WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Respect. Professionalism. Integrity. Accountability.

Senior Regulatory Analyst

Help protect the consumers of Washington state! 

The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the budgeted salary range of $68,940 - $106,568 annually.  However, there is an ability for growth and development in this salary for the individual once employed.

 

This recruitment is open until Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 11:59pm.  

UTC reserves the right to render a hiring decision and/or choose to close or extend this recruitment at any given time.

 

The Opportunity:

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is seeking to fill the role of Senior Regulatory Analyst within the Telecommunications Section of the Regulatory Services Division to provide technical analysis and recommendations necessary for the commission’s decision-making processes with respect to Telecommunications services and the rates charged and Terms and Conditions for those services.

Hybrid: 

Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful incumbent must reside within Washington state and must be available to report to the Lacey, Washington headquarters building when needed. 

 

Travel: 

Moderate travel during and outside normal work hours throughout Washington state or the US may be required. This includes occasional overnight stays.

 

Who We Are:  

Our mission is to protect the people of Washington by ensuring that investor-owned utility and transportation services are safe, equitable, reliable, and fairly priced.  

We protect consumers by regulating the rates, services, and practices of private or investor-owned utilities and transportation companies to ensure they are safe, equitable, reliable, and affordable.   

The UTC is continually recognized for its excellence and integrity as a regulatory agency, as we challenge the status quo and ourselves to ensure equitable outcomes for our customers and the people of Washington state.   

We recognize that our employees are the key to the agency’s success. We are committed to our work but value balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth, and offers continuing learning opportunities, meaningful work, and a comprehensive benefits package. For more information about our benefits or working at UTC, please visit our website.  

 

What We Offer Our Employees:

• UTC fosters an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while striving to hire and retain a workforce from the communities we serve. 
• We place importance on a healthy balance between personal and professional lives; offering flexible work schedules, wellness programs, and mobile/telework opportunities.
• Through the state, our employees (and their families) are offered options for medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance. 
• We offer enrollment into the state retirement programs and a deferred compensation plan. 
• Throughout a calendar year, employees receive a minimum of 14 days of vacation leave per year and 11 paid holidays and 1 personal holiday in addition to accruing sick leave.

 

Our Values:

• Respect - We treat every person and interaction with consideration and goodwill.
• Professionalism - We are committed to excellence in our work and conduct.
• Integrity - We do the right things for the right reasons - trusting others to do the same.

 

UTC Leadership Principles: 

Consistently reflect the commission’s values in how you behave, interact with others, and in the decisions you make. Among those, actively support the direction of the agency. Work cooperatively on issues and to find solutions that meet the needs of the whole commission, not just individual section needs. Communicate and carry out the decisions of the management team in a complete and timely manner. 

 

Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Competencies:

1. EDI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment. 
2. Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth. 
3. Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships. 
4. Inclusive Excellence & Allyship. 

 

Duties

 

The Position: 

Reporting to a Deputy Director, the Senior Regulatory Analyst critically examines complex telecommunications filings and informs the commission’s decision-making process by providing expert recommendations based on analysis and a balance of the public interests.

 

What you’ll do: 

Provide the commission with recommendations on decisions for telecommunications filings through formal written memoranda, Commissioner briefings, public presentations, and in formal adjudications and open meetings. Work products may sometimes include unusual or strategically important issues that have a moderate degree of complexity. 

 

This position leads rule makings on state universal service program requirements and provides regulatory and policy insight to staff’s review and conclusions on complex state universal service program filings that have vital impacts to rural consumers and small telephone companies. Performs the lead role in evaluations that may include review of complex financial statements, cost-benefit analysis, accounting standards, regulatory or economic theory, policy analysis, and other forms of data and evidence.

 

The incumbent engages with policy makers, agency leaders, Commissioners, policy advisors, stakeholders, state agencies, industry advocates, and company representatives which can include serving on broadly defined teams, leading or facilitating collaboratives on strategically important issues, negotiating agreements between parties, and participating in sponsored workshops.

 

Additional duties include, but aren’t limited to the following: 

• Undertake independent research that is directly relevant to the regulation of public utilities in Washington.
• Translate technical concepts into accessible terms for decision-makers through memoranda, formal testimony, or presentations on tariff filings, petitions, and other relief sought by telephone carriers and stakeholders with specific emphasis on clarity and narrative flow.
• Ensure that utility filings, actions, and recommendations are consistent with the commission’s administrative rules, policies, standard procedures, and adheres to state laws.
• Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map, analyze, and understand broadband availability to promote Digital Equity.
• Provide technical assistance to external partners and stakeholders, including regulated telecommunications companies, unregulated telecommunications providers, customers, shareholders, etc.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree involving a major study in economics, financial accounting, business administration, or other field directly relevant to electric and gas utility regulation from an accredited institution recognized by either the US Dept. of Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent and,
• Four (4) years of experience performing professional level research and analysis with an institution primarily engaged in regulatory matters or telecommunication utility business operations. OR
• An advanced degree in a field directly applicable to public utility regulation and two (2) years of experience performing professional level research and analysis with an institution primarily engaged in regulatory matters or telecommunication utility business operations. OR
• A combination of education and experience in a field directly relevant to electric and gas utility regulation totaling eight (8) or more years.
• Demonstrated experience in leading complex teams or projects, either in a supervisory or non-supervisory capacity. 

