Job Description

Who We Are:

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (“EEA”) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s environmental resources while ensuring and promoting a clean energy future for the state’s residents. Through the stewardship of open space, protection of environmental resources, and advancement of climate resilience and environmental justice, EEA and its constituent agencies work tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, ­­­work, and raise a family.

EEA consists of the Office of the Secretary as well as a diverse array of agencies and associated quasi-governmental organizations, including the Department of Agricultural Resources (“MDAR”); the Department of Conservation and Recreation (“DCR”); the Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”); the Department of Environmental Protection (“MassDEP”); the Department of Fish and Game (“DFG”), including the Division of Marine Fisheries (“DMF”), the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (“MassWildlife”), and the Division of Ecological Restoration (“DER”); the Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) and the Energy Facilities Siting Board (“EFSB”); the Office of Coastal Zone Management (“CZM”); the Division of Conservation Services (“DCS”); the Massachusetts Environmental Police; the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (“MEPA”) Office; the Office of Technical Assistance (“OTA”); the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Technology Center (“MassCEC”); the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (“MWRA”), and others.

Who We Serve:

EEA Office of General Counsel (“EEA Legal”) is the in-house law department for EEA. EEA Legal attorneys advise the Office of the Governor and the EEA Secretary, agency Commissioners and other leaders, and staff regarding a wide array of legal, regulatory, and policy issues, from regulatory changes to aid in the fight against climate change, to litigation to enforce environmental protection rules, to questions of tort, contract, and procurement law, to state open meeting, public records, and ethics rules. The work is challenging, varied, and critical.

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Office of the General Counsel seeks applicants for two Associate General Counsel positions.

Under the direction of the General Counsel, the Associate General Counsels will:

(a) provide legal support for EEA’s exciting and impactful policy, program, and regulatory work preparing the Commonwealth for climate change and a clean, sustainable, and just environmental and energy future by assisting the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsels as assigned;

(b) oversee torts, contract, regulatory, and other litigation affecting EEA and its agencies, including negotiation of settlements, coordination with outside litigation counsel and the Office of the Attorney General, and representing EEA agency personnel as witnesses in agency proceedings and deposition and trial testimony, in order to protect the interests of EEA agencies and the public;

(c) administer and advise as to the Public Records Act, handling public records requests in cooperation with EEA agency counsel and press staff, the state Open Meeting Law, to ensure transparency and public access in accordance with the law;

(d) advise as to procurements, grants, budget-related issues, facilities, expendable trusts, document management, ethics, and other areas as needed; and

(d) assist with other key legal functions as needed.

Specific role and responsibilities:

The incumbents will:

Provide legal research and advice to EEA staff, including the Secretary and Undersecretaries, and assist General Counsel and Deputy General Counsels with review and analysis of proposed policies, legislation, programs, regulations, regulatory proceedings, litigation, and other energy, environment, and climate-related initiatives.

Advise EEA staff and agency counsel and personnel regarding requests under the Public Records Act, to ensure compliance and public access / transparency as to secretariat and agency public records and serve as Records Access Officer for EEA.

Coordinate with outside counsel regarding litigation involving the secretariat and its agencies, including regarding settlement and litigation strategy and represent EEA agency personnel as witnesses in agency proceedings and depositions / trial testimony.

Advise EEA and its agencies as to procurement and contracts issues; compliance with the Open Meeting Law, state ethics laws, and other legal requirements; provide advice and coordinate response regarding Office of the State Auditor and Inspector General inquiries; and advise on and manage other legal and policy matters as necessary.

Manage and monitor individual cases, assignments, and projects to ensure timely resolution of cases and to contribute to the achievement of overall Secretariat goals.

Further duties may also include: drafting administrative, court, and other legal documents (e.g. memos, contracts, pleadings, regulations, comments) to communicate information to interested parties and to record outcomes and decisions, ensuring that such documents are complete, accurate, available for future review and in compliance with law; review and analysis of conservation restrictions; representing the Office of General Counsel at meetings; responding to inquiries and correspondence from the public and municipalities.

Preferred Experience:

The successful candidates will be talented all-around lawyers eager to have an impact in the energy, environment, and climate space; have the ability to manage multiple diverse tasks in an exciting, fast-paced, team-oriented environment; have strong oral and written communications skills; have experience in litigation; and have the ability to quickly learn and retain knowledge regarding the diverse missions of EEA’s agencies and their governing law.

EOEEA is hiring two positions.  The ideal candidates would have either (1) 1-3 years of legal experience or (2) 2-5 years of legal experience, including any years of education and legal experience combined to date.  Knowledge and experience is preferably with related to one of more of the following practice areas: energy, environmental, and climate law; administrative law; real estate and land-use law; contracts; litigation; or government/public law generally.

Special Requirements:

Applicants must have a Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent degree (i.e., a non-US bachelor of law degree and a US LLM) and be admitted to the Massachusetts Bar (or commit to admission to the Massachusetts Bar within one year of start date).

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) four (4) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, professional internship, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical) and must possess current license and/or registration requirements established for the performance of the position or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

1. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

1. An Associate’s degree in a related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

III. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.

1. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience.

1. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Official Title: Program Manager Specialist IV

Primary Location

: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-100 Cambridge Street

Job

: Legal Services

Agency

: Exec Office Of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Schedule

: Full-time

Shift

: Day

Job Posting

: Jan 29, 2024, 1:25:58 PM

Number of Openings

: 2

Salary

: 80,000.00 – 100,000.00 Yearly

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Melixza Esenyie – 6176261282

Bargaining Unit: M99-Managers (EXE)

Confidential: No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule: Yes

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 80,000 - 100,000.

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