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Regulatory Policy Analyst

Austin, TX

About This Position: This position reports to Austin Water’s Chief Administrative Officer and is part of the Director’s Office team. Managing Austin Water’s state legislative program is a primary focus, on a seasonal basis. During other periods, primary focus includes supporting City Council and advisory commission processes and communications, in coordination with department executives and Director’s Office staff. Other duties include monitoring and analyzing federal legislation and working on key regulatory issues with Austin Water’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Regulatory Managers. Special projects and other duties may be assigned that could involve other governmental entities, as well as internal policies and procedures.


Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.


  1. Design and coordinate legislative strategies with appropriate staff to improve the department’s position in the industry.
  2. Serve as the liaison with industry, cooperatives, municipalities, new market entrants, and environmental and consumer organizations.
  3. Analyze and monitor state and federal regulatory and legislative trends as implemented throughout the industry.
  4. Oversee, monitor and participate in the state regulatory authorities’ processes including rule changes, workshops and projects.
  5. Perform economic analyses of state and federal operational and financial reports related to the industry.
  6. Testify as an expert witness in proceedings and workshops before the state regulatory authority, as required.
  7. Review financial and economic analyses and regulatory studies related to the industry.
  8. Serve as liaison with the technical staff of and the state regulatory agency.
  9. Provide research on regulatory related issues, analyze strategic alternatives recommend strategic policy.
  10. Promote department’s legislative program before the state legislature and its various committees.
  11. Represent department’s interests and positions before federal and state governmental bodies and industry associations.
  12. Serves as primary liaison and provides technical assistance to the City Council and Commissions.
  13. Provide leadership insight, and concepts in public and community relations activities
  14. Prepares status reports on legislative, City Council and other various assigned projects and briefs executive management.


Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:


  • May lead teams of personnel.


Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.


  • Advanced knowledge of regulatory processes at the state, federal and local level
  • Basic understanding of revenue requirements, rate design and rate filing requirements
  • Knowledge of utility regulation issues
  • Basic understanding of municipal utility finance and accounting
  • Knowledge of competitive business practices and analysis
  • Ability to understand and implement performance based measurements
  • Ability to complete detailed analysis
  • Ability to work independently and in teams
  • Ability to review materials to be submitted for regulatory proceedings
  • Skill in preparing and analyzing economic and statistical reports
  • Skill in communicating effectively, orally and in writing
  • Skill in using computers and related software applications
  • Skill in preparing professional reports, papers, and articles for publication


Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelors degree in Business, Economic, Public Affairs, or any utility regulatory process development field plus five (5) years of related work experience. 
  • Masters degree may substitute for experience up to two (2) years.


  • Licenses or Certifications: None.


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Knowledge of applicable federal, state and local laws, and experience with legislative processes, evaluating political conditions and making appropriate recommendations, drafting legislation or legislative agenda items and preparing responses to inquiries from elected or appointed officials
  • Experience with policy analysis, policy development and assessment of potential impacts
  • Experience communicating technical and complex information to lay people and executives, both orally and in writing, and maintaining confidentiality regarding politically sensitive matters
  • Demonstrated high proficiency and skill set acquired through experience working with public sector employees and elected officials at local or state levels 
  • Ability to travel to more than one work location and work occasional nights or weekends
  • Ability to meet tight deadlines with short notice, while maintaining strong attention to detail
  • Master’s Degree in Public Affairs, Public Administration, Political Science or related field 


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