Agency Legal Director
Hybrid
Recruitment # 251210-8539MP-001
Location New Britain, CT
Date Opened 12/12/2025 11:00:00 AM
Salary $124,895 - $170,298/year (New state employees start at minimum of salary range)
Job Type Open to the Public
Close Date 12/30/2025 11:59:00 PM
Go Back Apply View Benefits (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits)
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Introduction
The State of Connecticut (https://portal.ct.gov/) , Public Utilities Regulation Authority ( PURA (http://ct.gov/pura) ) is seeking an Agency Legal Director (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/specs/classspecdisplay.asp?ClassNumber=8539MP&R1=undefined&R3=undefined) to join their team in New Britain.
The Agency Legal Director will act as the principle legal advisor to PURA at an exciting time as the agency transitions to an independent agency with five seated commissioners. Reporting to the Chairman, the Agency Legal Director will oversee all legal functions of PURA, including review and consideration of updating regulations, all contracting, interfacing with the Attorney General's Office with respect to any litigation, working with Human Resources with respect to employment matters; and ensuring PURA's compliance with open records and open meetings laws.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU:
Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
Professional growth and development opportunities
A healthy work/life balance !
Thirteen (13) paid holidays each calendar year. Employees who are requested to work as part of a regular schedule on a "premium" holiday (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) shall be paid at the rate of time and one-half for hours worked in addition to regular pay for the day.
Position Highlights
The Agency Legal Director will assist the commissioners and staff with all legal issues at PURA. This role may include:
In coordination with the commissioners, direct staff and operations of the agency's various divisions as to any and all legal matters;
Performing and overseeing general agency work such as evaluating and potentially seeking updates to regulations; contracting with external vendors; advising the commissioners as to any litigation; ensuring compliance and best practices as to ethical standards; advising as to employment issues; and managing PURA's compliance with all open records and open meetings standards;
Model and cultivate an ethical, reasonable, and considerate culture;
Facilitate effective and open communication throughout the agency;
Advise the commissioners on high level organizational management including departmental or unit structures;
Support individual lawyers' professional development;
Direct and conduct research on legal issues or relating to the agency's work;
Participate in the drafting and review of all proposed regulations, agency policies, contracts and agreements;
Monitor Agency activities to ensure that they confirm with policy, procedures, regulations, legislation and state and federal laws;
Testify before legislative committees and perform related legislative duties;
Perform other related duties as needed.
Occasional travel and participation in events outside regular work hours may be required.
About Us
PURA is divided into multiple offices, each of which specialize in the execution of different portions of PURA's broad statutory authority and mission statement to ensure safe, adequate, and reliable utility service at reasonable rates. PURA is responsible for regulating the many aspects of Connecticut's utility sectors, which can be categorized into three key buckets:
Innovation
Pursuing the prudent and innovative modernization of the electric, natural gas, and water systems through regulatory reform.
Sustainability
Directing the design and implementation of multiple clean energy programs including, renewable energy deployment, electric vehicle charging, battery storage, and innovation pilots in pursuit of Connecticut's climate and energy policy goals; and
Coordinating with diverse stakeholders including utilities, other state agencies, community advocates, environmental groups, developers, private industry, and citizens to ensure equitable and affordable access to all programs and services.
Accountability
Ensuring that the utilities charge only fair and equitable rates;
Implementing performance-based regulation of the state's utility companies;
Overseeing investment in the state's utility infrastructure to promote service quality, reliability, and safety; and
Implementing federal requirements for natural gas pipeline safety
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit (https://jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=KIT) for additional support throughout the recruitment process.
BEFORE YOU APPLY:
Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69 (https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/pa/pdf/2021PA-00069-R00SB-00056-PA.pdf) , resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the 'Apply' or 'Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
AFTER YOU APPLY:
Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
QUESTIONS? WE'RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Nick Naples at Nicholas.Naples@ct.gov.
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency this class is accountable for directing the legal staff of the agency and acting as legal advisor to the Commissioner in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General on complex legal issues.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Directs staff and operations of the agency's legal division;
Coordinates, plans and manages division activities;
Formulates program goals and objectives;
Develops or assists in development of related policies;
Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
Evaluates staff;
Prepares or assists in preparation of division budget;
Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of division who might impact program activities;
In consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, directs research of legal issues or researches complex legal issues relating to the agency;
Examines potential litigation and makes recommendations to agency Commissioner;
Drafts legal memoranda, legal opinion letters or declaratory rulings;
Participates in drafting and review of all proposed legislation, regulations and agency policies and guidance documents;
Oversees drafting and administrative review of all agency contracts and agreements; may manage all FOIA requests for the agency;
Conducts investigations as required;
Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
May act as agency legislative liaison;
May testify before legislative committee;
Performs related duties are required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
Considerable knowledge of
and ability to apply management principles and practices;
and ability to interpret relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
relevant agency policies and procedures;
the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act;
legal practices and procedures in federal courts and state venues;
legislative processes;
Considerable
interpersonal skills;
oral and written communication skills.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Five (5) years of experience as an attorney with some responsibility for research, development, planning and review of legislative and/or regulatory programs.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE
Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
NOTE: Managerial experience is defined as formulating program goals and objectives, developing and implementing program procedures, initiating program policies and developing and/or monitoring a budget.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience with internally representing organizational or institutional clients, including government agencies or private companies;
Experience with advising leadership teams with more than one member;
Administrative law experience, including interpreting state or federal statutes and regulations including the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act (UAPA);
Experience with interpretation of and compliance with Freedom of Information statutes;
Experience with working with private or public outside counsel on litigation matters in state or federal courts or before administrative bodies;
Experience with contracting;
Experience with corporate or organizational governance, including developing organizational structures and standards;
Experience with supervising attorneys and legal support staff;
Experience with project management, working on 2 or more projects simultaneously, while adhering to deadlines.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.
Click on a link below to apply for this position:
Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online
