State of New Mexico
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission serves New Mexico by ensuring safe operations and reliable utility services at fair, just, and reasonable rates consistent with the State's legal, economic, environmental, and social policies.
This posting will be used for ongoing recruitment and may close at any time. Applicant lists may be screened more than once.
Why does the job exist? The hearing examiner is a public-facing position involving adjudicatory responsibility with substantial autonomy. Hearing examiners serve as proxies for the Commissioners in matters over which the Commission designates them to preside. Hearing examiners must exercise the faculties of a skilled judicial officer in the highly technical field of utility regulation. As adjudicators, hearing examiners preside over sometimes lengthy public hearings involving multiple parties and issue timely decisions and certifications that afford the Commission sufficient time to deliberate in every case. They must also address parties' pleadings and motions in cogently reasoned orders, know when and if to hold prehearing meetings and status conferences with parties, and respond to Commissioner and advisor inquiries and questions in a timely and thorough fashion.
How does it get done? As administrative law judges, hearing examiners are expected to eventually master the complex area of regulatory law, including the regulation of public utilities, electric cooperatives, small water service companies, and telecommunications carriers. Hearing examiners must also demonstrate a strong grasp of procedural and evidentiary principles. The hearing examiner's key responsibility is to conduct hearings and issue independent recommended decisions that include findings of fact and conclusions of law to the Commissioners. This requires exceptional writing and organizational skills. The hearing examiners each have their own case loads, but also work as a team within and across divisions. Hearing examiners are expected to engage in self study as well as participating in educational opportunities presented by the PRC and beyond.
Who are the customers? Commission proceedings invariably implicate public rights and the public interest. Commissioners are appointed to exercise specialized professional judgment to advance the public interest. Similarly, the hearing examiner (acting as the Commissioner's proxy) strives to ensure that the public interest is served, and the record developed in such a way that the Commissioners will in turn be able to do what they believe is necessary to optimize public interest.
Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate will have some familiarity with utility-regulation principles and the regulatory field in New Mexico and nationally. It is essential that the candidate have excellent organizational skills as well as the ability to manage workload independently, prioritize competing deadlines, and meet established timelines in a mostly remote work environment. The candidate will be eager to to engage in self-directed study of utility-regulation concepts beyond what is necessary to adjudicate individual cases assigned. The measure of the hearing examiner is their written work, and the ideal candidate will have the highest levels of legal acumen and writing skill. The ideal candidate will have proficiency with all technological equipment (including hardware, software, and applications).
Minimum Qualification Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and two (2) years of experience in the practice of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license.
Employment Requirements Driver's License and Background check prior to hire.
Working Conditions Work is sometimes performed in an office setting and sometimes remotely, but the hearing examiner must be consistently available by phone, text message and email during regular work hours. Hearing examiners often teleconference and use the Teams and Zoom platforms so any candidate must be proficient in these applications. The hearing examiner must be available for regular in-person meetings in our Santa Fe and Albuquerque offices as well. Travel may be required.
Supplemental Information Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here Agency Contact Information: Katrina Smedley (505) 490-5217. Email For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.