Corporate Counsel - State Regulatory Attorney

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers' lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with the FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

The State Regulatory Attorney works directly with the transmission business units, department lawyers and outside counsel and in proceedings before state energy regulatory bodies regarding transmission matters. This individual handles legal matters and projects to include advising internal clients with respect to relevant statutory and regulatory developments, requirements and issues, and utility rates, regulations, orders and utility tariff and litigation and rulemaking proceedings, while involving a meaningful amount of legal writing. The attorney has responsibility for their own case load and has responsibility related to complex regulatory transmission matters.

The Legal department provides exceptional counsel that assures legal compliance and enables FirstEnergy to optimize business outcomes in all legal, regulatory, and commercial contexts. The Legal department is involved in every major activity and initiative involving all entities of FirstEnergy Corp.

The position reports to the Associate General Counsel who oversees state regulatory matters in seven jurisdictions and would have a reporting location within FirstEnergy's operational footprint.

This position is ON SITE, and can be in Akron, OH., Reading, PA., Greensburg, PA or Holmdel NJ. Other locations within the FE service territory (W VA, and MD) will also be considered. 

FirstEnergy takes a market-based approach to pay, which may vary depending on your location.  In addition, your actual base salary will depend on various factors such as your skills, qualifications, and experience.

The estimated pay range for this role is $200,940/k to $283,680/k for New Jersey

Responsibilities include:

• Preparation of formal applications, petitions, notifications, and other applicable documents, for siting new or upgrading existing transmission and substation or facilities in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia. 
• Support and coordinate testimony, and data request responses by technical disciplines. 
• Maintain proficiency with Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia siting procedures, regulations, and orders to ensure consistency and incorporate evolving direction from docket to docket.  
• Assist in preparations, evaluations, recommendations, and comments for proposed changes in regulatory and permitting policies or for generic transmission proceedings.
• Handling legal/regulatory transmission matters before the state energy regulatory bodies and appellate courts
• Working on complex transmission regulatory matters as part of a team with attorneys, business units, and outside counsel
• Handling aspects of multiple ongoing cases simultaneously
• Drafting and reviewing both legal pleadings and business documents
• Representing the Companies in mediation and litigation 
• Providing legal support and strategic and business advice to FirstEnergy transmission business units on state regulatory transmission matters
• Assisting, handling, and managing, as applicable, regulatory transmission matters before various state public utility regulatory agencies
• Working on litigated transmission matters and administrative rulemaking proceedings on transmission issues.

Qualifications include:

• J.D. degree from an accredited university is required.
• Minimum 10 years relevant work experience is required. Relevant work experience includes practicing law, legal writing and handling complex legal matters.
• Member in good standing of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, or Maryland state bar, with the ability to waive into the above listed jurisdictions.
• Solid written and oral communication skills.
• Able to work with all levels within the organization.
• Strong work ethic, initiative, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated willingness and ability to understand new topical areas.
• Able to multitask and manage time to adhere to strict deadlines.
• Prior experience related to state public utility regulation and practice before state energy regulatory bodies.
• Electric utility industry experience.
• Understanding of electric transmission and transmission siting procedures.
• Ability to interact effectively with transmission customers and project stakeholders.
• Ability to organize and manage teams.
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team on complex matters.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety 

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.