Legal Director

About Us:

The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel advocates and educates to secure for Ohioans affordable, reliable, and equitable residential utility services that are essential to their well-being.

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, the State’s voice for millions of Ohio residential utility consumers, seeks an employee with a passion for public service to serve as Legal Director. This position is an opportunity to work for an agency with a Mission to help consumers’, including at-risk and low-income Ohioans, regarding the affordability, reliability and equitableness of their electric, natural gas, telephone, and water utility services. Since the legislature created the agency in 1976, we have sought lower utility bills and reliable utility services for residential consumers. At OCC, we put Consumers First.

The successful candidate will serve as Director of the Legal Department for the Consumers’ Counsel and perform the following duties (among others):

• Provide legal advice and recommendations to the Consumers’ Counsel and the Consumers’ Counsel Governing Board concerning complex legal and policy issues associated with the utility industry, including recommendations for utility consumers.

• Provide testimony to the legislature and utility regulatory bodies when requested; supervise the agency’s litigation and negotiations in utility cases affecting Ohio consumers.

• Manage legal staff consisting of attorneys, case team administrative staff and interns. Assign legal staff to cases, review work product for compliance with the agency’s mission, policies, values, and vision.

• Provides general mentoring, including professional development and training for legal staff.

• Provides general mentoring, including professional development and training for legal staff.

• Represent residential utility consumers in highly complex public utility proceedings before a variety of state and federal agencies and courts.

• Develop policies and procedures with respect to regulatory issues.

• Assist in preparation of proposals for, and selection of, consultants.

• Advise the Consumers’ Counsel regarding appeals to the Ohio Supreme Court. Responsible for ensuring that the agency’s written work in appeals in the Ohio Supreme Court is following the Court’s Rules of Practice.

• Interacts with other public agencies and entities including the PUCO, FCC, DOE, FERC, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, local governments and state and federal legislatures and other consumer advocacy organizations.

What You'll Do:

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What’s in it for you:

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

Medical Coverage

• Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered through the available Ohio Med plans.

Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance

• Dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums are free after completed eligibility period. Length of eligibility period is dependent on union representation.

Time Away From Work and Work/Life Balance

• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth/Adoption leave

Employee Development Funds

• The State of Ohio offers a variety of educational and professional development funding that varies based on whether you are a union-exempt employee or a union-represented employee.

Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

• OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary. Visit the OPERS website for more information.

Deferred Compensation

• The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan. Visit the Ohio Deferred Compensation website for more information.

License to practice law in the State of Ohio. A minimum of five years of experience in managing legal professionals. A minimum of five years or equivalent experience in public utility regulation, with a working knowledge of utility regulation and utility consumer issues is required. Applicants should demonstrate excellence in oral and written communications, including persuasive writing and making technical issues understandable. Familiarity with word processing programs, online research and other technology used in legal advocacy is expected. Applicants should have a willingness to work more than 40 hours per week, as needed for consumer advocacy, and a commitment to public service.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and drug test. Per the Ohio Revised Code 124.151(B), all newly hired employees will be required to have their compensation deposited directly to a financial institution. The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. When contacted for an interview, an applicant who requires special accommodation due to a disability should notify the Office of Human Resources at the time he/she is contacted so that proper arrangements can be made for the interview.

The applicant is required to provide details of minimum qualifications and job duties on the application form. Failure to provide the information will preclude consideration of the applicant. If an interview is offered, supporting documentation/paperwork (e.g., college transcripts, copy of pertinent license or certifications, etc.) may be required at the time of the interview.

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability please contact Laurie Knight at [email protected]