Closing Date: 26th May, 2026
Description:
Job Description and Duties:The Division of Petroleum Market Oversight (DPMO or the Division) at the California Energy Commission seeks an Investigative Counsel (Attorney III / Attorney). The Division is the first-in-the-nation petroleum market oversight agency and Division attorneys have an opportunity to work directly and closely with the state's principal energy policymakers.
Under the general direction of the Assistant Division Chief, the Investigative Counsel will be responsible for advising the Division, which operates as an independent statutory authority with the administrative support of the California Energy Commission. The Division conducts independent oversight and analysis of the transportation fuels markets for the protection of consumers by identifying market design flaws, market power abuses, and any other manner by which market participants act to harm competition or act contrary to the best interests of consumers. The Division also provides guidance and recommendations to the Governor, members of the Energy Commission, and the Legislature on issues related to transportation fuels markets.
The Investigative Counsel will provide legal advice and support to DPMO on implementation of Senate Bill X1-2 (Stats. 2023, 1st Ex. Sess. 2023), which added chapter 4.6, Article 3, to Division 15, of the Public Resources Code, and perform a variety of functions, including:
- Provide legal advice concerning competition-related matters that impacts transportation fuels markets, including antitrust analyses and counseling.
- Perform difficult and complex legal work related to investigations, including drafting subpoenas to compel attendance, testimony, and obtain evidence and production of any documents concerning current and historical pricing and sales data and contracts with other petroleum industry participants, and refer potential violations to the Attorney General.
- Coordinate and facilitate communications with other state and federal agencies working on similar issues.
- Provide legal advice on a variety of related matters, including laws concerning confidential information, conflicts of interest, and transportation decarbonization policy issues.
Minimum Qualifications (MQs): The MQs for this classification can be found at Attorney Series - CalHR (https://www.calhr.ca.gov/state-hr-professionals/Pages/5778.aspx). The documents you submit in your application package must highlight how you meet the MQs. If the MQs are not met, you will not be considered for this position.
Education Information: If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this classification, please provide your unofficial transcripts. Applicants who completed their education outside of the United States (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must provide evaluated transcripts. The transcript evaluation must state the number of units to which foreign coursework is equal. Foreign education evaluation services can be found at https://www.naces.org. Official transcripts and official foreign degree transcripts will be required prior to appointment. If you are not using education to qualify for this classification, you do not need to submit transcripts. To bypass the required document, select Choose/Upload and select Bypass File.
Please let us know how you heard about this position by taking a brief survey at CEC Recruitment Survey. (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CECRecruitmentSurvey)
Working Conditions:
The CEC supports a hybrid workplace model with office-based and remote-centered workers. Limited in-person attendance and occasional travel may be required based on the needs of the division. Regular and consistent attendance is essential to successful performance. This position is remote-centered, which means the incumbent works 50 percent or more of their time from an alternate work location.
Teleworking is only available for employees who reside in California. You must be located in California and provide your in-state address prior to your start date.
Minimum Requirements:
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
Additional Documents
Job Application Package Checklist (http://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobApplicationPackageChecklist.aspx?JobControlId=518157)
Department Information:
DPMO was created through a special legislative session in 2023 and is the first-in-the-nation government watchdog focused on transportation fuels. DPMO is housed administratively within the California Energy Commission (CEC). Serving all Californians, DPMO and the CEC embody diversity, equity, and inclusion, and have taken an active and meaningful role in creating an environment that enables each employee to thrive. DPMO and the CEC support a hybrid workplace and operate under the umbrella of the California Natural Resources Agency, sharing offices with the agency in a LEED Platinum Certified Building (https://resources.ca.gov/About-Us/our-new-headquarters) in downtown Sacramento.
DPMO seeks a/an Attorney III/I in the Investigations and Industry Analysis Branch.
This position is open to interested applicants who qualify. This can be a multi-step process. To be eligible to be hired:
Create an onlineCalCareers (https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHRPublic/CreateNewAccount.aspx) account. For a tutorial on the state application process, visit California State Hiring Process Instructional Video Series – YouTube (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLIcSRKAeCVRjs63QBEvLxhzKPTv3xXcWi&data=04%7C01%7C%7C47d5a3a84d6643e984f908d98f62924f%7Cac3a124413f44ef68d1bbaa27148194e%7C0%7C0%7C637698475794432868%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=2qvXlXbeyXi8BkNiAVXYzEiHvbShHK5o3OIiU5o4Et4%3D&reserved=0) or contact Careers@energy.ca.gov.
