Statewide Section Supervisor
Section: Regulatory Affairs & Public Advocacy
Location: Anchorage
Job Number: 26-RAPA-01
Closing Date: 4/7/2026
Job description
The Alaska Department of Law is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as the Statewide Section Supervisor for the Regulatory Affairs and Public Advocacy (RAPA) Section. RAPA performs the Attorney General’s statutory duty to represent the public interest in utility and pipeline carrier matters before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA). The section also provides policy analysis related to energy, utility regulation, and infrastructure issues affecting Alaskans.
The supervising attorney will oversee and participate in RAPA’s work across a broad spectrum of regulated services—including electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater, solid waste, heating, communications, and pipeline transportation. This position is central to ensuring fair and reasonable rates for Alaskans, maintaining high-quality advocacy before the RCA, and shaping statewide utility policy through expert legal and technical analysis.
Key Responsibilities of the Section Supervisor
Legal and Advocacy Responsibilities
- Lead RAPA’s participation in complex rate cases, tariff proceedings, complaint investigations, and other matters before the RCA.
- Develop litigation strategy and guide the preparation of testimony, filings, discovery, briefing, and hearing presentations.
- Work closely with non-attorney professionals, including economic, accounting, engineering, and financial experts, to integrate technical analyses into legal advocacy.
- Examine operational costs, financial conditions, and local conditions affecting utilities and pipelines to ensure proposed rates and services meet legal standards of being just and reasonable.
- Present recommendations to the RCA, participate in evidentiary hearings, and conduct cross‑examination of expert witnesses.
- Provide legal and policy analysis on emerging issues such as electric reliability standards, grid access charges, and statutory or regulatory reform proposals.
- Draft and review comments, motions, briefs, and regulatory filings to advance the public interest.
Supervisory, Managerial, and Administrative Responsibilities
- Supervise RAPA attorneys and analysts, and conduct the work of support staff in a statewide practice.
- Coordinate caseload assignments, establish internal timelines, and ensure high-quality, timely submissions to the RCA.
- Mentor staff, review written work, and provide regular performance feedback aligned with professional standards.
- Facilitate collaboration between legal and technical staff to ensure integration of investigative findings into advocacy positions.
- Oversee administrative matters including budgeting needs, training, staffing priorities, and resource allocation for outside experts.
- Represent the section in Department leadership discussions, interagency working groups, and legislative or policy briefings.
- Maintain practices that support a well‑functioning statewide team, including clear communication, process consistency, and professional development.
Attorneys in the Civil Division work on matters of statewide importance, all while living and enjoying all Alaska has to offer. If you enjoy complex and impactful legal work along with dramatic scenery, outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, kayaking, and abundant wildlife, then the Alaska Department of Law, Civil Division is the place for you. Flexible schedules, including hybrid telework arrangements, may be available.
Qualifications
Desired Legal Skills and Subject Matter Knowledge
- Experience in administrative law, utility regulation, energy law, complex litigation, or related fields;
- A demonstrated ability to lead legal teams through technical, data‑driven investigations and regulatory proceedings;
- Strong written and oral advocacy skills, including comfort presenting in contested hearings;
- Ability to work effectively with technical experts and synthesize complex engineering, economic, or financial information into legal arguments;
- Excellent judgment, analytical ability, and capacity to manage competing priorities in a high‑impact, fast‑moving environment; and
- A commitment to public service and to protecting the interests of Alaskans in essential utility and pipeline services.
Desired Supervisory and Management Skills
- The ability to communicate in an appropriate and professional manner with section members, management, and clients on all facets of work through both verbal and written means;
- Exceptional interpersonal skills: professionalism and personality, the ability to make decisions that are not popular or agreed with and implement them on behalf of the management team;
- Ability to address conflict within the section and come to an appropriate resolution;
- Ability to lead a team and generate goodwill with section members;
- Ability to apply critical-thinking skills and problem-solving skills, creativity and flexibility
- in addressing unexpected circumstances;
- Ability to prioritize and exercise sound time management;
- Ability to work with everyone in the section, co-supervisors, administrative staff, and management to meet the needs of the department as a whole;
- Ability to make decisions that meet the goals of the client, the section, and the department;
- Ability to build and maintain good client relationships;
- Ability to delegate and foster a teamwork atmosphere within the section; and,
- The ability to mentor and coach team members.
Candidates of all experience levels will be considered but not all candidates will be offered an interview.
Contact
For additional information about the position, contact Rachel Witty at (907) 269-5100 or Rachel.Witty@alaska.gov.
Benefits & Compensation
State Benefits Package
- Health benefits (including dental and vision), life insurance and voluntary supplemental benefits
- Generous leave accrual, starting at 21 days a year
- 12 paid holidays
- A variety of retirement plans
- Potential eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Loan Forgiveness Program.
- 37.5-hour workweek
- Eligibility for part-time teleworking, alternate workweek, or a flex schedule after an initial training period.
Estimated Compensation
The table below gives an estimate of compensation based on a combination of judicial clerking and licensed legal experience. The compensation listed in the table represents the base pay. Several locations around Alaska have geographical pay differences. Upon a job offer, you would receive a firm salary quote based on location of position and qualifying experience. Attorneys are eligible to promote from Attorney 1 through 4 with service and acceptable job performance.
| Attorney level | Experience level | Pay range and step | Base pay* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney 1 | Unlicensed attorney | 18 D or E | $89,895 or $92,703 |
| Attorney 2 | Less than two years of licensed experience | 20 C or D | $99,235.50 or $102,843 |
| Attorney 3 | More than 2 but less than 4 years of licensed experience | 22 B or C | $109,882.50 or $113,256 |
| Attorney 4 | More than 4 years | 24 B through F | $125,482.50 – $143,734.50 |
*Summary of Geographical Pay Rate Differences.
| Location | Base pay + geographical difference |
|---|---|
| Anchorage, Kenai, Palmer, Ketchikan | Base pay / no geo dif |
| Fairbanks | Base pay + 3% |
| Juneau, Sitka | Base pay + 5% |
| Kodiak | Base pay + 11% |
| Nome, Dillingham | Base pay + 37% |
| Bethel, Utqiagvik | Base pay + 50% |
| Kotzebue | Base pay + 60% |
Application Instructions
You may submit individual applications for each position you’re applying for, or you may submit one application and list all respective position numbers for which you want to be considered. Multi-position applications may address our office as “Civil Division Recruitment.”
Email your complete application to civil.recruit@alaska.gov.
Include the following documents:
- Cover Letter: List the position number(s) you are applying for
- Resume: Include a complete history of education; professional work experience with dates (MM/YYYY); and the states and admission dates (MM/YYYY) for each bar license you have
- 3 Professional References
- 1 Professional Writing Sample
- If you are a current or recent State of Alaska employee, please also submit your most recent performance evaluation.
