Division Director, Legal - Legal

PowerLines; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

PowerLines seeks a Senior Legal Leader to provide strategic direction for the agency's Legal Division in Austin, Texas. You will direct division operations, oversee regulatory matters, and guide senior attorneys through complex proceedings before the Commission, SOAH, and other forums.

You will advise executive leadership on legal risk, develop compliant policies, and ensure high-quality, audit-ready work while fostering a professional, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• JD or LLB from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice in Texas in good standing.
• Eight years of progressively responsible experience in administrative law, utility regulation, or regulatory matters.
• At least three years of litigation experience, pleadings, and hearings.
• Experience in management and program direction of staff and complex regulatory or legal programs.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee division operations to align with agency priorities and statutory requirements.
• Provide strategic leadership for the Legal Division’s representation in contested cases and regulatory matters.
• Offer senior counsel on complex legal and regulatory issues to agency leadership.
• Oversee interpretation and application of statutes and regulatory requirements across proceedings.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory matters

Litigation experience

Legal research

Strategic thinking

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or LLB

Licensed to practice in Texas

Job description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Performs highly advanced legal and managerial work providing strategic leadership and direction for the Legal

Division. Work involves directing division operations and legal activities; establishing goals, priorities,

performance expectations, and standards for the division; providing strategic oversight of complex legal and

regulatory matters; leading and developing managers and staff; and ensuring the quality, consistency, and

effectiveness of the division’s legal work. Provide guidance and counsel on significant legal and regulatory

matters and work collaboratively with Commissioners, executive leadership, and other agency divisions to

support agency priorities and objectives. Works under minimal supervision at the direction of the Executive

Director with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Direct and oversee division operations to ensure alignment with agency priorities, statutory requirements, and Commission objectives.
• Establish and direct division goals, operational priorities, and performance expectations, including resource planning and budget oversight.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Legal Division’s representation of the public interest in contested cases, administrative proceedings, arbitrations, alternative dispute resolution proceedings, and other matters before the Commission, the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), and other appropriate forums.
• Establish and oversee division-wide legal strategies, priorities, and standards to ensure consistent, high-quality legal analysis, advocacy, and representation in matters involving the Commission’s regulatory authority and responsibilities.
• Provide senior-level legal counsel and strategic guidance on complex, sensitive, or high-impact legal and regulatory matters, including identifying legal risks, evaluating alternatives, and advising agency leadership on recommended courses of action.
• Direct and oversee the Legal Division’s interpretation and application of statutes, Commission rules, policies, and regulatory requirements, and provide legal guidance regarding their impact on Commission proceedings, programs, and operations.
• Oversee the quality, consistency, and timeliness of significant legal work products produced by the division, including pleadings, briefs, legal analyses, rulemaking materials, reports, and other regulatory or legal documents.
• Monitor significant federal and state legal, legislative, judicial, and regulatory developments affecting the Commission and provide strategic direction regarding their potential impact on agency operations, regulatory programs, and legal positions.
• Establish effective coordination of legal matters across the division and with senior leadership of the agency’s regulatory division (i.e. Infrastructure and Rate Regulation) to develop and align legal strategies with Commission policy objectives, regulatory priorities, and agency goals, and coordinate with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), SOAH, and other government entities, as appropriate.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight to Managing Attorneys, establishing clear management expectations and accountability for team performance, workload management, employee development, communication, and consistent implementation of agency policies and management practices.
• Mentor and develop Managing Attorneys to strengthen their effectiveness as managers, including setting expectations for leadership, staff development, performance management, communication, accountability, and consistent application of agency policies and management practices.
• Develop the division’s legal and management capabilities by identifying organizational and individual development needs and ensuring managers provide effective coaching, mentoring, training, feedback, and professional development to attorneys and staff.
• Monitor division operations, management effectiveness, workload, and performance outcomes; identify emerging issues and implement appropriate corrective actions or operational improvement to promote accountability, consistency, and effective division performance.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives, policies, and programs that support the agency’s mission, legislative mandates, and business objectives.
• Represent the agency in meetings, hearings, legislative sessions, stakeholder engagements, and other public or interagency forums.
• Collaborate with Commissioners, executive leadership, and other divisions to support agency-wide initiatives, policy development, and decision-making.
• Provide leadership and direction to staff, including hiring, training, performance management, and employee development.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, agency policies, and procedures, and supports audit readiness and related activities.
• Lead by example and foster a professional work environment in which all staff are treated fairly, respectfully, and equitably; foster a collaborative, respectful, and professional work environment; provide constructive feedback and mentoring to team members.
• Keep management appropriately informed of ongoing activity and critical matters affecting the operation and well-being of the division.
• Attend work regularly and observe approved work hours in accordance with agency leave and attendance policies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (JD) or LLB degree;
• Licensed with the State Bar of Texas and in good standing;
• Eight years of progressively responsible experience practicing law in administrative law, utility regulation, or other regulatory legal matters;
• A minimum of three years of litigation experience, legal research and analysis, preparation of pleadings and briefs, and representation in hearings, trials, or other contested proceedings; and
• Experience in management and program direction, including oversight of staff, operations, and complex regulatory or legal programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience serving as lead or senior counsel in complex administrative, utility, or other governmental entity in contested proceedings, hearings, trials, appeals, or judicial review.
• Experience advising executive leadership, commissioners, governing boards, or other senior officials on complex legal, regulatory, and policy matters; and
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing attorneys and staff in a legal or regulatory environment.