Telecom Advocacy Managing Attorney
TURN Description:
TURN believes we can and should live in a society where power, broadband, and phone services are treated as basic human rights for all families.
The Utility Reform Network (TURN) promotes race and economic equity through regulatory and legislative work to achieve affordable and reliable communication services that meet the needs of today and beyond. TURN fights for policies that hold telecommunications carriers accountable for the widespread deployment of reliable and high-quality communications services, at affordable rates. A respected consumer voice for over 50 years in the California State Legislature and the California Public Utility Commission, and other forums, TURN is successful through its combined talent of attorneys, policy analysts, economists, and community organizing professionals.
While TURN advocates on behalf of all California consumers, we have a particular focus on fighting for policies that ensure affordable access to essential utility and communications services for low-income households, communities of color, immigrants, and rural communities, who have been historically excluded from public investment, and ensuring that basic phone service remains available to all residents who need it.
Open Position:
TURN seeks a Telecom Advocacy Managing Attorney committed to racial and economic justice to provide leadership to TURN’s Telecom Team of high-impact regulatory policy advocates. A strong applicant communicates effectively (written and verbal) with all levels throughout the organization and the public, is committed to economic and racial justice, is a proactive and creative problem solver, and collaborates with the team to submit timely regulatory agency filings or complete other work. This is a full-time position that may require occasional after-business hours work to meet legislative or regulatory agency filing deadlines.
As Telecom Advocacy Managing Attorney, you serve as an integral part of our advocacy staff in the area of telecom regulation and as part of our management staff. Responsibilities include managing and working with other staff members to develop policy positions on emerging issues in these industries, and the advocacy of those policies before the CPUC (in administrative litigation), the state legislature, the Federal Communications Commission, and in other forums.
While you are responsible for working on a wide range of telecom (and, as needed, other regulatory) policy matters, this position will incorporate working with the race and equity, organizing and communications teams to advance universal, sustainable, and affordable communications, and broadband, service.
Top Reasons to Work at TURN:
Influence fast-moving telecommunication-related issues at the state and federal levels.
Top-notch, dedicated, racially diverse team.
100% employer-paid premium for employee health, dental, and vision and additional benefits for all members of the employee’s family.
Generous annual leave and retirement contributions
Competitive salary for nonprofit organizations, commensurate with experience.
TURN qualifies as a nonprofit employer for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Work with multiple disciplines of TURN professionals and external experts.
Potential for work on a broad range of telecommunications and broadband policy issues.
Work Hours:
Exempt, Full-Time, 40 hours. Monday – Friday.
Occasional evening and weekend hours, as needed, to meet filing deadlines.
Headquartered in Bay Area, but remote candidates will be considered.
Key Job Duties:
Manage the Telecom Team of attorneys and policy analysts, including work assignments and equitable workload distribution in accordance with TURN’s telecom priorities.
Review key filings produced by the Telecom Team prior to submission to ensure consistency in TURN’s telecom goals and advocacy.
Represent residential and small business customers in CPUC proceedings by drafting and filing legal pleadings, conducting legal and policy research, utilizing discovery, preparing expert witnesses, conducting cross-examination, engaging in oral advocacy, lobbying decision-makers, working with other consumer and community groups, and taking other forms of legal action.
Lead regular Team meetings to discuss key policy developments, forge alignment between legal, organizing, communications, and overall political strategies, and review/adjust caseload assignments.
Maintain a strong working relationship with the TURN Race and Equity Team and the TURN Organizing Team, and external working relationship with key allies for telecom work.
Maintain Team portfolio of Intervenor Compensation requests and work with the Chief Financial Officer to confirm accurate claim analysis, delegate the preparation of compensation requests accordingly, and track billable and non-billable hours on a daily basis, and submit billable hour reports on a monthly basis.
Coordinate relationships with TURN external experts—currently two economists, one attorney, and one engineer. Work with Chief Financial Officer to review and approve invoices and time sheets from experts.
Work with Executive Director and other managers to identify Telecom Team success to produce written summaries for TURN Board, TURN website, online alerts, mailed newsletters, or other program related materials.
Direct and delegate the Telecom Team’s legislative proposal analysis, work closely with TURN’s lobbyist and Executive Director, and as the subject warrants.
Help develop TURN media materials and respond to press queries.
Work on legal projects and organizational building activities as assigned by the Executive Director.
Coordinate with Human Resource Director on personnel matters, review time off requests in TURN’s internal portal, and participate in any Management Team related activities.
Attend CLE, and other professional conferences, to stay current on legal and policy issues.
Reporting and Supervision
Telecom Advocacy Managing Attorney reports to the Executive Director, and supervises attorneys and policy analysts who work on the Telecom Team.
Key Attributes of a Winning Candidate:
Excellent Communicator: Communicate effectively (written and verbal) with all levels throughout the organization and the public.
Socially Aware: Commitment to economic and racial justice.
Technical Familiarity: Understanding of standard computer-based applications, including email, Microsoft Office, and Adobe.
Active Teamwork: Demonstrates problem solving, conflict resolution, and positive communication through teamwork and through working independently.
Requirements:
Education: Graduate of an accredited school of law.
Experience: 2–10 years of experience in telecommunications policy and regulatory matters at the CPUC or an equivalent state or federal agency; additional experience would be welcome, such as working in multiracial and multilingual organizations.
Licensure: Licensed to practice law in California or in another state, or willingness to sit for the California Bar Exam within one year.
Salary Range for Position – Energy Attorney:
$140,000 to $180,000 for an attorney with 6–20 years of directly relevant legal and supervisory experience.
Vaccination Policy:
All TURN employees are required to obtain COVID-19 vaccinations in accordance with CDC recommendation guidelines and must provide proof of vaccination, unless a reasonable accommodation is approved by the TURN COVID Vaccination Committee.
Application Process:
TURN actively encourages applications from people who would add to our staff diversity, as well as to the diversity of the energy policy field. This includes applications from people who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/e/x, Asian, non-gender conforming, LGBTQ and other underrepresented communities.
To apply, submit to chouston@turn.org the following:
Cover letter
Resume
Writing sample
Please contact chouston@turn.org to request accommodation for the application process if necessary.
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