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 and Technology (“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 a Deputy General Counsel for Energy and Climate.

Under the direction of the General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel for Energy and Climate provides legal advice and guidance in the areas of energy and climate policy for EEA, including in the areas of renewable energy procurements and incentive programs, energy efficiency programs and regulations, climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, utility ratemaking and related adjudications, and overall planning efforts to meet statewide greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reduction goals. The Deputy General Counsel will work closely with the General Counsel and policy staff as assigned to provide oversight of the agencies within EEA relevant to energy and climate policy, including DPU, DOER, MassCEC, and DEP, as well as other offices and divisions engaged with energy and climate / resilience issues, including MEPA, CZM, the Environmental Justice office, and the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (“MVP”) program.

In addition to the duties above, the Deputy General Counsel will assist in the day-to-day management of the EEA Office of the General Counsel, including public records, open meeting, and ethics law compliance, procurements, contracting, torts, document management, and other areas as needed. The position also involves coordinating and developing positions on litigation under the oversight of the General Counsel, and the incumbent may be asked to serve as liaison on assigned matters in the areas of energy and climate policy in communications with the Office of the Attorney General, Governor’s Legal Office, legal staff within other executive branch agencies and offices, and legislative offices.

Further duties of the Deputy General Counsel include: providing legal research and advice to internal staff on a range of legal matters; drafting, review and analysis of bills, legislation and regulations; assisting in the review and development of policies; review and approval of regulations proposed for promulgation by EEA agencies; representing the General Counsel at meetings; responding to inquiries and correspondence; and assisting with procurement and budget-related issues as pertaining to energy and climate issues.

Specific role and responsibilities:

The incumbent will:

Provide legal research and advice to EEA staff (including the General Counsel, Secretary and Undersecretaries) and agencies, and review and analyze proposed policies, legislation, programs, regulations, ratemaking and other regulatory proceedings, litigation, and other energy and climate-related initiatives.

Advise EEA staff and agency counsel and personnel with regard to requests under the Public Records Act, to ensure compliance and public access / transparency as to secretariat and agency public records.

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 supervise Associate General Counsels and support staff with regard to 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 managing junior lawyers and support staff; 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.

The ideal candidates would have 5-7 years of legal experience, preferably with knowledge and experience relating to energy law and climate law, as well as one of more of the following practice areas: environmental law; administrative law; real estate and land-use law; contracts or transactional law; litigation; law enforcement; or government/public law generally.

Special Requirements:

Applicants must have a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and be admitted to the Massachusetts Bar (or commit to admission to the Massachusetts Bar within a year of start date). 

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, 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, of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) 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 (A) experience.
2. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

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

1. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the (A) 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 VI

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 31, 2024, 12:16:40 PM

Number of Openings

: 1

Salary

: 84,719.15 – 119,000.00 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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