External Affairs Specialist - External Affairs

The Public Utility Commission of Texas: Your Gateway to a Fulfilling Career!

The Public Utility Commission regulates the state's electric, telecommunication, and water and sewer utilities, implementing respective legislation and offering customer assistance in resolving customer complaints.

Join a Team Dedicated to Public Service

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of Texans? We are committed to building a highly skilled workforce. Our team boasts a wide range of expertise, from legal and engineering professionals to dedicated administrative staff. What unites us is our dedication to serving the public and our commitment to protecting customers, fostering competition, and promoting high quality utility infrastructure

Make a Difference with Us

We recognize the importance of motivated and knowledgeable staff to accomplish our critical mission. If you're eager to contribute to ensuring compliance within the electric, telecommunications, and water and sewer utilities, we want to hear from you! A career at the PUC will not only expand your professional horizons but also make you part of a highly motivated, technically skilled, and supportive team environment.

DIVISION - EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

The External Affairs Division serves as the PUCT's voice and primary connection to the public, stakeholders, and policymakers. Focused on transparency, education, and engagement, the division supports agency-wide priorities through strategic communication, outreach initiatives, and coordination with the Texas Legislature. Whether informing Texans about utility regulations or guiding industry stakeholders through compliance, External Affairs plays a critical role in advancing the Commission's mission.

External Affairs is comprised of the following departments:

Communications

Communications serve as the eyes, ears, and most importantly, the voice of the PUCT. Our top priority is educating and informing Texans about the duties, responsibilities, and actions of our agency. We do this daily in many ways, including the use of multiple social media channels, media engagement, website management, infographic and collateral materials creation, audio/video and photography production, persuasive writing, media and social media monitoring and other tools.

Filed documents include pleadings, testimony and briefs, affidavits, requests for information, rulemakings, registrations, tariffs, certificates of convenience and necessity, sale, transfer, and mergers, interconnection agreements, ADAD's, and annual reports. Adhering to PUC Procedural rules 22.71 and 22.72, staff reviews filings and evaluates documents for compliance with Federal and State Privacy Laws prior to Central Records processing. Central Records processes confidential materials, workshop and Open Meeting transcripts, and agency publications, and works with the Financial Resources division on billing and payments for registrations, copies, and publications.

Governmental Relations

Governmental Relations centralizes and facilitates the Commission's communication with the Texas Legislature, Legislative Offices, constituents, and other agencies.

Office of Public Engagement

The Office of Public Engagement helps the public participate in all aspects of the PUCT's work. The actions of the PUCT impact the safety and pocketbooks of Texans, but the work of the agency can be very technical and difficult to understand. The Office of Public Engagement serves as a resource to the public to explain PUCT processes and instruct Texans on how to participate in rulemakings, rate cases, hearings, and other important activities. The Office of Public Engagement also advises the Commission on how to make the PUCT more accessible to all Texans.

Utility Outreach

Utility Outreach provides water and sewer utilities with information on legislative updates and how to comply with rules and regulations and handle customer complaints.

Utility Outreach helps the Texas water and sewer utility industry navigate the rules and regulations that mark the path to compliance and commercial viability, providing information ranging from customer service best practices to service area and legislative updates.

Utility Outreach's mission is to provide outreach and education to retail water and sewer public utilities to promote regulatory compliance, enhance cybersecurity and preservice their financial and managerial integrity.

Looking for the next step in your career? External Affairs has an opportunity for a motivated professional ready to contribute to agency-wide legislative and strategic initiatives.

External Affairs is seeking to fill the role of External Affairs Specialist, a professional position responsible for supporting the implementation of legislative and agency initiatives through project coordination, policy research, and strategic communication efforts. This role works across agency divisions and with executive leadership to track and organize high-priority legislative activities, develop briefing materials, manage hearing logistics, support bill analysis coordination, and contribute to cross-functional projects.

This position offers a unique opportunity to engage directly in the legislative process and contribute to impactful, high-visibility projects that advance the Commission's mission.

The ideal candidate should possess the following minimum qualifications.

• Graduation from accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in public administration, political science, communications, or related discipline.
• At least one (1) year experience through internships, fellowships, academic projects, or student leadership roles involving research, legislative processes, communications, or policy-related work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting legislative research, bill tracking, or policy analysis.
• Experience coordinating or contributing to cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders, such as government agencies.

WORK SCHEDULE

The PUCT operates on a standard work schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Employees may request an alternative work schedule in accordance with the PUCT's Alternative Work Schedule Policy. Approval of such requests, including any form of telecommuting, is at management's discretion and based on the business needs of the agency and the requirements of the position.

VETERAN'S PREFERENCE

Veterans, Reservists, or Guardsmen with a Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) or additional duties that fall in the fields listed in the below link who meet the minimum qualifications are encouraged to apply.

The MOS codes applicable to this position can be accessed at:

Military Crosswalk for Project Management Specialist

If you qualify for a Veteran Employment Preference, it is mandatory that you provide the required documentation with your State of Texas Application. Documentation must be provided before a Veteran Preference can be granted. Required documentation is as follows: Veteran - DD Form 214; Surviving Spouse of a Veteran who has not remarried - Marriage Certificate and DD Form 1300; Orphan of a Veteran who was killed during active duty - Birth Certificate and DD Form 1300.

A detailed job description can be viewed on our website:

https://puc.texas.gov/HumanResources/Home/Jobs

Salary commensurate with qualifications. The salary of an ERS Retiree or non-contributing member may be 6% less than the recommended salary.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

Applications must contain a complete job history, detailing:

• Job title
• Dates of employment
• Name of employer
  Supervisor's name and phone number
• Description of duties performed, demonstrating how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position applying for

Important: Resumes do not replace this required information. Applications stating, "See attached" or "See resume" will not be accepted. The experience listed on your resume must match the details on the CAPPS State of Texas Application. Discrepancies will result in an incomplete application.

Required Documents

• Resume

The hiring manager has requested the above document(s) be submitted with the CAPPS State of Texas Application To submit a resume, you must upload it to your application. When submitting your documents, make sure to mark them as "relevant."

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applicant Release Form Website Link

WORK IN TEXAS APPLICANTS

To apply for the position, it is best to go to the CAPPS State of Texas Talent Management System to submit your application by going to https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl and select our agency, Public Utility Commission of Texas, from the "Company/Agency" list.

REMARKS

• Due to the volume applications received, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Non-selection notifications will be sent interviewed candidates following the hiring decision.
• All information provided in connection with an employment application must be accurate and complete. Any misstatement, falsification, or omission of information may result in refusal to hire or, if hired, termination.
• If the position requires it, licensure as a Professional Engineer or to practice law in Texas will be verified through the Professional Board of Engineers or the State Bar of Texas for the selected candidate.
• A satisfactory driving record is necessary for driving a state or personal vehicle for agency business. Selected candidates will have their driving records evaluated according to the Commission's Traffic Safety policy.
• For males born on or after January 1, 1960, the PUC will verify Selective Service registration through the online Selective Service System. Males born after January 1, 1960, who are not registered must provide proof of exemption from the Selective Service registration requirement.
• The PUCT participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
• The Public Utility Regulatory Act imposes certain restrictions on PUCT employees' investments, professional activities, and relationships with public utilities, with some limited exceptions. PUCT employees are also prohibited from having a financial interest in a public utility, an affiliate of a public utility, and a person a significant portion of whose business consists of furnishing goods or services to public utilities or affiliates.
• The PUCT has a Post-Employment Restriction - details furnished upon request.
• The PUCT is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.