Consumer Advocate

PowerLines; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 52,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Public Service Commission in Lincoln, NE seeks a Consumer Advocate to perform administrative support for the Telecommunications Department. Responsibilities include handling consumer complaints, tracking filings, and preparing reports while supporting public outreach and legislative reporting efforts.

Schedule is Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–5:00 pm with flexible balance. Hiring rate aligns with state pay norms; annual compensation offered with growth commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Business, Multidisciplinary Studies, Communication, Public Policy, Consumer Affairs, or relevant field.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and comfort using databases and spreadsheets.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to maintain accurate records.

Responsibilities

• Receive, record, and respond to consumer complaints related to telecommunications services.
• Document and report complaints to carriers and relay responses to consumers.
• Prepare monthly summary reports for the Department Director to present at meetings or hearings.
• Track and report telephone outages and forward notifications to leadership.

Skills

MS Office

Communication

Recordkeeping

Data reporting

Education

Associate degree in Business or related

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Excel

Word

Outlook

Job description

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency: Public Service Commission - Agency 14

Location: Lincoln, NE

Hiring Rate: $26.442

Job Posting: JR2026-00029519 Consumer Advocate (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On: 10-13-2026

Job Description

The Nebraska Public Service Commission seeks a detail-oriented and organized individual to perform administrative support work within the telecommunications department. The Consumer Advocate is responsible for responding to telecommunications-related consumer concerns, tracking regulated carrier filings, preparing reports, managing documentation and data, and supporting the Commission’s public outreach and legislative reporting efforts.

Schedule: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday; flexibility available to promote work-life balance.

Hiring Rate: $55,000 per year, commensurate with experience.

• Receive, record, and respond to consumer complaints related to telephone, wireless, internet, and cable services
• Document and report complaints to carriers and relay carrier responses to consumers.
• Prepare a monthly summary report of complaints for the Department Director to present at Commission meetings and/or hearings.
• Track and report telephone outages. Forward notifications to the Commissioners, Executive Director, Director of Telecommunications, and Director of State 911.
• Review and file new and revised telecommunications tariffs, maintain organized tariff binders and archive pulled pages in accordance with retention policy.
• Upload tariffs and interconnection agreements between providers to the Commission’s website.
• Review annual reports submitted by ILEC/CLEC carriers to ensure completeness and compliance.
• Extract and record access line counts by city from annual carrier reports.
• Maintain records of rate increase petitions and track associated ballot verification processes.
• Prepare and update tables and statistical summaries for the Commission’s Annual Report to the Legislature.
• Organize and maintain physical and digital telephone directories.
• Support and manage Telecommunications Department website content, including posting public notices and updates from other Commission departments.
• Provide occasional backup support to other administrative staff within the Communications Department.
• Serve as backup for consumer complaint intake for the Natural Gas Department when the Director or designated staff are unavailable.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements / Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Associates degree in Business, Multidisciplinary Studies, Communication, Public Policy, Consumer Affairs, or relevant technical field. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and comfort using databases and spreadsheets. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to maintain accurate records and respond professionally to public inquiries.

Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in in Business, Multidisciplinary Studies, Communication, Public Policy, Consumer Affairs, or relevant technical field. 1-3 years work experience in a related field (consumer protection, advocacy, regulatory affairs, legal support, public service, government, non‑profit consumer organizations, or regulatory bodies). Experience working in the telecommunications industry. Experience handling consumer complaints or disputes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of: Telecommunications carriers, regulatory processes, customer service principles, administrative filing systems, and basic government operations.
• Skill in: Managing complaints with professionalism and confidentiality, compiling and presenting data, writing reports, and maintaining website content.
• Ability to: Analyze and interpret data, maintain organized documentation, work independently and collaboratively, communicate clearly with consumers and industry professionals, and use discretion when handling sensitive information.

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Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation. Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.