Regulatory Analyst 3 (Energy Planning)

The State of Washington is hiring three Regulatory Analyst 3 positions in Olympia, WA, focused on energy planning and regulatory oversight of utilities. These expert-level roles require technical analysis to support decision-making in clean energy resource acquisition. The positions are hybrid, requiring Washington state residency and occasional reporting to the Lacey headquarters. Salary ranges from $76,608 to $100,524 annually, with moderate travel expected.
Description WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Respect. Professionalism. Integrity.

Accountability. Regulatory Analyst 3 Help protect the consumers of Washington state. Salary Consideration: Range 65, Step A ($76,608) - Step L ($100,524) annually.

The starting employment offer will be determined based on the successful candidates' qualifications. Typically Step M of the pay range is a longevity step. This recruitment is open until April 29, 2025, at 11:59pm.

UTC reserves the right to render a hiring decision and/or choose to close or extend this recruitment at any given time. Applications for this recruitment could be used to fill comparable positions that open within the next 60 days. The Opportunity: The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is seeking to fill three (3) Regulatory Analyst 3 positions within the Energy Planning Section of the Regulatory Services Division.

These expert-level positions directly support the agency's mission by providing technical analysis and recommendations necessary for the Commission's decision-making processes with respect to energy planning, implementation, and the acquisition of clean energy resources at the lowest reasonable cost. The Energy Planning Section provides regulatory oversight of seven (7) electric and natural gas utilities serving approximately 3 million customers in Washington State with annual revenues exceeding $4.5 billion. Hybrid: Although these are hybrid opportunities, the successful incumbents must reside within Washington state and must be available to report to the Lacey, Washington headquarters building when needed

Travel: Moderate travel during and outside normal work hours, throughout Washington state or the United States, may be required. This includes occasional overnight stays. Who We Are: Our mission is to protect the people of Washington by ensuring that investor-owned utility and transportation services are safe, equitable, reliable, and fairly priced.

We protect consumers by regulating the rates, services, and practices of private or investor-owned utilities and transportation companies to ensure they are safe, equitable, reliable, and affordable. The UTC is continually recognized for its excellence and integrity as a regulatory agency, as we challenge the status quo and ourselves to ensure equitable outcomes for our customers and the people of Washington state. We recognize that our employees are the key to the agency's success.

We are committed to our work but value balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth, and offers continuing learning opportunities, meaningful work, and a comprehensive benefits package. For more information about our benefits or working at UTC, please visit our website.

What We Offer Our Employees: UTC fosters an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while striving to hire and retain a workforce from the communities we serve. We place importance on a healthy balance between personal and professional lives; offering flexible work schedules, wellness programs, and mobile/telework opportunities. Through the state, our employees (and their families) are offered options for medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance.

We offer enrollment into the state retirement programs and a deferred compensation plan. Throughout a calendar year, employees receive a minimum of 14 days of vacation leave per year and 11 paid holidays and 1 personal holiday in addition to accruing sick leave. Our Values: Respect - We treat every person and interaction with consideration and goodwill.

Professionalism - We are committed to excellence in our work and conduct. Integrity - We do the right things for the right reasons - trusting others to do the same. Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Competencies: EDI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment.

Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth. Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships. Inclusive Excellence & Allyship.

Duties The Position: Regulatory Analyst 3 positions provide advanced-level knowledge as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) working on utility filings related to energy planning and the clean energy transition by providing detailed analysis that balances the public interest. These positions make recommendations necessary for the commission's decision-making processes with respect to energy planning, implementation plans and reports. These expert-level positions perform work on complex issues with significant and broad impact on multi-billion-dollar gas and electric utilities, energy customers, and other communities in the state.

What you'll do: Research and analyze a wide variety of subjects in order to evaluate utility energy filings. Provide the commission with recommendations on decisions for utility filings through formal written memoranda, Commissioner briefings, public presentations, and in formal adjudications, such as general rate proceedings with written and oral testimony. This is achieved by communicating clearly and concisely, describing issues in easy-to-understand terms.

Expert-level recommendations are guided by the application of standard rules, procedures, orders, or processes, but also require exercising judgment or creativity. The successful candidates will independently undertake research that is directly relevant to the regulation of investor-owned utilities in Washington state. This is accomplished by reviewing key commission orders, policy statements, industry trends, and developments across the United States for information relevant to current and future Commission proceedings.

Engage with policy makers, agency leaders, Commissioners, industry advocates, company representatives, and other persons or groups affected by Commission decisions in a collaborative manner. Additional duties include, but aren't limited to the following: Reviews, analyzes, and reaches conclusions on complex and critical utility filings that may be broadly scoped and have significant impacts to consumers and utilities. Leads teams of analysts to assess energy planning filings by identifying and prioritizing key issues, collaborating with Energy section leaders and assigned attorneys, serving as the point of contact, ensuring team members are apprised of significant issues or events, providing quality control on analytical and written deliverables, writing testimony summarizing staff's position or overarching policy, and displaying emotional intelligence and intellectual humility as a leader.

