BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

NOTICE OF VACANCY

POSTING: 05 – 2026

OPENING DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2026

CLOSING DATE: FEBRUARY 20, 2026

TITLE: REGULATORY OFFICER 1 (ATTORNEY)

WORKWEEK: 35 HOURS (NL)

EXISTING VACANCIES: 1

SALARY: $80,755.57 - $118,678.17

DIVISION/OFFICE: GENERAL COUNSEL’S OFFICE

OPEN TO: GENERAL PUBLIC
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
New Jersey’s lead energy regulator, the Board of Public Utilities (“Board”), is looking for attorneys to join its General Counsel’s Office.

The Board is a quasi-judicial body charged with ensuring safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable, non-discriminatory rates and developing a competitive, cost-effective energy policy that promotes responsible growth.

The agency is also tasked with implementing significant clean energy policy goals and launching programs that promote renewable energy to meet our 100% clean energy goals. Board attorneys are at the forefront of implementing these policies and work in cross-disciplinary teams to solve some of the most complex and impactful legal issues in New Jersey.

WORK RESPONSIBILITIES
Analyze and evaluate legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation.

Assist in the drafting, coordinating, and revision of rules, regulations, and orders that may be required to implement the statutory authority, powers, and duties of the agency.

As assigned, assist in the preparation and review of contracts and procurement documents.

Review and analyze regulatory filings and proposals.

Review decisions, orders, memoranda, correspondence, and other instruments prepared by the staff prior to adoption or issuance.

Advise the agency and supervisory officials regarding legal sufficiency and policy continuity.

Evaluate Initial Decisions issued by Administrative Law Judges and review opinions of various courts.

Draft agency decisions, orders, notices, proposals, memoranda, and correspondence, including orders adopting or modifying Initial Decisions.

Assist the General Counsel in advising the agency and staff with respect to the application of various statutes, federal and state, including the New Jersey Administrative Code, Administrative Procedure Act, and the Open Public Records Act, as well as other applicable laws.

Assist in coordinating public hearings and meetings, and evaluation of testimony and proofs to facilitate the presentation of testimony in state and federal courts and agencies.

Assist in formulating policies and procedures governing the conduct of all formal proceedings. Interact with the stakeholder community and the public. Participate in investigations and in coordinating activities with other departments of state or the federal government.

Assist the General Counsel in coordinating activities with the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Law and Public Safety.

Recommend responses to informal inquiries regarding jurisdiction or the policy of the agency.

The successful candidate must be an excellent writer, work well as part of an integrated team, organize projects, prepare documents, make recommendations on the impact of proposed policies and/or legislation, and do other tasks assigned.

REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree.

EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience in conducting legal research, analyzing and evaluating legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation, or the review and analysis of regulatory matters in a government agency; or one (1) year of experience as an attorney.

LICENSE: Must be eligible to practice as an Attorney-At-Law in the State of New Jersey and possess a current Certificate of Good Standing issued by the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners, or other license to practice law issued by any state in the United States.

RESUME NOTE: Eligibility determination will be based upon information presented on the resume and/or education documents provided. Applicants who possess foreign degrees (degrees earned outside of the U.S.) are required to provide an evaluation indicating the U.S. equivalency prior to the closing date. Failure to do so may result in your ineligibility.

GENERAL INFORMATION
BENEFITS: The State of New Jersey offers a variety of employee benefits statewide, including:
• Health and Dental Benefit Plans
• Prescription Drug Plan
• Vision Care Reimbursement
• Deferred Compensation
• 12 Vacation Days, 15 Sick Days, 3 Administrative Leave Days
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Telework available for some positions* (Pursuant to the BPU’s policy, procedures, and/or guidelines.)
• Flexible and Health Savings Accounts
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness
• Paid Leave for Military Training

HOURS OF WORK: The hours of work for this position are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All No Limit (NL) titles will be required to perform work beyond the stated hours of work as needed, in compliance with applicable collective bargaining agreements and laws.

STATE AS A MODEL EMPLOYER (SAME) APPLICANTS If you are applying under the NJ “SAME” program, your supporting documents (Schedule A or B letter), must be submitted along with your resume by the closing date indicated above.

The SAME program allows candidates, who identify as having a significant disability, to apply for non-competitive and unclassified positions through a fast track hiring process.

