Senior Rates Counsel, Regulated Water

Company Description

Veolia in North America is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country’s largest private water operator and technology provider as well as hazardous waste and pollution treatment leader. It offers a full spectrum of water, waste, and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery.

Veolia helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Veolia has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across North America.

Position Purpose:

The Senior Rates Counsel is an integral member of the Legal department supporting the Rates & Regulatory Affairs team within Veolia’s Regulated Water business unit. Regulated Water includes six (6) operating utilities that together serve more than 2 million customers in NY, NJ, PA, DE, RI and  Senior Rates Counsel leads the development and execution of national and multi-jurisdictional rate and regulatory strategies for the business.

This role provides guidance and advice on rates and regulatory matters, ensuring consistency and effectiveness across all operating utilities.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with Rates & Regulatory Affairs as well as with Finance, Operations, Legal, Communications, and Government Affairs to implement and support Veolia’s national and multi-jurisdictional rate and regulatory strategies.
• Provide support and guidance to the Rates & Regulatory Affairs team to maximize rate and regulatory effectiveness and drive overall cost efficiencies.
• Provide legal support to the Rates & Regulatory Affairs team with regulatory and compliance filings and hearings for the Company's operating utilities.
• Circulate relevant proposals for comment, assist with drafting and filing comments with agencies, and inform relevant personnel of rule adoptions (particularly as they relate to rates).
• Advise and support the Company’s operating utilities on regulatory and policy matters.
• Monitor select regulations impacting the water utility industry, and provide advice on the legal implications of proposed and newly enacted legislation upon the request of Company management (with a focus on rate implications).
• Work with various internal teams, including Government Affairs, Communications, Human Resources, Finance and Operations to design and support recommended changes to individual state laws and regulations to improve the rate and regulatory prospects of the Company.
• Keep the Senior Utility Counsel and General Counsel informed of complex, sensitive, and/or material matters and seek their counsel as needed.
• Perform all work professionally to protect the interests of Veolia, the Regulated Water business and our customers, and mitigate risks that could adversely impact operations and growth.

Education/Experience/Background:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree in law.
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in legal practice.
• At least 6 years of experience supporting or managing rate and regulatory legal dockets for a regulated utility (i.e., electric, gas, or water).
• Prior experience as in-house rates counsel required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Track record of successfully building professional relationships and institutional knowledge.
• Experience working in a highly matrixed reporting environment.
• Able to manage complex utility regulatory projects within multiple dockets across multiple jurisdictions.
• Able to produce outstanding results through effective management skills in a matrix organization using strong, collaborative relationships across multiple departments and functions.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of strategies and tactics to maximize rate and regulatory legal effectiveness and align state and company-wide efforts to achieve overall rate and regulatory legal objectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Advanced knowledge of public utility and general corporate laws and regulations.
• Adept at working with minimal…