GENERAL COUNSEL-PSC - 61000026

Requisition No: 853294 

Agency: Public Service Commission

Working Title: GENERAL COUNSEL-PSC - 61000026

 Pay Plan: SMS

Position Number: 61000026 

Salary:  $125,000 - $155,000 

Posting Closing Date: 05/30/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

General Counsel

Florida Public Service Commission

Office of General Counsel

SMS - Open Competitive

Tallahassee, FL

Application Deadline: May 30, 2025

$125,000 - $155,000, commensurate with level of experience

Our Mission: 

The Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) is committed to making sure that Florida's consumers receive some of their most essential services — electric, natural gas, telephone, water, and wastewater — in a safe, reasonable, and reliable manner. In doing so, the FPSC exercises regulatory authority over utilities in one or more of three key areas: rate base/economic regulation; competitive market oversight; and monitoring of safety, reliability, and service.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options (For more information, please click https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/health);
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click https://myfrs.com);
• Paid Leave of Absence benefits, including Personal and Sick Leave;
• Nine paid holidays and one paid Personal Holiday each year;
• State Employee Tuition Waiver Program – Six credit hours per semester with the state college/university system;
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP);
• Deferred Compensation Plan;
• Tax Beneficial Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Flexible Work Schedules;
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – Student loans can be forgiven after 10 years of qualified public service, certain eligibility requirements must be met. (For more information, please click http://studentaid.gov/publicservice);
• And more!

Office of General Counsel:

The Office of General Counsel provides legal counsel to the Commission on all matters under the Commission’s jurisdiction. This office also supervises the procedural and legal aspects of all cases before the Commission. In addition, this office assists in responding to inquiries from the Legislature.

The office is responsible for defending Commission orders on appeal, for defending Commission rules challenged before the Division of Administrative Hearings, and for representing the Commission before state and federal courts. To assist FPSC offices and divisions, this office offers support in making filings with, or presentations to, other federal, state, or local agencies. The office advises in the promulgation of rules and attends or conducts rulemaking hearings at the Commission’s direction. It also reviews procurement contracts; counsels the Commission on personnel, contractual, public records, and other administrative legal matters.

In cases involving evidentiary hearings before the Commission or an Administrative Law Judge, the office is responsible for conducting discovery, presenting staff positions and testimony, and cross-examining other parties’ witnesses. In conjunction with the appropriate technical staff, this office prepares recommendations to the Commission and prepares written Commission orders.

Position Summary

The General Counsel serves as the head of the Office of General Counsel and reports to the Chairman and Commissioners of the FPSC. This executive leadership role is responsible for overseeing all legal functions, guiding regulatory and legislative efforts, and ensuring legal compliance across Commission operations.

Duties and Responsibilities (Not all-inclusive)

Legal Leadership and Department Oversight

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Commission’s legal division.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing legal team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and service to the public interest.
• Cultivate a dynamic team of attorneys dedicated to protecting and promoting the public interest in the regulation of utilities in Florida.
• Ensure the provision of sound legal advice to the Commission and its staff in administrative, legislative, and regulatory matters.

Legislative Support and Analysis

• Review legislation, including budget line items and policy language.
• Analyze and compare proposed and enacted legislation, identifying variances and impacts to Commission authority and operations.
• Monitor and interpret legislative proposals relevant to utilities, public administration, and regulatory frameworks.

Regulatory Compliance and Policy Development

• Lead the drafting of agency rules, legal policies, procedures, forms, and official notices.
• Oversee legal research initiatives and ensure alignment with state law and administrative codes.
• Make legal recommendations to the Commission on proposed rules, actions, and enforcement proceedings.
• Ensure Commission policies comply with applicable federal and state law.

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Member in good standing with the Florida Bar.
• At least seven (7) years of full-time professional legal experience.
• Licensed and authorized to practice law in the State of Florida.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of legal work in utilities, regulated industries or economic development.
• Demonstrated experience drafting and interpreting state legislation and regulatory rules.
• Strong background in administrative law, rulemaking, or utility regulation.

Skills and Competencies

• Proven ability to lead and inspire legal teams.
• Strong analytical, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• Political and legislative acumen with a deep understanding of Florida government operations.
• Ability to manage complex legal projects with competing deadlines.
• Professional integrity, discretion, and a commitment to public service.

Information verifying answers to the Qualifying Questions must be found on the Employment Application.

Background investigations, including criminal history record checks and education verification's, will be conducted on all applicants recommended for hiring. You may be required to provide your Social Security Number in order to conduct this background check.

Employment Eligibility:

Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. The Florida Public Service Commission participates in the Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic Employment Verification Program (E-Verify) to assist in this required verification process.

Civil Service Law requires all males born after December 31, 1959, to register with the Selective Service System unless they meet certain exemptions under the law. Failing to register when required makes one ineligible for appointment.

We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.

EEO/AA and Accommodation:

The state of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or the People First Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the Commission’s Human Resources Section must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

Post-Employment Restrictions:

Pursuant to Section 350.0605(2), F.S., former Commission employees are prohibited from appearing before the Commission to represent any client regulated by the Commission on any matter in which he/she had participated and which was pending at the time of his/her termination.

Pursuant to Section 112.313, F.S., FPSC Senior Management Service or Selected Exempt Service employees shall not personally represent another person or entity for compensation before the Commission, for a period of two years following vacation of his/her position.  Exceptions to this law are provided for former Commission employees who are employed by another agency of State government and those employed by the Commission prior to January 1, 1995.

How to Apply:

You may apply on-line for this position at https://jobs.myflorida.com/go/Public-Service-Commission/2818000/. If you experience problems applying on-line, please call People First Staffing Administration toll free at 1-877-562-7287.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.