Energy and Environmental Protection Office Director (Legal)(Environmental Quality)
Energy and Environmental Protection Office Director (Legal)
Environmental Quality
Recruitment #251224-1752MP-001
Location Hartford, CT
Date Opened 1/5/2026 12:00:00 PM Salary $115,466* - $157,448/year (*New State Employees Start at Minimum) Job Type Open to the Public Close Date 1/20/2026 11:59:00 PM
Go Back Apply View Benefits
Introduction
Are you an Attorney who is committed to making Connecticut a great place to live and work?
The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's (DEEP) Office of Legal Counsel has an exciting opportunity for an Office Director (Legal) position. Specifically, this position will lead the legal team supporting the Environmental Quality Branch and its programs.
The Office of Legal Counsel, in the Office of the Commissioner, serves the diverse and interesting legal needs of all three branches of the agency. Those branches are Environmental Quality (EQ), which includes air, materials management, and water programs; Environmental Conservation (EC), including the natural resources and outdoor recreation bureaus; and Energy, including the offices of energy supply, energy demand, and buildings and transportation decarbonization within the Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy (BETP).
The Office of Legal Counsel also provides legal services related to public contracting and procurement, purchases of real property, leases, grants, requests for proposals and a variety of other transactional matters. The legal team provides advice and support to the Commissioner and agency personnel in regard to legislation, regulations, permits, enforcement, petitions for declaratory ruling, ethics, employment, and open records matters, among other things. In-house legal personnel work closely with the Office of the Attorney General on state and federal litigation, claims before the Office of the Claims Commissioner, regulations, and contracts. The in-house legal staff represent the Department before entities such as the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Energy, and other federal and state administrative agencies.
If you are licensed to practice law in the State of CT and looking for the next role in your legal career, we invite you to explore this opportunity and apply!
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
DEEP is charged with conserving, improving and protecting the natural resources and the environment of the state of Connecticut as well as making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state. The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in rebuilding Connecticut's economy and creating jobs - and to fostering a sustainable and prosperous economic future for the state.
You may learn more about DEEP here.
YOUR ROLE
The Office Director (Legal) has a particular focus on supporting the Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner of the Environmental Quality Branch, and the personnel within the Bureaus of Air Management (Air), Water Protection and Land Reuse (WPLR), and Materials Management and Compliance Assurance (MMCA). This position, along with the staff it oversees, plays a key role in providing legal support on both state and federal environmental programs, addressing and resolving enforcement cases; assessing legal issues that arise in permitting matters; supporting the commissioner, deputy commissioner and agency employees in administrative proceedings; reviewing petitions for declaratory rulings and drafting responses and decisions; drafting and reviewing regulations and legislation; and fielding the day to day legal questions that arise.
Functions of this position include, but are not limited to:
Selection Plan
Important Details For This Recruitment
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.
Before You Apply
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Samantha Rivera via email at Samantha.Rivera@CT.Gov.
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Office of Consumer Counsel this class is accountable for directing the staff and programs of an office.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Four (4) years of experience in the practice of law including administrative law with some responsibility for research, development, planning and review of legislative and /or regulatory programs.
Minimum Qualifications - Special Experience
One (1) year of the General Experience must have included responsibility for performing energy or environmental protection work.
Preferred Qualifications
Incumbents in this class must be a member of the Connecticut Bar.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
Click on a link below to apply for this position:
Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet.
Environmental Quality
Recruitment #251224-1752MP-001
Location Hartford, CT
Date Opened 1/5/2026 12:00:00 PM Salary $115,466* - $157,448/year (*New State Employees Start at Minimum) Job Type Open to the Public Close Date 1/20/2026 11:59:00 PM
Go Back Apply View Benefits
Introduction
Are you an Attorney who is committed to making Connecticut a great place to live and work?
The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's (DEEP) Office of Legal Counsel has an exciting opportunity for an Office Director (Legal) position. Specifically, this position will lead the legal team supporting the Environmental Quality Branch and its programs.
The Office of Legal Counsel, in the Office of the Commissioner, serves the diverse and interesting legal needs of all three branches of the agency. Those branches are Environmental Quality (EQ), which includes air, materials management, and water programs; Environmental Conservation (EC), including the natural resources and outdoor recreation bureaus; and Energy, including the offices of energy supply, energy demand, and buildings and transportation decarbonization within the Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy (BETP).
The Office of Legal Counsel also provides legal services related to public contracting and procurement, purchases of real property, leases, grants, requests for proposals and a variety of other transactional matters. The legal team provides advice and support to the Commissioner and agency personnel in regard to legislation, regulations, permits, enforcement, petitions for declaratory ruling, ethics, employment, and open records matters, among other things. In-house legal personnel work closely with the Office of the Attorney General on state and federal litigation, claims before the Office of the Claims Commissioner, regulations, and contracts. The in-house legal staff represent the Department before entities such as the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Energy, and other federal and state administrative agencies.
If you are licensed to practice law in the State of CT and looking for the next role in your legal career, we invite you to explore this opportunity and apply!
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
- LOCATION: this position is based in Hartford, CT and offers some flexibility for a hybrid work schedule.
