RRC - Engineering Hearings Specialist IV - V

The Railroad Commission of Texas is a state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry; pipeline transport and pipeline safety; natural gas utilities; the LP-gas industry; and surface mining operations. You can find more details about us on the Railroad Commission of Texas' website here https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.

Benefits

To support our mission to serve Texas, we need great people to join our team. We provide a great working environment along with outstanding benefits, including:

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick time, and at least 12 paid holidays per year
• Telework options for eligible positions
• Flexible work schedules
• Retirement pension with a 150% agency match – you can watch this YouTube video that describes this amazing benefit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJI6M7g73-w
• 401(k), 457(b) and Roth
• Health premiums 100% paid for full-time employees
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Wellness and Exercise Leave
• Career development programs/opportunities for advancement
  
  

For a complete list of our total compensation package, please visit our website at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/jobs/. To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees, visit the Employee Retirement Systems website at https://ers.texas.gov/benefits-at-a-glance.

General Description

The Railroad Commission of Texas is seeking an Engineering Specialist IV or V within the Hearings Division. The division conducts hearings on regulatory aspects of gas utility rates and safety, surface mining, oil and gas exploration and production, and critical infrastructure. Responsibilities include oil and gas matters, including drilling of oil, gas, and geothermal wells; production and plugging operations to prevent waste of natural resources; protection of correlative rights of parties; and prevention of pollution. Presides over protested and uncontested hearings; drafts proposals for decision and orders; summarizes expert technical testimony; and, after researching pertinent facts and law, formulates recommendations to the Commission. Visually inspects and evaluates exhibits and other data offered at hearings and administrative presentations. Summarizes expert technical testimony offered by petroleum geologists, engineers, and other expert witnesses. Creates documents using word processing and spreadsheet programs.

Reliability and timelines are crucial, as this position works under minimal supervision with considerable latitude and independent judgment. This position reports to the Hearings Division Technical Examiner and the Director and will require meticulous attention to detail, the ability to work on multiple projects, and the ability to meet crucial deadlines.

Essential Job Duties

• Serve as a technical expert on a hearing panel with an administrative law judge to adjudicate complex regulatory and technical cases.
• Review, interpret, and analyze sophisticated technical data, including engineering diagrams, geological data, reservoir models, and seismic data, to determine their validity and relevance to the case.
• Evaluate testimony and evidence against relevant laws, rules, and agency regulations to formulate formal recommendations.
• Communicate effectively with parties and witnesses during the hearing process to gather needed information.
• Must have excellent written and verbal skills; ability to translate highly technical concepts in written format to a varied audience.
• Must be comfortable with public speaking and presenting recommendations to the Commissions during public open meetings.
• Must have strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Skilled in using standard office suites and specialized regulatory/case management software.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative hearing panel.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.
  
  

Note: This position may require minimal travel.

For Military Crosswalk information, please visit: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_EngineeringandDesign.pdf

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Choose a technical problem you encountered during previous employment and describe the process[es]/procedure[s] to resolve the issue; any difficulties during the task; a brief summary of the results; and recommendations to improve the technical situation in the future.

• Graduation from an accredited college/university with a BA/BS in Engineering or Geology.
• Four years' relevant experience.
• A writing sample is required and must be attached to your application.
• A recent writing sample of 2,500 words or fewer must be attached to your application. If you do not have a writing sample less than two years old, then you may answer the following in 2,500 words or fewer:
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Current licensure/certification as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Professional Geoscientist (P.G.) in the state of Texas.
• Experience presiding over complex administrative and regulatory proceedings.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Knowledge of trial and administrative hearing procedures, applicable laws, government regulations, and agency rules.
• Skill in listening to testimony of parties involved in hearings; in using reasoning and logic to identify solutions and approaches to cases; and in using judgment to make rulings in assigned cases.
• Skill in using computers and applicable software.
• Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills.
• Effective communication skills in dealing with the Commissioners, public, and co-workers.
• Above-average writing and communication skills are required to prepare clear, concise reports that include findings of fact and recommended orders or actions.
• Ability to determine and apply relevant rules and statutes; to comply with ethical standards; to recognize problems and identify and facilitate solutions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, and to assign and/or supervise the work of others.
• Ability to work under pressure, coordinate multiple priorities, and meet strict deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively on a team or individually.
• Ability to learn and understand regulatory policies and procedures, and interpret processes .
• Experience in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint) and Outlook.
• Ability to exercise tact and courtesy, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.
  
  

Work Environment

• Primarily indoors with heating and cooling regulated in a general office environment; the noise level in the work environment ranges from low to moderate.
• Ability to travel overnight, less than 5% of the time, to conduct hearings.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• The physical requirements described here are representative of those required of an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Ability to reach high and low; open, close, and retrieve files from file cabinets as well as operate the computer keyboard and appropriate office equipment.
  
  

Work Hours: Standard office hours for Commission employees are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our agency offers alternative schedules for employees, provided they do not adversely affect operations or service levels and standard hours of operation are maintained. The Commission may also offer telework in accordance with the agency's approved Telework Plan. Alternate work schedules may be discussed with the hiring manager during the interview process.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH WORK IN TEXAS: Work In Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the CAPPS Recruit Prescreening Questionnaire to be considered for the posting. To complete the Prescreening Questionnaire, go to CAPPS Recruit to register or log in:  https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

Remarks

• There is one available position.
• Official transcripts, DD214 or DD1300, copies of license/certifications, or other minimum requirement validations will be requested at the time of the job offer.
• Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.
• Criminal background checks will be conducted on all final candidates. An applicant who has been convicted of a criminal offense relevant to the position may be disqualified from employment.
  
  

THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS ONLY ACCEPTS ONLINE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSTING.

Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls. Only candidates selected to interview will be contacted. Notifications to applicants are sent electronically to the email address you provide.

The Railroad Commission of Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not

discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age

or disability in employment or in the provision of services.

The Railroad Commission of Texas is a tobacco-free workplace.