elected officials and on legislative matters, and responding to legislative, local government, and constituent inquiries.

Coordinates with BPU technical staff and BPU Counsel’s Office to obtain feedback on proposed or pending New Jersey state legislation; drafts comments and proposed bill revisions; communicates with legislators, legislative staff, and stakeholders regarding BPU’s positions.

Performs research on legislation, regulations, and policies of federal, state, and local governments in connection with BPU’s programmatic and policy needs.

WORK RESPONSIBILITIES
Supports the work of the Office of General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs with respect to the development and review of legislation and regulations.

Reviews bills and drafts legislative proposals related to matters under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Utilities.

Prepares memoranda summarizing and analyzing legislation, regulations, and policies of federal, state, and local governments pertaining to BPU programs and policy initiatives; provides advice to BPU President, BPU Senior Staff, and BPU Government Affairs staff on legislative matters.

In consultation with the President and BPU Senior Staff, and with input from BPU technical divisions and BPU Counsel’s Office, communicates and coordinates with Governor’s Office, other state agencies, legislators, and legislative staff about proposed and pending legislation.

Prepares or directs the preparation of agency legislative testimony and agency written communication in response to legislative, local government, and constituent inquiries and regarding legal and regulatory aspects of BPU programs.

Assists BPU Government Affairs in tracking legislation, preparing BPU communications with elected officials and on legislative matters, and responding to legislative, local government, and constituent inquiries.

Supervises development of BPU rules and regulations as Administrative Practice Officer for BPU, including reviewing legislation to determine when regulations must be adopted or updated, developing timeframes for rulemaking, tracking rule status, overseeing work of assigned technical staff and regulatory officers, reviewing all rules for clarity and compliance with Administrative Procedure Act and Office of Administrative Law (OAL) requirements, and serving as primary point of contact with the OAL and the Governor’s Office on rulemaking.

Works with BPU technical staff and senior leadership to develop responses to petitions for rulemaking and ensure compliance with all timelines for action.

Reviews all notices that will be published in the New Jersey Register and serves as the point of contact with Office of Administrative Law for such notices.

REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION: Graduation from an accredited law school with Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree and licensed to practice law in New Jersey or ability to become a New Jersey-licensed attorney.
EXPERIENCE: Six (6) to Eight (8) years as a practicing attorney.

Experience in government affairs or, the utility sector or energy policy sector with primary responsibility for interaction with the New Jersey Legislature preferred.

PREFERENCE: Preference will be given to attorneys with experience involving energy, clean energy or regulatory matters, drafting rules, regulations and/or legislation, and the application of government policies, rules and regulations.

Specific experience in a subject matter regulated by the Board is preferred.

RESUME NOTE: Eligibility determination will be based upon information presented on the resume and/or education documents provided. Applicants who possess foreign degrees (degrees earned outside of the U.S.) are required to provide an evaluation indicating the U.S. equivalency prior to the closing date.

Failure to do so may result in your ineligibility.

GENERAL INFORMATION

BENEFITS: The State of New Jersey offers a variety of employee benefits statewide, including:
• Health and Dental Benefit Plans
• Prescription Drug Plan
• Vision Care Reimbursement
• Deferred Compensation
• 12 Vacation Days, 15 Sick Days, 3 Administrative Leave Days
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Telework available for some positions* (Pursuant to the BPU’s policy, procedures, and/or guidelines.)
• Flexible and Health Savings Accounts
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness
• Paid Leave for Military Training

HOURS OF WORK: The hours of work for this position are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

All No Limit (NL) titles will be required to perform work beyond the stated hours of work as needed, in compliance with applicable collective bargaining agreements and laws.

STATE AS A MODEL EMPLOYER (SAME) APPLICANTS If you are applying under the NJ “SAME” program, your supporting documents (Schedule A or B letter), must be submitted along with your resume by the closing date indicated above.

The SAME program allows candidates, who identify as having a significant disability, to apply for non-competitive and unclassified positions through a fast track hiring process.

For more information about the SAME program and the Fast Track Hiring program, please click here if you have any questions, please email, or call the contact as indicated on the job vacancy announcement.

