Public Utilities Director

About the Department

Perform complex administrative work planning, organizing, directing, managing and evaluating the Utilities Division to ensure consistency with the mission of the agency and to see that the cases are assessed, prepared and processed in the most effective, reasonable, professional and expedited manner, without favoritism or bias, and based on the record presented; through Division deputy directors, managers, and supervisors, provide guidance to professional, technical and office support staff involved in complex technical analysis of regulatory matters pertaining to public and investor owned electric, gas, telecommunications, cable, water and wastewater, natural gas, transportation/household goods, and solid waste utilities; oversee budgetary, personnel, case management and procurement activities of the Division; establish priorities in areas of budgeting, staffing, programs and resource utilization; advise Commission on technical issues in cases by providing testimony and guidance on contested or controversial issues; ensure that the Commission has complete and appropriate information to better understand the issues and complications; direct the operations of the Utilities Division by working with direct subordinates on methods used for decision making and the way in which these methods can better support the mission of the agency to make the agency's methods and motives open and transparent; evaluate the effectiveness of Division policies, procedures and practices; use personal style to heighten awareness of the need for continual improvement; perform administrative duties required by Commission policy or the Chairman. Specific duties may include: direct the daily operation of multiple major case processing and customer service sections of the Division with each headed by subordinate supervisory personnel and having different functions-the most important being case processing, analysis and preparation; provide tools and access to training necessary for staff to ensure timely, quality, staff recommendations on all case filings before the Commission; coordinate the work of the Utilities Division with other divisions of the Commission, oversee the development of work standards, policies and technical procedures to ensure compliance of utility regulatory standards with State and federal laws and regulations; formulate, plan, evaluate and implement complex and technical procedures established for the compilation and analysis of financial, and utility operations data; draft internal policies and provide direction for the Utilities Division staff; make recommendations to the Commission concerning utility regulation, agency policies and procedures; participate in planning and policy development; negotiate, monitor and implement utility case stipulations; handle sensitive and routine contacts with and inquiries from the general public, utilities and government officials; attend meetings, training seminars and conferences to keep abreast of trends, best practices, changes in applicable laws, rules, procedures and applicable case decisions; direct recruitment activities, interview job applicants and recommend applicants for hire; perform employee evaluations; apply progressive discipline policies and recommend dismissals; be responsible for staff hiring and termination recommendations; communicate with the public via speeches, email, telephone and routine correspondence and act in a public relations and information exchange role; advise the Commission on the impacts of pending legislation; provide suggestions for legislative changes; help draft legislative rules and prepare implementation plans for new legislative initiatives related to utility regulation; provide the Commission with a comprehensive view of Division operations by contributing to the preparation of reports, conducting analytical and statistical research and by providing alternative solutions and assessments of the long range impact on work processes and other implications of the studies; resolve complaints from the general public and from government officials; and perform related duties as required.

***See the special salary range for the Public Service Commission below.

Click The APPLY Link To Apply Online. 

Minimum Qualifications

Training: Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited four year college or university with a major or minor in accounting, finance, economics, business administration, management, engineering or closely related field, criminal justice or related law enforcement field or admission to the practice of law in West Virginia.
          Substitution: Experience as described below may substitute for the required training on a year-for-year basis except for the admission to the practice of law. 

Experience: Seven years of full-time or equivalent paid part-time professional experience in a regulated utility, utility regulatory agency, utility consultation, public/business administration, or in accounting or auditing, or engineering, or law enforcement, two years of which must have been in an administrative or supervisory capacity.

Other Qualifications

PSC salary exemption per West Virginia Code §24-1-1

Special salary range for the Public Service Commission:

The Public Service Commission has established a salary range of $102,039 to $133,594 for this classification.

Benefits

State employment offers a variety of benefits.  Click HERE to visit the Division of Personnel's Benefits Page.

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerWest VirginiaAddress 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
Building 3 Suite 500
Charleston, West Virginia, 25305 Phone(304) 558-3950
Website http://personnel.wv.gov