Energy and Environmental Protection Office Director; Legal)(Environmental Quality

Energy and Environmental Protection Office Director (Legal)(Environmental Quality)

Are you an Attorney who is committed to making Connecticut a great place to live and work? The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Office of Legal Counsel has an exciting opportunity for an Office Director (Legal) position. Specifically, this position will lead the legal team supporting the Environmental Quality Branch and its programs.

• Location:
  
  Hartford, CT (hybrid work schedule)
• Schedule:
  
  Full-time, 40 hours per week

• Visit our NEW State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.

DEEP is charged with conserving, improving and protecting the natural resources and the environment of the state of Connecticut as well as making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state. The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in rebuilding Connecticut's economy and creating jobs.

The Office Director (Legal) is responsible for supporting the Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner of the Environmental Quality Branch, and the personnel within the Bureaus of Air Management (Air), Water Protection and Land Reuse (WPLR), and Materials Management and Compliance Assurance (MMCA). The position and its staff provide legal support on state and federal environmental programs, enforcement cases, permitting matters, administrative proceedings, petitions for declaratory rulings, regulations and legislation, and everyday legal questions.

• Provide legal guidance to achieve programmatic goals of clean water, clean air, waste minimization, remediation of pollution and climate change adaptation.
• Review, draft and implement statutes and regulations impacting human health and the environment.
• Ensure state programs remain eligible for federal funding by managing overlapping federal and state jurisdictions.
• Assist with permitting and enforcement matters for consistency in application.
• Communicate with other government branches to provide notice of significant matters or seek direction on policy and legal strategy decisions.
• Support enforcement efforts, drafting, negotiating and reviewing consent orders.
• Manage a team of attorneys with similar responsibilities.

Four (4) years of experience in the practice of law including administrative law with responsibility for research, development, planning and review of legislative and/or regulatory programs.

One (1) year of the general experience must include responsibility for performing energy or environmental protection work.

• Experience working with principals and subject matter experts through legal issues in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience preparing written legal communications (memoranda, briefs, decisions, opinions).
• Experience leading teams and managing projects, reviewing work product of legal personnel.
• Experience with administrative processes and the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act.
• Experience in administrative or judicial proceedings in state or federal forums.
• Experience collaborating with subject matter experts to achieve client objectives.
• Experience independently preparing, reviewing, and revising contracts.
• Experience drafting, reviewing or implementing legislation or regulations with internal and external stakeholder engagement.

Incumbents in this class must be a member of the Connecticut Bar.

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.