Complete and pass the Attorney III (https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1580) or Attorney exam to be eligible to be hired for available positions. See information on Energy Commission Assessments and Exams. (https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1579)
To apply for this position, submit an application package through your CalCareers account. An application package must include all items under the “Required Application Package Documents” section. Resumes will not be accepted in place of a State Examination and Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications must include “to” and “from” dates (month/day/year), time base (full-time/part-time/number of hours per week/month), and applicable civil service classifications.
State employees are subjected to a temporary reduction in pay in exchange of 2025 Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific reduction rate and hours were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit agreement.
Department Website: https://www.energy.ca.gov
Special Requirements:
You must include the following if you are applying by mail or in person:
Application Instructions:
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 5/26/2026
Who May Apply:
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.
Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How to Apply:
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.C
- Attorney III (https://hrnet.calhr.ca.gov/CalHRNet/SpecCrossReference.aspx?ClassID=5795)
- Attorney (https://hrnet.calhr.ca.gov/CalHRNet/SpecCrossReference.aspx?ClassID=5778)
Additional Documents
Job Application Package Checklist (http://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobApplicationPackageChecklist.aspx?JobControlId=518157)
Department Information:
DPMO was created through a special legislative session in 2023 and is the first-in-the-nation government watchdog focused on transportation fuels. DPMO is housed administratively within the California Energy Commission (CEC). Serving all Californians, DPMO and the CEC embody diversity, equity, and inclusion, and have taken an active and meaningful role in creating an environment that enables each employee to thrive. DPMO and the CEC support a hybrid workplace and operate under the umbrella of the California Natural Resources Agency, sharing offices with the agency in a LEED Platinum Certified Building (https://resources.ca.gov/About-Us/our-new-headquarters) in downtown Sacramento.
DPMO seeks a/an Attorney III/I in the Investigations and Industry Analysis Branch.
This position is open to interested applicants who qualify. This can be a multi-step process. To be eligible to be hired:
Create an onlineCalCareers (https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHRPublic/CreateNewAccount.aspx) account. For a tutorial on the state application process, visit California State Hiring Process Instructional Video Series – YouTube (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLIcSRKAeCVRjs63QBEvLxhzKPTv3xXcWi&data=04%7C01%7C%7C47d5a3a84d6643e984f908d98f62924f%7Cac3a124413f44ef68d1bbaa27148194e%7C0%7C0%7C637698475794432868%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=2qvXlXbeyXi8BkNiAVXYzEiHvbShHK5o3OIiU5o4Et4%3D&reserved=0) or contact Careers@energy.ca.gov.
Complete and pass the Attorney III (https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1580) or Attorney exam to be eligible to be hired for available positions. See information on Energy Commission Assessments and Exams. (https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1579)
To apply for this position, submit an application package through your CalCareers account. An application package must include all items under the “Required Application Package Documents” section. Resumes will not be accepted in place of a State Examination and Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications must include “to” and “from” dates (month/day/year), time base (full-time/part-time/number of hours per week/month), and applicable civil service classifications.
State employees are subjected to a temporary reduction in pay in exchange of 2025 Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific reduction rate and hours were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit agreement.
Department Website: https://www.energy.ca.gov
Special Requirements:
You must include the following if you are applying by mail or in person:
- How you are eligible (list eligibility, transfer within state service, reinstatement, SROA/surplus, etc.) in the Explanations box on the first page of the STD. 678.
- The Job Control number 518157 and the title of the position you are applying for in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) box on the first page of the STD. 678.
- Request for Personnel Action Number RPA 154-249 in the Explanations box of the STD. 678.
- Your original signature at the bottom of the first page of the STD. 678.
- Include unofficial school transcripts with your application package if the position you are applying for has an educational requirement. You may be required to provide official transcripts if hired.
Application Instructions:
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 5/26/2026
Who May Apply:
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.
Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How to Apply:
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.C
