Assistant Consumers' Counsel

State of Ohio; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) seeks an Assistant Consumers’ Counsel in its Legal Department. You will provide legal advice to management and the Consumers’ Counsel on consumer protection matters related to electric, natural gas, telephone, and water utilities.

You will advocate in forums such as PUCO and, when needed, the Ohio Supreme Court or FERC; you will support policy development, supervise consultants, and work with cross‑functional teams to advance Ohio consumers’

Qualifications

• The Assistant Consumers’ Counsel must have a license to practice law in the State of Ohio.
• A minimum of three years or equivalent experience in public utility regulation, with a working knowledge of utility regulation and utility consumer issues is required.
• Excellent oral and written communication, including persuasive writing and explaining technical issues clearly.
• Familiarity with work processing programs, online research and other technology used in legal advocacy is expected.
• Willingness to work more than forty hours per week as needed for consumer advocacy and a commitment to public service.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to management and the agency director for consumer protection.
• Advocate (litigate and negotiate) the Agency’s consumer protection issues in PUCO and other forums.
• Engage in legislative advocacy as needed.
• Understand utility regulations including rate-setting and service quality issues.
• Assist with retaining and supervising consultants; work well in agency teams and take initiative to achieve objectives.

Skills

Attorney/Legal

Oral communication

Written communication

Job description

All job postings will expire at 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the application deadline.

Organization: Ohio Consumers' Counsel
Agency Contact Name and Information: 614.387.1522
Work Location: United States
Compensation: 90,000 - 110,000
Schedule: Permanent - Full Time
Work Hours: 830a - 530p M-F
Classified Indicator: Unclassified
Union: Exempt from union
Primary Job Skill: Attorney/Legal

Who We Are

Our Mission
The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel advocates and educates to secure for Ohioans affordable, reliable, and equitable residential utility services that are essential to their well-being.

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, the State’s voice for millions of Ohio residential utility consumers, seeks an employee with a passion for public service to serve as an Assistant Consumers’ Counsel in its Legal Department. This position is an opportunity to help consumers, including at‑risk and low‑income Ohioans, regarding justice for their electric, natural gas, telephone, and water utility services. Since the legislature created the agency in 1976, we have sought lower utility bills and reliable utility service for residential consumers.

At OCC, we put Consumers First.

What You'll Do

The attorney will provide legal advice to management and the agency director (the Consumers’ Counsel) for leading the Agency’s consumer protection role. The attorney will advocate (litigate and negotiate) the Agency’s consumer protection issues in forums that principally include the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). Other forums for consumer advocacy can include the Ohio Supreme Court, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Services also can include legislative advocacy, where utility regulation and consumer protection are set forth in Ohio law. The attorney will need an understanding of utility regulations – that broadly involves rate‑setting, service quality issues and policy matters such as the agency’s favoring of effective competitive markets over monopolies for providing services to consumers. The attorney will assist with retaining and functionally supervising consultants for this work. The attorney will need to work well within agency teams and be adept at independent work requiring personal initiative to achieve agency objectives for consumers.

Additional Information

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full‑time and part‑time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered through the available Ohio Med plans.
• Dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums are free after completed eligibility period. Length of eligibility period is dependent on union representation.
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth/Adoption leave
• The State of Ohio offers a variety of educational and professional development funding that varies based on whether you are a union‑exempt employee or a union‑represented employee.
• OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary. Visit the OPERS website for more information.
• The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan. Visit the Ohio Deferred Compensation website for more information.

Why Work For The State Of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full‑time and part‑time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)
• Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications

The Assistant Consumers’ Counsel must have a license to practice law in the State of Ohio. A minimum of three years or equivalent experience in public utility regulation, with a working knowledge of utility regulation and utility consumer issues is required. Applicants should demonstrate excellence in oral and written communications, including persuasive writing and making technical issues understandable. Familiarity with work processing programs, online research and other technology used in legal advocacy is expected. Applicants should have a willingness to work more than forty hours per week, as needed for consumer advocacy, and a commitment to public service.

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug‑free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non‑medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug‑Free Workplace Policy (HR‑39), and as outlined in the posting.