Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney, Clean Energy Program
Job Location
Boulder, Co or Denver, CO
Remote
Type of Job
Full-Time
Salary
$65,000-$105,000
Published By
Publisher Name
Published Date
Apr 26, 2021
About the job
Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is seeking a highly motivated, strategic attorney to join our Clean Energy Team in Colorado. Depending on relevant experience and demonstrated skill, the position can be either a Staff Attorney or a Senior Staff Attorney. This position will represent WRA in a diverse array of rulemaking and litigated proceedings before Colorado regulatory agencies, including the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission. The attorney will also assist in WRA’s legislative advocacy efforts and may occasionally be involved in state or federal litigation. In partnership with other members of the Colorado Clean Energy Team, the attorney will create and leverage opportunities to advance equitable clean energy policy solutions through negotiation and strategic litigation. The ideal candidate has a commitment to climate action and is capable of independently managing a docket of complex regulatory matters. This position will report to a senior member of the Colorado Clean Energy Team and is an exciting opportunity to shape state-level policy to help build a just, clean, and sustainable future for the communities and economies of the Interior West.
LOCATION
The position has the option to start work remotely from anywhere along Colorado’s Front Range, or from WRA’s Boulder or Denver office. WRA employees are strongly encouraged to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, we anticipate this position would work at least a few days a week from WRA’s Boulder or Denver office.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES
POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY
- Represent WRA as an attorney and policy advocate in proceedings before the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and other Colorado regulatory agencies, courts, legislative bodies, and other forums.
- Provide counsel and strategic advice regarding state and federal energy regulation, climate policy, and administrative law.
- Prepare discovery, pleadings, oral argument, cross-examination, and testimony for adversarial proceedings.
- Negotiate and draft complex settlement agreements.
- Assist with guidance of outside experts and legal consultants.
- Provide legal and strategic business advice on non-regulatory matters as needed.
- Monitor and track relevant state and federal policies.
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
- Work directly with the region’s electric utilities, state and municipal governments, consumer groups, the environmental community, and other stakeholders to advance policies aimed at accelerating a clean energy transition.
- Identify and manage effective coalitions of diverse partners to achieve results.
TRAVEL
- Occasional travel to meetings and events, generally within the Interior West (post COVID-19).
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Juris Doctor degree from ABA accredited law school.
- Licensed to practice law in Colorado.
- Background in environmental, energy, or other types of administrative law.
- Ability to manage a deadline-driven docket of regulatory litigation.
- Understanding of current issues in energy and climate regulation and policy.
- Excellent analytical skills.
- Strong written and oral communication abilities.
- Comfort in communicating with a variety of policymakers, constituencies and audiences.
- Ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with a variety of stakeholders.
SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY QUALIFICATIONS
To be considered for a Senior Staff Attorney role, the candidate should possess at least two of the following additional qualifications:
- Experience independently managing a deadline-driven docket of complex regulatory litigation, with minimal supervision.
- Significant experience as a litigator in public utilities regulatory proceedings, ideally in Colorado.
- Experience with air quality law or climate policy.
- Existing relationships with key stakeholders or policymakers in the Colorado energy community.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The salary range is $65,000 to $90,000 for a Staff Attorney and $85,000 to $105,000 for a Senior Staff Attorney annually; salary depends on relevant experience and new staff rarely start at the top of the range. WRA’s excellent benefits package includes health, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan, life & disability insurance, 3 weeks paid vacation leave, sick leave, parental leave, sabbatical leave after five years; and an RTD EcoPass for staff in the Denver/Boulder metro area. Position is full-time exempt.