Closing Date: 23rd December, 2025

Description:

Position Description:
Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation's largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. We are dedicated to keeping Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

Legal Affairs is seeking a Legal Affairs Strategic Advisor for a permanent full-time position.

Legal Affairs is the primary interface with the City Attorney's Office in overseeing City Light's legal matters. Legal Affairs is responsible for administering the Public Records Act, managing customer appeals, and overseeing privacy issues.

The Legal Affairs Strategic Advisor serves as the utility's hearing officer responsible for administering the appeals process for retail customers. This role includes conducting independent hearings and issuing final written administrative decisions that are clear, impartial and well-grounded in law, policy, and facts.

This Strategic Advisor position will also provide guidance and leadership across the utility on privacy and surveillance related issues. Further, this position manages the Department Policies and Procedures Program for Seattle City Light's Customer Care Division and assists in developing policy in other areas. This position will also research legal issues, draft legal analysis memos, and coordinate with the City Attorney's Office in making recommendations to business units.

This position will report to the Legal Affairs Advisor.

Job Responsibilities:

Administer the customer appeals process, including evaluating initial written customer complaints or requests for administrative review, researching customer's account and electric utility usage, conducting other necessary investigations.
Conduct telephonic or virtual hearings and issue written decisions consistent with established law and/or policies
Identify root cause and process issues contributing to customer complaints or appeals and recommend improvements
Oversee privacy issues; review and finalize Privacy Intake Assessment and Privacy Impact Assessments for new City Light Projects.
Review and analyze documentation related to compliance with the City of Seattle Surveillance Ordinance.
Manage controversial topics that have high visibility to City Light senior leadership as well as other City Departments.
Legal research.
Draft agreements including non-disclosure agreements.
Draft internal policies and procedures and provide directions to cross-functional teams within the Department.
Provide support to the Public Disclosure Officer related to public records request and records retention issues.

Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:

Education: Law degree (J.D.) and membership in the Washington State Bar Association or a combination of education/training/experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of this class.
Three years of experience in customer service, dispute resolution, legal research/analysis or a combination of education/training/experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of this class.

Desired Qualifications:

Privacy policy management and guidance.
Customer dispute resolution across both residential and commercial customers.
Analysis and advisement associated with current municipal ordinances with emphasis on conflicting privacy issues.
Litigation and/or hearing examiner role.

Skills:

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to distill complex privacy policy issues in a concise manner.
An effective and competent communicator, with strong listening and writing skills.
Successful conflict management and resolution skills.
Ability to cultivate effective working relationships with internal and external customers.
Professionally exercise discretion and independent judgment in day-to-day work.
A continuous learner, goal oriented, and persistent.
Experience using Westlaw and Microsoft Office Suite and related applications.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Information:
The full salary range for this position is $50.08 to $75.12 per hour.

Application Process:
Please submit the following with your online application:

A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement
A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance (https://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards/ordinances/fair-chance-employment), SMC 14.17 (https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT14HURI_CH14.17THUSCRHIEMDE) and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3 (https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/HumanResources/Rules%20and%20Resources/Personnel%20Rules/Personnel_Rule_10.3_.pdf) (Download PDF reader) (https://get.adobe.com/reader/). A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020 (https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code/226077?nodeId=TIT4PE_CH4.79CISEEMSADRPR).Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.