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities in:

• Performance Management - Creates and nurtures a performance-based culture of continuous improvement in conjunction with the Organizational Management core competency. Actively develops assigned staff as a whole person by: employing effective personnel management skills; demonstrating interpersonal understanding and an ability to encourage, coach, support individuals, and communicate proactively; clearly articulate expectations; evaluate team member performance; encourage teamwork and cooperation; coach through purposeful instruction to improve other core competencies, with specific emphasis on Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking and Fundamental Regulatory Skills; enable staff to seize opportunities; assist with learning from mistakes; give early and frequent feedback to cultivate individual growth and encourage high-level performance while ensuring, respecting, and modeling life-work balance; provides sincere appreciation and recognition; support professional development of staff through personalized training and organizational succession planning with an eye to the future of the organization.
• Organizational Management – Manages resources and team members by applying the Leadership core competency and demonstrating an ability to identify and mobilize resources and staff to fulfill key objectives. Plans to ensure the best use of team member capacity and develops processes to improve staff performance. Is passionate about data informed decision-making, problem solving, and maximizes the use of resources and team member capacity. Creates a safe environment in which to experiment. Builds shared responsibility and ownership for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking – Formulates judgments on complex issues, conclusions, and assertions through the identification, organization, and analysis of quantitative, qualitative, and anecdotal data, evidence and research; Reaches conclusions through the holistic review of multiple forms of evidence and identifies connections, gaps, discrepancies, and key data necessary to reach an informed decision; Distinguishes information that is and is not pertinent to a decision or solution. Assesses the workload impact versus the value to the public interest of new proposal.
• Fundamental Regulatory Skills – Applies economic theory, accounting standards and principles, Commission policy and interpretive statements, legal precedents, administrative rules, and statutes in a manner consistent with the subject matter; examines issues to understand and discuss historical context; researches general fields of study to understand implication on regulatory mechanisms and practices including: economics, accounting, business administration, engineering, and computer science. Persuades others to voluntarily accept recommendations or advice.
• Writing and Communication – Writes clearly and concisely using the Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking core competency and holistically reasoned arguments; Effectively translates complex technical concepts into messages non-technical audiences can readily understand; Listens carefully, reflects upon what is being said, and responds appropriately; Presents information clearly, accurately, and in an audience-specific manner; Demonstrates situational awareness by adapting communication styles and tools to ensure that information is accessible to everyone including people of non-white dominant cultures and backgrounds.
• Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct – Takes responsibility for actions; Works collaboratively as a part of a team; Respects the point of view of others and approaches disagreements about work matters with active listening and good will; Ensures individual interactions incorporate equitable treatment of BIPOC and other marginalized communities and promptly reports incidences of inequity to a supervisor or manager; Demonstrates UTC’s Values at all times, through the lens of antiracism, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Leadership – Leads by example, demonstrating Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct at all times, exhibiting balance and fair-handedness in considering various perspectives, maintaining composure and level-headedness in difficult situations; Demonstrates emotional intelligence and intellectual humility; Pursues compromise and collaboration.
• Project Management – Plans, designs, organizes, leads, and executes the work of an individual or team project, ensuring a high-quality work product within specific time constraints; Leads the development of project plans which includes, but is not limited to: establishing realistic timelines, identification of attainable project deliverables, articulating clear roles and responsibilities for team members, and specifies criteria for successful project completion; Regularly monitors progress and provides updates to direct supervisor and applicable managers on the status of the project, including but not limited to risks and issues that affect the completion of project deliverable(s) and general status updates; Displays the Leadership core competency, and facilitates the building and managing of interpersonal relationships to ensure project success; demonstrates personal accountability and commitment to the success of a project; If applicable, is responsible for managing and facilitating internal and external feedback processes.
• Mentorship – Explains and teaches a non-expert how to conduct analysis and reach a recommendation on the issue the employee is a technical expert in; demonstrate the Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct and Writing and Communication core competencies; acknowledges that peers may have difference in how they best receive information due to personal, cultural, or linguistic preferences and modifies mentorship approach so that it is accessible to the recipient.
• Peer Review – Feedback is expected to: demonstrate Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct and the Writing and Communication core competencies; Be completed within a reasonable timeframe with reasonable accommodations as necessary consistent with section guidelines; Be mindful of the personal, cultural, and linguistic preferences of the recipient
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism - Actively participates in antiracist self-examination and trainings; Possesses ability to and can identify and actively combat racist policy to achieve equitable outcomes.
• Customer Focus – Responsive to both internal and external customers. Works with customer to identify needs; assumes responsibility for own role in meeting those needs. Ensures commitments to customers are met. Receptive to customer feedback.
• Results Focus – Accepts personal accountability for individual results or share of team results. Manages workload and interpersonal relationships to achieve results; prioritizes tasks appropriately, overcomes obstacles, works with others as necessary, and meets deadlines and quality standards.
• Communication Skills – Demonstrates communication skills (reading comprehension, writing, listening, speaking) appropriate to the position. Shows respect and courtesy in interpersonal communications.
• Adaptability/Flexibility – Open to new ideas. Responds constructively to change and stressful situations. In consultation with supervisor, adjusts plans to meet changing needs.
• Self-Development – Demonstrates proactive learning. Keeps knowledge and skills up to date. Solicits and accepts constructive feedback. Seeks developmental assignments to improve skills. Turns challenges into learning opportunities.
• Continuous Process Improvement – Uses Lean tools and principles to continuously identify improvements, solve problems, and improve work processes. Participates on process improvement projects/teams and thoughtfully engages in section/division meetings.

