Chief Hearing Examiner

Nature of Work:

Consistent with the PRC’s enabling act, at NMSA 1978, § 62-19-20 (“Hearing examiners”), the Chief Hearing Examiner position exists to be the division director for the Office of Hearing Examiners, a pivotal executive management position at the agency, which entails overseeing the work of the Hearing Examiners who act as delegees of the Commissioners, to preside over cases and issuing recommended decisions for Commission’s review and final decisions.

Details of the Job:

This position will report to the Chief of Staff. The Chief Hearing Examiner will:

•Supervise all employees of the Office of Hearing Examiner, including dealing with personnel issues among them

•Coordinate with the Office of General Counsel on case assignments to ensure proper workload distribution and timely resolution of cases.

• Monitor the progress of cases and provides guidance and resources where appropriate

•Serve as a resource to Office of General Counsel, Office of Technical Advice and Policy and Commissioners

•Manage and perform supervisory functions for the Hearing Examiner office, including managing resources for remote hearings and directing the hiring and scheduling of court reporters.

•working directly Chief of Staff regarding the management of the Office of Hearing Examiners;

•Advise Commissioners on consistently complex and often novel legal and policy issues

•Develop and justify budgets with the director of the administrative services division

•Stay informed regarding issues likely to come before the Commission and a broad panoply legal, regulatory, scientific, technological, and other policy matters related to the mission of the agency through research and constant, vigilant monitoring of news media and legal and trade publications

•Ascertain and secure training opportunities for the hearing examiners Key Knowledge and Skills Required for Fully Competent Performance

• Experience practicing law in areas directly related to administrative law or public utility regulation

• Experience as an administrative law judge or hearing officer

• Demonstrated interest and familiarity with recent NMPRC litigation and decisions

• Familiarity with NMPRC hearing procedures

• Educational experience in economics, accounting or engineering

• Supervisory or managerial experience

• Excellent writing skills

Education and Experience Standards:

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and eight (8) years of experience in

the practice of law. Licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or

qualified to apply for limited practice license (Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA). For

more information on limited practice licenses, please visit http://nmexam.org/limitedlicense/

FLSA status: Exempt:

Salary: $136,227 to $155,000 plus benefits

Job Type: Full-time, Governor Exempt “at will” position

To apply:

Submit letter of interest, resume and three references to: Human Resources,

sarahe.valencia@prc.nm.gov NMPRC P.O. Box 1269, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1269. This posting will close on November 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. MST and interviews will occur within

the two weeks following.