PUC Jobs Board

Posting Details

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. The PRC is located in Santa Fe, but has a satellite office in Albuquerque.

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 in which the hearing examiners act as a proxies for the

Commissioners. Hearing examiners must perform the duties of an administrative law judge in the highly

technical field of utility regulation. Hearing examiners preside over public evidentiary hearings, usually

involving multiple parties, and issue timely recommended decisions and certifications to the Commission. They

must also address parties' pleadings and motions with prompt, well reasoned orders, know when and if to hold

pre-hearing 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 learn 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 responsibilities are to conduct hearings and issue

independent recommended decisions that include findings of fact and conclusions of law to the

Commissioners. This requires strong writing and organizational skills.

The hearing examiners each carry their own case load, 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. Hearing examiners

must also conduct proceedings with the goal of serving the public interest by providing the Commission with a

full, fair, and accurate evidentiary record and recommendations.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have some familiarity with utility-regulation principles and the regulatory field in New

Mexico and nationally or a willingness to commit themselves to learning this complex area under some time

pressure. 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 should be eager to to engage in self-directed study of utility-regulation

concepts beyond what is necessary to adjudicate individual cases assigned. Finally, the ideal candidate must

be highly articulate and have exceptional legal writing skills.

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.