For more information about the SAME program and the Fast Track Hiring program, please click https://www.nj.gov/csc/same/overview/index.shtml here if you have any questions, please email, or call the contact as indicated on the job vacancy announcement.

TELEWORK: This position may be eligible to participate in the Department's pilot Telework Program/Policy, which offers eligible employees the opportunity to work remotely up to two (2) days per week, if approved by Management per operational needs, subject to all requirements of the Department’s Telework Program/Policy.

For questions regarding Telework eligibility, please ask during the interview process if selected for an interview.

WORK AUTHORIZATION: In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification forms upon hire.

Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States according to the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services Regulations. The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorships for citizenships or Visas to the United States.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: The “New Jersey First Act,” N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70) effective September 1, 2011, contains new residency requirements for public officers and employees, unless exempted under the law. Current, new, or prospective employees should be aware of the following: Effective September 1, 2011, all employees of State and local government must reside in the State of New Jersey, unless exempted under the law.

If you already work for the State or local government as of September 1, 2011, and you do not live in New Jersey, you are not required to move to New Jersey.

However, if you begin your office, position or employment on September 1, 2011, or later, you must reside in New Jersey.

If you do not reside in New Jersey, you have one year after the date you take your office, position, or employment to relocate your residence to New Jersey. If you do not do so, you are subject to removal from your office, position, or employment. For more information, visit: https://www.nj.gov/labor/research-info/njfirst.shtml

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Submissions must be received in time to the email address listed below to be considered.

Failure to submit all required documents may result in an ineligibility determination. Interviews will be granted based on the resume.

If you are qualified, please submit the documents listed below by 5:00 pm on the closing date of this vacancy:
• Cover letter/letter of interest indicating the posting number
• A current resume
• Proof of degree (a copy of your final official/unofficial transcripts and/or foreign degree evaluation)
• Writing Sample
• A complete State of NJ Employment Application and Personal Relationships Disclosure Form

All documents must be submitted via email at humanresources@bpu.nj.gov (Subject line must include the specific job posting number).

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree.

EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience in conducting legal research, analyzing and evaluating legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation, or the review and analysis of regulatory matters in a government agency; or one (1) year of experience as an attorney.

LICENSE: Must be eligible to practice as an Attorney-At-Law in the State of New Jersey and possess a current Certificate of Good Standing issued by the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners, or other license to practice law issued by any state in the United States.

About NJ Board of Public Utilities

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities ("NJBPU" or “Board”) is the state agency with authority to oversee the regulated utilities, which provide critical services such as natural gas, electricity, water, telecommunications, and cable television. The law requires the Board to ensure safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey.The Board addresses issues of consumer protection, energy reform, deregulation of energy, and telecommunications services and the restructuring of utility rates to encourage energy conservation and competitive pricing in the industry.The Board is also responsible for monitoring utility service and responding to consumer complaints.The Board is considered a quasi-judicial body, meaning that it functions similar to a court or judge. Anyone may file a petition (or a request for action) asking the Board to consider a matter within its jurisdiction. Most often petitions are filed by the utilities, ratepayers, or interested parties, but sometimes the Board will initiate a matter on its own.Once a petition is filed, the Board decides if it will retain the matter (which will become a case) or send the petition to the Of...fice of Administrative Law (OAL). If the case is sent to the OAL, a judge will make an initial decision that the Board will ultimately accept, reject, or change. Regardless of whether the case is sent to the OAL or retained by the Board, the case goes through a legal process that may involve public hearings, briefs, discovery, and testimony. The parties involved include the petitioner, the Board’s staff, and often the Division of Rate Counsel (the state entity charged with representing the ratepayers and consumers of New Jersey). Others may ask to be involved as an intervener or a participant, but those parties must meet certain standards provided in the regulations (N.J.A.C. 1:1-16.3) to be granted that status.Members of the public are invited to voice their opinions at public hearings. Public hearings are listed on NJBPU's website and notices of these hearings appear in newspapers. All evidence, arguments, and comments provided at the public hearings are made part of the record to ensure that the OAL judge and/or the Board is making an informed and impartial decision based upon the facts as presented by both sides. It is important that the public provide its input at the public hearings to ensure these comments are included in the record of the case.The Board then decides the case at one of its public agenda meetings, and will issue an order setting forth the reason for its decision. The Board’s decision may be appealed to the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court.

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