Demonstration of UTC Values (expected of all employees and leadership):

1. Respect: We treat every person and interaction with consideration and goodwill.
2. Professionalism: We are committed to excellence in our work and conduct.
3. Integrity: We do the right things for the right reasons- trusting others to do the same.

Demonstration of EDI Competencies (expected of all employees): 

• EDI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment
• Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth
• Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships
• Inclusive Excellence & Allyship

Demonstration of UTC Core Competencies (expected of all employees):

1. Accountability - With courage, we hold ourselves and each other accountable for exhibiting respect, professionalism, and integrity.
2. DEI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment - Ability to be exposed to, know, and understand the language and concepts of DEI and be committed to being part of creating, maintaining, and improving a diverse, equitable, respectful, and inclusive workplace.
3. Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth – Engages in self-reflection, lifelong learning, and growth.
4. Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships - Conducts themselves in a manner that builds trust, enhances work relationships, and meaningfully partner and engage with those they serve and serve with.
5. Inclusive Excellence & Allyship – Ability to demonstrate that all people are valued and engaged as members of the group, team, organization, or community through equitable, inclusive, and respectful behavior.
6. Measuring Success and Improvement – Ability to develop, implement, evaluate, and continually improve strategies that promote equity and inclusion in their organization and with the communities they serve.
7. Customer Focus – Responsive to both internal and external customers. Works with customer to identify needs; assumes responsibility for own role in meeting those needs. Ensures commitments to customers are met. Receptive to customer feedback.
8. Results Focus – Accepts personal accountability for individual results or share of team results. Manages workload and interpersonal relationships to achieve results: prioritizes tasks appropriately, overcomes obstacles, works with others as necessary, and meets deadlines and quality standards.
9. Communication Skills – Demonstrates communication skills (reading comprehension, writing, listening, speaking) appropriate to the position. Shows respect and courtesy in interpersonal communications.
10. Adaptability/Flexibility – Open to new ideas. Responds constructively to change and stressful situations. In consultation with supervisor, adjusts plans to meet changing needs.
11. Self-Development – Demonstrates proactive learning. Keeps knowledge and skills up to date. Solicits and accepts constructive feedback. Seeks developmental assignments to improve skills. Turns challenges into learning opportunities. 
12. Continuous Process Improvement – Utilizes Lean tools and principles to continuously identify improvements, solve problems, and improve work processes. Participates on process improvement projects/teams. Actively engages in section/division huddles and incorporates visual management into daily work. 

Desired Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 

One of the following:

• An advanced degree in relevant field, such as business administration, economics, financial accounting, law, or public utility regulation plus four (4) years performing regulatory analysis for Washington state government, two (2) years of which must have been at the regulatory analyst level 3 or equivalent; or,
• An advanced degree in relevant field, such as business administration, economics, financial accounting, law, or public utility regulation plus four (4) years of research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters; or,
• A bachelor’s degree involving major study in economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, engineering, law or related field and six (6) years of research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters; or,
• Ten (10) years performing regulatory analysis work for Washington state government, two (2) years of which must have been at the third level or equivalent; or,
• Ten (10) years of work experience in economic analysis, financial accounting, public utility regulation, public utility law, or utility business operations, six years of which must include research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters.

AND

• Experience writing for decision makers or applying principles of legal or argumentative writing or advanced training in standards of writing.
• Experience writing administrative rules or participating on a rulemaking at a regulatory agency.
• Experience implementing business intelligence tools and concepts, including experience organizing and performing analytics on semi-structured data sets, data mining, predictive modeling, and data visualization This may include using advanced business intelligence and data analysis tools such as coding (such as MySQL, R, Python, or other languages), PowerBI, ArcPRO, PowerPivot, principles of data cleaning, cloud computing, and third-party data visualization tools (such as Tableau or Plotley).

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