TELEWORK: This position may be eligible to participate in the Department's pilot Telework Program/Policy, which offers eligible employees the opportunity to work remotely up to two (2) days per week, if approved by Management per operational needs, subject to all requirements of the Department’s Telework Program/Policy. For questions regarding Telework eligibility, please ask during the interview process if selected for an interview.

WORK AUTHORIZATION: In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification forms upon hire.

Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States according to the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services Regulations.

The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorships for citizenships or Visas to the United States.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: The “New Jersey First Act,” N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70) effective September 1, 2011, contains new residency requirements for public officers and employees, unless exempted under the law.

Current, new, or prospective employees should be aware of the following: Effective September 1, 2011, all employees of State and local government must reside in the State of New Jersey, unless exempted under the law.

If you already work for the State or local government as of September 1, 2011, and you do not live in New Jersey, you are not required to move to New Jersey. However, if you begin your office, position or employment on September 1, 2011, or later, you must reside in New Jersey.

If you do not reside in New Jersey, you have one year after the date you take your office, position, or employment to relocate your residence to New Jersey.

If you do not do so, you are subject to removal from your office, position, or employment. For more information, visit: https://www.nj.gov/labor/research-info/njfirst.shtml

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Submissions must be received in time to the email address listed below to be considered.

Failure to submit all required documents may result in an ineligibility determination. Interviews will be granted based on the resume.

If you are qualified, please submit the documents listed below by 4:00 pm on the closing date of this vacancy:
• Cover letter/letter of interest indicating the posting number
• A current resume
• Proof of degree (a copy of your final official/unofficial transcripts and/or foreign degree evaluation)
• Writing Sample
• A complete State of NJ Employment Application DPF-663.pdf and Personal Relationships Disclosure Form Microsoft Word - Personal Relationships Disclosure Statement Jan 2021

All documents must be submitted via email at humanresources@bpu.nj.gov

(Subject line must include the specific job posting number).

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUIREMENTS

Experience in government affairs or, the utility sector or energy policy sector with primary responsibility for interaction with the New Jersey Legislature preferred.

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About NJ Board of Public Utilities

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities ("NJBPU" or “Board”) is the state agency with authority to oversee the regulated utilities, which provide critical services such as natural gas, electricity, water, telecommunications, and cable television. The law requires the Board to ensure safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey.The Board addresses issues of consumer protection, energy reform, deregulation of energy, and telecommunications services and the restructuring of utility rates to encourage energy conservation and competitive pricing in the industry.The Board is also responsible for monitoring utility service and responding to consumer complaints.The Board is considered a quasi-judicial body, meaning that it functions similar to a court or judge. Anyone may file a petition (or a request for action) asking the Board to consider a matter within its jurisdiction. Most often petitions are filed by the utilities, ratepayers, or interested parties, but sometimes the Board will initiate a matter on its own.Once a petition is filed, the Board decides if it will retain the matter (which will become a case) or send the petition to the Of...fice of Administrative Law (OAL). If the case is sent to the OAL, a judge will make an initial decision that the Board will ultimately accept, reject, or change. Regardless of whether the case is sent to the OAL or retained by the Board, the case goes through a legal process that may involve public hearings, briefs, discovery, and testimony. The parties involved include the petitioner, the Board’s staff, and often the Division of Rate Counsel (the state entity charged with representing the ratepayers and consumers of New Jersey). Others may ask to be involved as an intervener or a participant, but those parties must meet certain standards provided in the regulations (N.J.A.C. 1:1-16.3) to be granted that status.Members of the public are invited to voice their opinions at public hearings. Public hearings are listed on NJBPU's website and notices of these hearings appear in newspapers. All evidence, arguments, and comments provided at the public hearings are made part of the record to ensure that the OAL judge and/or the Board is making an informed and impartial decision based upon the facts as presented by both sides. It is important that the public provide its input at the public hearings to ensure these comments are included in the record of the case.The Board then decides the case at one of its public agenda meetings, and will issue an order setting forth the reason for its decision. The Board’s decision may be appealed to the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court.

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