Associate General Counsel, Regulatory

Otter Tail Power Company; Fergus Falls (MN); On-site; USD 155,000 - 213,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive plans

Employee Stock Ownership options

Retirement Savings Fund with employer

Health, disability and life insurance

Education reimbursement

Leadership development programs

Mental health support

Job summary

Otter Tail Power Company in Fergus Falls, MN, is seeking an Associate General Counsel to advise management on regulatory requirements, draft transaction documents, oversee litigation, and manage outside counsel to support the company's mission.

Reporting to Senior Associate General Counsel, this role requires broad knowledge of state and federal regulation, strong writing and negotiation skills, and the ability to coordinate with internal teams.

Qualifications

• Juris doctor degree from an ABA-accredited school.
• Ability to interpret and draft regulatory contracts and orders.
• Licensed to practice in Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota or eligible to be licensed.

Responsibilities

• Advise management on business, legal and regulatory strategy and tactics.
• Manage litigation and regulatory matters to advance company interests.
• Represent the company before regulatory bodies such as PUCs and FERC and handle filings and advocacy.
• Collaborate with internal teams on transmission, regulatory briefs, and customer service matters.
• Coordinate with outside counsel to obtain cost-effective, high-quality legal services.
• Lead discovery, deposition, motion papers, and trial preparation.

Skills

Regulatory expertise

Legal writing

Litigation management

Negotiation

Presentation skills

Education

ABA-accredited JD

Job description

Location: Fergus Falls, MN, Within our Service Territory

Grade 17

Position Summary

At Otter Tail Power, our employees help us serve the communities we support by delivering reliable, affordable, and responsibly managed electricity. In this role, the Associate General Counsel will advise employees at all levels within the organization, including senior management, on State and Federal regulatory requirements, draft and negotiation transaction documents, oversee litigation, and manage outside counsel to support the advancement of the company's mission and goals while also maintaining compliance with regulations and laws. Our successful employees ensure that our customers and communities have the power they need for modern life.

As our team continues to evolve and expand, we are adding to our capabilities to support growing business needs and increasing complexity across our work. This role reflects both the continued investment in our team and our commitment to building the right structure for long-term success.

This role will report to the Senior Associate General Counsel.

What You’ll Do

• Advise management regarding business, legal and regulatory strategy and tactics alike, negotiate, interpret laws and regulations, and prepare legal documents.
• Manage activities related to litigation and regulatory matters to ensure Otter Tail Power Company's interests are advanced efficiently and in alignment with our values.
• Participate in filings and legal advocacy on behalf of Otter Tail Power Company at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, North Dakota Public Service Commission, the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and relevant appellate courts on rate, compliance, investigatory, and siting matters.
• Collaborate with various internal teams including Asset Management on transmission-and construction-related agreements, Regulatory to manage briefs, replies and other advocacy filings, and Customer Service to advise in territorial disputes, utility franchise, customer service matters, and tribal affairs.
• Provide counsel relating to land rights, easement acquisition, and, as necessary, condemnation. Represent the utility in right-of-way, third-party, and company siting/use and other local governmental matters.
• Facilitate discovery responses, depositions, preparation of motion papers, and preparation for trial.
• Litigate, negotiate, and settle, when appropriate, contested regulatory matters, including general rate cases, other rate recovery proceedings, contested FERC filings, and non-rate related proceedings.
• Manage and direct the activities of outside counsel to ensure Otter Tail Power Company receives responsive, cost-effective, and valuable legal services.

Qualifications

We're seeking candidates with a wide range of skills who are motivated to deeply understand complex and technical information to advise stakeholders of the best path forward while aligning with our core values: Integrity, Community, Safety, Resourcefulness, Customer Service, and People. Some examples of what we're looking for include:

• Our top candidates will be able to strategically identify critical and priority issues and define appropriate action. They will have demonstrated their ability for developing and interpreting legal and regulatory contracts and orders.
• Experience in and demonstrated knowledge of federal and state regulatory models, regulation of business, economics of regulated (monopoly) industries, energy industry, utility rates and operations, broad understanding of stakeholder and other industry processes combined with an appreciation of the wider political, regulatory and industry environment.
• There is a lot of innovation in our industry, and we want positive, resilient people who can prioritize under unexpected or difficult deadlines and skillfully represent Otter Tail Power Company in a congenial and constructive manner.
• This position will work with varied individuals, stakeholders, and teams such that superior leadership, interpersonal and communications skills, including research, technical and legal writing, and oral and presentation skills, are required for success.
• Capable of becoming licensed to practice in any of the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota.
• D. degree from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.
• Utility-related experience, in-house, law firm, or state regulatory, preferred.

We believe employment is a partnership and we expect excellence from our talented employees. To support our employees and help drive their career experience and goals.

• Competitive wage & benefit package.
• The expected offer for base compensation for this role is $155,000 - $213,000 annually. The actual compensation within the compensation range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.
• Incentive plans
• Employee Stock Ownership options
• Retirement Savings Fund with employer match
• Health, disability and life insurance plan options
• Our employees are provided training and development opportunities each year, including education reimbursement. This includes safety – one of our values and key to our success – technical, compliance and developmental training.
• Career development is critical to our long-term success. Otter Tail Power employees have opportunities to participate in various leadership development programs, gain access to an a la carte online leadership course catalog, receive mentorship from current leaders and more!
• Mental health support from the experts at SupportLinc as well as competitive vacation and sick leave to ensure employees are at their best when they’re working.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.