Initiates and leads complex, specialized staff investigations concerning a utility's business practice or potentially problematic regulatory issue, quantifies the financial impact of that practice or issue (if any), identifies the qualitative and quantitative impacts of the practice or issue to ratepayers and the public interest, identifies the root cause of the issue, and recommends resolution through a specific course of action to appropriate decision makers including agency leaders. Provides information and process guidance to utilities, utility customers, and other persons or groups affected by Commission decisions. Leads rulemaking teams and/or contribute as a participant by drafting administrative rules to implement new legislation, streamline or improve existing administrative procedures, or eliminate or replace outdated processes.

Leads and participates in agency processes as a representative of the UTC. This includes preparing fiscal notes and detailing how a proposed bill would affect the agency's workload, providing responsive materials for requests for public records, and attending section meetings and the agency-required meetings. Qualifications Required Qualifications: A bachelor's degree involving a major study in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, law or related field from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or a foreign equivalent.

Please note that an advanced degree in one of the fields listed above may substitute for one (1) year of the desired experience. AND Three (3) years of professional research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters; OR two (2) years doing regulatory analysis for Washington state government, one (1) year of which must have been at the Regulatory Analyst 2 level or equivalent. OR Seven (7) years of professional research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters; or six (6) years performing regulatory analysis for Washington state government, one (1) year of which must have been at the second level or equivalent.

This experience must include: Research and quantitative analytical experience, which includes experience researching, evaluating, and drawing conclusions from large amounts of quantitative and qualitative data; supporting recommendations with facts and analysis; and interpreting laws, rules, policies, and procedures. Communication skills, which include both formal and informal written and oral communication tailored to specific audiences and settings. Team building experience, which includes experience developing positive, productive, and respectful working relationships with distinct stakeholders and co-workers.

Demonstrated ability to manage projects from start to finish, coordinate teams, and meet deadlines Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities in: Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking - Formulates judgments on complex issues, conclusions, and assertions through the identification, organization, and analysis of quantitative, qualitative, and anecdotal data, evidence, and research; reaches conclusions through the holistic review of multiple forms of evidence and identifies connections, gaps, discrepancies, and key data necessary to reach an informed decision; distinguishes information that is and is not pertinent to a decision or solution. Assesses the workload impact versus the value to the public interest of new proposal. Fundamental Regulatory Skills - Applies economic theory, accounting standards and principles, Commission policy and interpretive statements, legal precedents, administrative rules, and statutes in a manner consistent with the subject matter; examines issues to understand and discuss historical context; researches general fields of study to understand implication on regulatory mechanisms and practices including: economics, accounting, business administration, engineering, and computer science.

Effectively persuades others to voluntarily accept recommendations or advice. Writing and Communication - Writes clearly and concisely using the Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking core competency and holistically reasoned arguments; effectively translates complex technical concepts into messages non-technical audiences can readily understand; listens carefully, reflects upon what is being said, and responds appropriately; presents information clearly, accurately, and in an audience-specific manner; demonstrates situational awareness by adapting communication styles and tools to ensure that information is accessible to everyone including people of non-white cultures and backgrounds. Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct - Takes responsibility for actions and impacts; works collaboratively as a part of a team; respects the point of view of others and approaches disagreements about work matters with active listening and good will; ensures individual interactions incorporate equitable treatment of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Council and other marginalized communities and promptly reports incidences of inequity to a supervisor or leader; demonstrates UTC's Values at all times, through the lens of antiracism, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Leadership - Leads by example, always demonstrating the Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct core competency, exhibiting balance and fair-handedness in considering various perspectives, maintaining composure and level-headedness in difficult situations; demonstrates emotional intelligence and intellectual humility; pursues compromise and collaboration. Project Management - Plans, designs, organizes, leads, and executes the work of an individual or team project, ensuring a high-quality work product within specific time constraints; leads the development of project plans which includes, but is not limited to, establishing realistic timelines, identification of attainable project deliverables, articulating clear roles and responsibilities for team members, and specifies criteria for successful project completion; regularly monitors progress and provides updates to direct supervisor and applicable leaders on the status of the project, including but not limited to, risks and issues that affect the completion of project deliverable(s) and general status updates; displays the Leadership core competency, and facilitates the building and managing of interpersonal relationships to ensure project success; demonstrates personal accountability and commitment to the success of a project; responsible for managing and facilitating internal and external feedback processes. Mentorship - Explains and teaches a non-expert how to conduct analysis and reach a recommendation on the employee's area of expertise; demonstrates the Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct and Writing and Communication core competencies; acknowledges that peers may have differences in how they best receive information due to personal, cultural, or linguistic preferences and modifies mentorship approach so that it is accessible to the recipient.

Peer Review - Feedback is expected to demonstrate Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct and the Writing and Communication core competencies; be completed within a reasonable timeframe with reasonable accommodations as necessary consistent with section guidelines; be mindful of the personal, cultural, and linguistic preferences of the recipient. Continuous Process Improvement - Uses Lean tools and principles to continuously identify improvements, solve problems, and improve work processes. Participates on process improvement projects/teams and thoughtfully engages in section/division meetings.

Demonstration of UTC Values (expected of all employees and leadership): Respect: We treat every person and interaction with consideration and goodwill. Professionalism: We are committed to excellence in our work and conduct. Integrity: We do the right things for the right reasons- trusting others to do the same.

Demonstration of EDI Competencies (expected of...