Go Back
This is an INTERNAL Posting open only to current NC Department of Commerce employees or former NC Department of Commerce employees eligible for RIF priority reemployment consideration.
THIS IS AN ANTICIPATED VACANCY
*Salary Grade: LG10*
Recruitment Range: $116,147 - $170,000
The NC Department of Commerce, Utilities Commission is looking for a General Counsel. This position is assigned to the Legal section within the Utilities Commission.
The General Counsel and Director of the Legal Division (General Counsel or GC) serves as the chief legal advisor to the members of the Commission and its professional staff. The General Counsel is responsible for all legal services rendered by the Commission’s Legal Division, including legal opinions, orders, and litigation. The General Counsel is responsible for the most advanced, difficult, and important matters of legal interpretation, counsel, and litigation in the highly complex and specialized field of public utilities regulation. The General Counsel must operate with a high degree of independence, initiative, and expertise requiring only minimal supervision and direction by the Chairman of the Commission. The Chairman and other Commissioners depend upon the GC to keep them apprised of issues in highly controversial areas. Thus, a strong sense of judgment, selectivity, and recognition of significant issues must be employed in evaluating matters, making recommendations, and interfacing with Commissioners. Tremendous experience, judgment, subject matter knowledge and discretion is required of the General Counsel, within an area of law characterized by highly complex technical and procedural issues and within an agency that is obligated by North Carolina law and federal law to handle many and varied proceedings related to the regulation of public utilities.
Directing Legal Division
The General Counsel actively manage, directs and coordinates the activities of the Legal Division. The General Counsel is directly responsible for the direct supervision of all personnel in the Legal Division, including 1 Attorney Manager I, seven attorneys, each of whom bear a high degree of responsibility for legal representation in cases involving public utility rates and critical services, three paralegals, 1 administrative assistant, the Court Reporting section (3 employees), and the Library section (2 employees).
This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits, including health insurance, as well as retirement.
Incentives of NC State Employment We value our employees and offer a wide variety of competitive and family-friendly benefits. Benefits to include:
- 12 Annual paid Holidays
- North Carolina State Health Plan administered by Aetna
- Supplemental Benefits including Flexible Spending Accounts, Accident Insurance, Cancer & Specified Disease, Critical Illness, Dental and Vision
- NC State Retirement (TSERS)
- WeSave Employee Discounts
Learn more about new hire resources, safety, health, and wellness information, leave options, employee discounts and more by selecting the link below:https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits
Note to Current State Employees
The salary grade for this position is LG10.State employees are encouraged to apply for positions of interest even if the salary grade is the same as, or lower than, their current position. If selected for this position, a new salary will be recalculated taking into consideration the quantity of relevant education and experience, funding availability, and internal equity. Based upon those factors, a pay increase MAY result.
Salary- $116,147 - $261,330/year
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies
In order to receive credit for the supplemental questions in which you answered yes, you must provide supporting information within the body of the application, to support your answer. Your application should also reflect all education and all professional work experience acquired including high school and all degrees. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT AND ALL KSAs IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION.
- Thorough knowledge of general case law, statutory law, common law, judicial procedures, and litigation, plus expertise in the highly specialized field of public utility regulation.
- Demonstrated ability to provide independent legal advice and counsel.
- Prior experience managing staff performance, discipline, coaching, engagement, and career development.
- Demonstrated ability to express highly complex legal concepts and related facts in a clear, concise, and organized manner, both oral and written.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively present legal issues.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate, facilitate and participate in a collaborative approach to complete assignments.
- The ability to both promote and exhibit teamwork.
- Must possess and exhibit excellent verbal skills, initiative, diplomacy, sensitivity to staff work requirements, and pride in one’s work.
Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience”. If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.
Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar and five years of progressively responsible professional legal experience.
NOTE: GS 114-2 and 114-6 make it the duty of the Attorney General of NC to represent the State of North Carolina in all litigation unless another statute specifically states otherwise.
About the Utilities Commission
The Commission regulates the rates charged and service provided by approximately 3,000 public utilities operating in the State. The Legal Division is currently comprised of 9 attorneys, including the General Counsel and Deputy, 4 paralegals, 1 legal assistant, and 5 other employees in the records management and court reporter sections.
About the Department of Commerce
The North Carolina Department of Commerce is the state's lead agency for economic, community and workforce development. The department works with local, regional, national and international organizations to fulfill its mission to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians.
Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job.
Our Agency uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. All applicants must complete and submit a state application for employment using the NEOGOV Online Job Application System (OSHR - Work for NC) for the State of North Carolina.
**PLEASE NOTE**
It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive information. Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the beginning and ending dates of jobs worked, education with the date graduated, all work experience, and certificates/licenses. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application. Answers to Supplemental Questions must refer to education or work experience listed on this application to receive credit. Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the online application form. Any information omitted from the application cannot be considered in screening for qualifying credit. Attached or incorporated resumes (including Text resumes on application form) WILL NOT be used for screening for qualifying credit. Please make sure you complete the application in full. "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will NOT be accepted and will be considered an incomplete application and will not be processed. For additional information about applications and processes with the state of NC, please visit: How Do I Get the Job.
For consideration for this vacancy, all applicants must complete an on-line application using this link, https://www.governmentjobs.com/Applications/Index/northcarolina. If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the posting close date will be evaluated for consideration.
Applications for positions requiring specific coursework must be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's transcript. If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, they must attach an unofficial transcript to each application to receive credit for this education. If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, they must attach an unofficial transcript to each application to receive credit for this education.
***INCLUDE ALL RELEVANT EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE DESIGNATED EDUCATION AND WORK HISTORY SECTION ON THE FORMAL APPLICATION***
If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit www.studentaid.govto learn more.
- Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
- Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. If a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.
- Applicants requesting and receiving an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible to submit paper applications via mail or by fax.
Re-Entry for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
Our Agency supports the Governor’s Executive Order 303 which seeks to re-employ individuals that were previously incarcerated. Formerly incarcerated individuals are invited to apply for any vacant Commerce position(s) in which they believe they are qualified. Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account and click "Application Status." If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by management. If you are no longer under consideration, you will receive an email notification.
For technical issues with your application, please call the GovernmentJobs.com Applicant Support Help Line at 855.524.5627.
BenefitsNOTE: For temporary, contract or other supplemental staffing appointments: There are no paid leave, retirement or other benefits associated with these appointment types.
For permanent and time-limited appointments:Eligible employees have benefits that include employee health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, NC Flex (a variety of high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis), and paid vacation, sick, and community service leave, to name a few. Paid parental leave is available for eligible employees. Some benefits require 30 + hours work/week for participation.
