Individuals interested in applying for this vacancy must have eligibility. If you are new to state service or need to gain eligibility to this classification, please Click here to open the examination bulletin and follow the instructions on “How to apply”.
The examination is a separate process from applying for this vacancy. Please be sure to follow all instructions for each process.
Virtual interviews via web portals or phone may be offered as deemed appropriate and feasible by the hiring manager – standard in-person interviews will still be offered if conditions permit.
This position is for the Assistant Chief Counsel for the State and Federal Advisory and Special Projects Section. That section provides legal advice and counsel to CPUC Commissioners, Administrative Law Judges, and industry division staff on a variety of regulatory, ratemaking, legislative, policy, enforcement and compliance, transactional matters, and legal transparency requirements. It also handles special projects as may be assigned by the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel.
The section can handle questions of law arising in any of the industry areas regulated by the Commission. Areas of primary responsibility are:
- Legal advice on clean energy rules.
- Legal advice on electric reliability rules.
- Legal advice on ratemaking proceedings.
- Legal advice on energy procurement.
- Utility and municipal finance.
- Affordability of rates.
- California Environmental Quality Act compliance.
- Bagley Keene Open Meeting Act compliance.
- Ex Parte compliance.
- Tribal issues.
- State and federal legislation.
- Superior Court and Bankruptcy Court litigation.
The Assistant Chief Counsel will supervise junior and senior staff attorneys and litigation specialist staff working on these matters. The Assistant Chief Counsel will also be expected to directly advise Commissioners and members of senior management on legal issues and to coordinate with other state agencies, the federal government, local governments, and other stakeholders as needed. Under the direction of the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, the Assistant Chief Counsel will collaborate and coordinate with other Assistant Chief Counsels on Commission decision making, policy development, and management of Legal Division. This Assistant Chief Counsel will also support the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel with principal legal assignments, special projects, and management of Legal Division.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Salary- $14,090 - $17,225/month
Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
Desirable Qualifications
In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
- Familiarity with the Public Utilities Code and related statutes and regulations.
- Familiarity with the Government Code statutes and related authority governing Open Meeting Laws and construing and applying policies and regulations governing governmental decisionmaking.
- Familiarity with the roles of agencies in California Government working on energy and climate policy.
- Familiarity with energy, telecommunications, water, environmental, rail or transportation law.
- Familiarity with and/or strong background and relevant experience in regulatory laws.
- Strong analytical and legal research skill and methods.
- Strong facilitation, consensus-building, parliamentarian, jurisprudential and client relations skills.
- Strong civil or administrative litigation experience at any or all stages of litigation.
- Experience as a supervisor in the private sector or state, federal, or local government, ideally supervising represented employees.
- Experience reviewing, analyzing and drafting proposed legislation.
- Ability to balance assignments and manage caseloads and several projects at once with minimal supervision.
- Ability to manage numerous direct reports with a wide range of skill levels and responsibilities.
- Ability to motivate and focus staff and build a cooperative, information-sharing working environment.
- Experience with accounting, finance, utility ratemaking, tax matters, corporate and financial restructuring and/or bankruptcy.
- Experience representing government agencies or public utilities in criminal forums including before magistrates, monitors or grand juries.
- Experience working with prosecutors, investigators, court monitors, and enforcement and compliance entities.
- Experience with local government jurisdiction, planning, permitting, land use and policymaking, especially in the areas of transportation, telecommunications, municipal utilities and aggregation of electric load.
Additional Documents
Department Information
Legal Division/ State & Federal Advisory & Special Projects:
Legal Division, through the General Counsel, is the attorney for the Commission. We provide high quality legal representation and advice to the Commission, including the Commissioners and Commission industry divisions. We are dedicated to improving the health, safety, and well-being of Californians, and conduct front-line advocacy to advance California’s goals of keeping utility costs affordable, net neutrality, transitioning to clean energy, clean water utility service, universal phone and broadband service, and transportation and rail safety.
Department Website: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov
Special Requirements- The position(s) require(s) a(n) California State Bar License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.
Prepare and submit a response for each question below. The SOQ should provide specific details and examples that clearly demonstrate how your training, experience, and education qualifies you for the position. Refer to the job description and duties, and duty statement to prepare your response. Applicants who do not submit a completed SOQ and writing that exceeds the page limit will not be considered or scored. All information in the SOQ is subject to verification. The SOQ must be no smaller than 11-point Arial font, single-spaced, and no more than three pages.
Please write your SOQ to address the following four questions:
- Describe, with specificity, your experience in public utility regulation and law and your experience in administrative law.
- Describe, with specificity, your experience in management/team leadership and your experience working with senior decisionmakers and elected or appointed officials.
- Describe, with specificity, your experience in working for local, state, federal, or tribal governments or any other relevant experience you’ve had in public service.
- Describe, with specificity, your experience before state and federal courts and administrative agencies.
For helpful guidance on writing an effective SOQ, please see the Work4CA guide.
It is strongly encouraged to apply through your CalCareer Account at www.jobs.ca.gov
Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended and will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing.
If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcript or diploma. An official transcript will be required prior to appointment.
Applicants who completed their education outside the United States (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of United States course/degree equivalency by the application deadline.
Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at https://www.naces.org
Employment information on the STD 678 state application MUST be complete with dates, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Resumes, or referring to resumes, will not be accepted in place of the completed STD 678. Applicants who fail to submit a completed STD 678 will not be considered.
Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to an interview.
Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.
Application Instructions
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 7/21/2025Who May Apply
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.
Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process.Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Public Utilities Commission
N/A
Attn: Human Resources Division
505 Van Ness Ave, Room 3008
San Francisco, CA 94102
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Public Utilities Commission
N/A
Human Resources Division
505 Van Ness Ave, Room 3008
San Francisco, CA 94102
Monday to Friday Except Holidays.
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
- Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
- Resume is required and must be included.
- Statement of Qualifications - A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see “Special Requirements” for instructions.
Working Conditions
This is a statewide recruitment. This position can be filled in the following locations: San Francisco, Sacramento, or Los Angeles.
This is a hybrid position that will require the selected candidate to report to their assigned headquarter office a minimum of two (2) days a week. Hybrid positions may be eligible for telework under California Government Code Section 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California. In accordance with CPUC Telework Policy, telework arrangements are subject to change and may be reevaluated at any time.
The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Department Website:http://www.cpuc.ca.gov
Hiring Unit Contact:
Cindy Philapil
(415) 703-2201
cindy.philapil@cpuc.ca.gov
Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator
(916) 894-5799
ReasonableAccomodation@cpuc.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device. BenefitsQuickly create a cover letter, get resume help, and more with our free AI tools!
