Legal Affairs Strategic Advisors (2 positions)

Full Job Description

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served.

We are dedicated to keeping Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

The Legal Affairs Office provides legal advice to business units within the utility and serves as the primary interface with the City Attorney’s Office. Seattle City Light is looking to hire two Strategic Advisor's for the Legal Affairs Office; the Hearing Officer and the Special Claims Analyst.

The Hearing Officer conducts independent hearings and issues final written administrative decisions well-grounded in law, policy, and facts.

This position provides guidance and leadership across the utility on privacy and surveillance related issues.

This position also assists in updating Department Policies and Procedures for Seattle City Light's Customer Care Division.

Other routine tasks include legal research, drafting nondisclosure agreements, and coordinating with the City Attorney’s Office in areas such as torts, contracts, and legislation.

The Special Claims Analyst will seek to recover amounts owed to City Light for damage to City Light’s assets such as underground facilities, substations, and utility equipment. This job will partner with field staff to both confirm damage and collect evidence, collaborate with field staff and the Accounts Receivable team to generate, and amend invoices, correspond with tortfeasors and insurance adjusters in attempts to recover damage costs, and refer cases to the City’s Law Department or collection agency. This position will provide support in other capacities within the Legal Affairs’ scope of work.

Both positions report to the Legal Affairs Advisor.

Requirements

Hearing Officer:

• Administer the customer appeals process, including evaluating initial written customer complaints or requests for administrative review, researching customer's account and electric utility usage, conducting other necessary investigations.
• Conduct telephonic or virtual hearings and issue written decisions consistent with established law and/or policies
• Identify root cause and process issues contributing to customer complaints or appeals and recommend improvements
• Oversee privacy issues; review and finalize Privacy Intake Assessment and Privacy Impact Assessments for new City Light Projects.
• Review and analyze documentation related to compliance with the City of Seattle Surveillance Ordinance.
• Manage controversial topics that have high visibility to City Light senior leadership as well as other City Departments.
• Legal research.
• Draft agreements including non-disclosure agreements.
• Draft internal policies and procedures and provide directions to cross-functional teams within the Department.
• Provide support to the Public Disclosure Officer related to public records request and records retention issues.
  
  

Special Claims Analyst

• Investigate circumstances involving damage to City Light property and work with other internal partners to assess the value of damage and pursue collections from responsible parties.
• Prepare and refer uncollectible, delinquent cases to the City’s Law Department and the utility’s collection agency.
• Apply legal authorities relevant to damage liability and debt collection.
• Collaborate with police detectives in pursuing damage claims. Work with prosecutors in completing Victim Loss Statements, collecting evidence, and providing invoices and other supporting records.
• Gather evidence to support damage invoices. Examples of this include running labor reports; requesting police reports, photos, and videos; obtaining internal Dig Investigation Reports; and interviewing internal staff.
• Correspond with various business units in investigating and pursuing recoveries, including but not limited to the Transmission and Distribution Division, the Finance Division, and the Credit and Collection Division. Work with other City departments on interdepartmental damage claims.
• Handle a caseload from beginning to end. This entails tracking cases at various stages; emailing, calling, and drafting demand letters to liable parties; seeking advice from Legal Affairs staff or the City’s Law Department; tracking payments; and reviewing or preparing releases.
• Employ strong computer literacy skills. Familiarity with various computer applications, such as MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, Work Asset & Management System (WAMS), Oracle’s Customer Care & Billing (CCB), PeopleSoft and Tableau.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications:

  • Education: Law degree (J.D.) and membership in the Washington State Bar Association or a combination of education/training/experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of this class.
  • Experience: Three years of experience in customer service, dispute resolution, legal research/analysis or a combination of education/training/experience demonstrating the ability to perform the work of this class.
• Desired Qualifications:
  • Customer dispute resolution across both residential and commercial customers
  • Analysis and advisement associated with current municipal ordinances with emphasis on conflicting privacy issues
  • Litigation and/or hearing examiner role
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to distill complex privacy policy issues in a concise manner.
  • An effective and competent communicator, with strong listening and writing skills.
  • Successful conflict management and resolution skills.
  • Ability to cultivate effective working relationships with internal and external customers.
  • Professionally exercise discretion and independent judgment in day-to-day work.
  • A continuous learner, goal oriented, and persistent.
  • Experience using Westlaw and Microsoft Office Suite and related applications.
  • Privacy policy management and guidance

Additional Information

The full salary range for this position is $51.88 to $77.82 per hour.

Application Process

Please submit the following with your online application:

• A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement
• A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences.

Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check.

The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3.

A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020.Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.