- SCHEDULE: this is a full-time position, 40 hours per week.
- Visit our NEW State Employee Benefits Overview page!
- Professional growth and development opportunities;
- A healthy work/life balance to all employees;
- The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
DEEP is charged with conserving, improving and protecting the natural resources and the environment of the state of Connecticut as well as making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state. The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in rebuilding Connecticut's economy and creating jobs - and to fostering a sustainable and prosperous economic future for the state.
You may learn more about DEEP here.
YOUR ROLE
The Office Director (Legal) has a particular focus on supporting the Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner of the Environmental Quality Branch, and the personnel within the Bureaus of Air Management (Air), Water Protection and Land Reuse (WPLR), and Materials Management and Compliance Assurance (MMCA). This position, along with the staff it oversees, plays a key role in providing legal support on both state and federal environmental programs, addressing and resolving enforcement cases; assessing legal issues that arise in permitting matters; supporting the commissioner, deputy commissioner and agency employees in administrative proceedings; reviewing petitions for declaratory rulings and drafting responses and decisions; drafting and reviewing regulations and legislation; and fielding the day to day legal questions that arise.
Functions of this position include, but are not limited to:
- Providing legal guidance to and representation of the Commissioner or agency personnel to help achieve programmatic goals of clean water, clean air, waste minimization, remediation of pollution and adaptation to climate change;
- Reviewing, drafting and implementing statutes and regulations that have direct impacts on human health and the environment, including discharges to water, emissions to air, coastal issues, and management of both solid and hazardous waste;
- Reviewing and understanding the overlapping federal and state jurisdictions and working to ensure that state programs approved by the federal government remain eligible for federal funding. This includes, but is not limited to, the state’s water, air, PCB, underground storage tank, and hazardous waste programs;
- Assisting with a multitude of permitting programs and enforcement matters to help ensure consistency in the application of administrative and programmatic requirements;
- Communicating with other branches of government, such as the Governor’s Office or the Office of the Attorney General, to provide notice of significant matters or seek direction on significant policy and legal strategy decisions.
- Supporting the bureaus’ enforcement efforts to include drafting, negotiating and reviewing consent orders, and;
- Managing a team of attorneys with similar responsibilities as listed above.
Selection Plan
Important Details For This Recruitment
- Incumbents in this class must be a member of the Connecticut Bar. Please include your credentials within your application.
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.
Before You Apply
- Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
- Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
- Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
- Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
- Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
- Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
- Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Samantha Rivera via email at Samantha.Rivera@CT.Gov.
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Office of Consumer Counsel this class is accountable for directing the staff and programs of an office.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Directs staff and operations of the office;
- Coordinates, plans and manages office activities;
- Formulates and implements office goals and objectives;
- Reviews and evaluates effectiveness of established or proposed policies and/or programs, assesses options, develops recommendations for improvement and drafts policy statements and regulations;
- Evaluates staff;
- Prepares or assists in development of office budget;
- Serves as liaison with other operating units, agencies, municipal, state and federal governments who might impact on program activities;
- Performs a variety of difficult, complex and sensitive legal work;
- Researches and advises Commissioner and senior level staff on matters pertaining to legislation, regulations, enforcement, administrative procedures and adjudication;
- Drafts legislation and regulations;
- Conducts hearings and prepares decisions;
- Coordinates and negotiates resolution of enforcement actions;
- Assists staff and Office of the Attorney General with court preparation;
- Provides assistance to staff in regard to enforcement issues and orders and civil penalties;
- Prepares reports and correspondence;
- Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
- Performs related duties as required.
- Considerable knowledge of
- and ability to interpret and apply relevant complex state and federal environmental, energy and conservation laws, statutes, regulations and programs;
- and ability to apply relevant agency policies and procedures;
- environmental protection and energy principles, practices and issues;
- Knowledge of
- and ability to apply management principles and practices;
- administrative law;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- Skill in researching and preparing matters involving contested cases;
- Analytical, negotiation and organizational skills;
- Ability to initiate and direct programs.
Four (4) years of experience in the practice of law including administrative law with some responsibility for research, development, planning and review of legislative and /or regulatory programs.
Minimum Qualifications - Special Experience
One (1) year of the General Experience must have included responsibility for performing energy or environmental protection work.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with principals and subject matter experts through legal issues in a fast-paced environment;
- Experience preparing written legal communications entailing legal research and analysis, including memoranda of law, legal briefs, decisions or opinions for judicial or administrative proceedings;
- Experience leading teams and managing projects, including the review and oversight of the work product and performance of legal personnel;
- Experience with administrative processes and the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act, including drafting or promulgating regulations, participating in or adjudicating contested case proceedings, or participating in administrative appeals;
- Experience in administrative or judicial proceedings in state or federal forums;
- Experience collaborating with subject matter experts to achieve client's objectives;
- Experience independently preparing, reviewing, and revising contracts;
- Experience drafting, reviewing or implementing legislation or regulations to include engagement with internal personnel as well as external stakeholders.
Incumbents in this class must be a member of the Connecticut Bar.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
Click on a link below to apply for this position:
Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet.