Deputy General Counsel

Our client, the operator of the nation's largest competitive wholesale electricity market, is seeking an accomplished Deputy General Counsel to join its executive legal leadership team.

This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned energy attorney to help shape the legal and regulatory framework governing the U.S. electric grid. Reporting to the Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer, the Deputy General Counsel will provide strategic legal counsel on complex regulatory, commercial, litigation, and policy matters while serving as a key advisor to executive leadership.

The successful candidate will play a central role in representing the company before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), state regulatory agencies, legislative bodies, and the courts while leading a team of talented legal professionals and helping guide the future of organized wholesale electricity markets.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to executive leadership on strategic legal, regulatory, policy, and business matters.
• Lead legal strategy involving FERC, state regulatory agencies, organized wholesale electricity markets, and electric industry policy.
• Oversee legal support for federal, state, and regional legislative and regulatory initiatives.
• Partner with Governmental & Member Services to develop and execute regulatory advocacy strategies.
• Coordinate formal and informal advocacy before FERC and state commissions.
• Draft and oversee preparation of pleadings, testimony, policy papers, reports, and position statements.
• Represent PJM in litigation, administrative proceedings, alternative dispute resolution, and regulatory matters.
• Engage with industry organizations, regulators, members, and stakeholders to advance consensus-based policy solutions.
• Advise on compliance with agreements, tariffs, regulatory requirements, and corporate governance matters.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop attorneys and legal professionals while fostering collaboration and high-quality legal work.
• Review work product from internal and outside counsel to ensure effective advocacy.
• Provide practical business-oriented legal advice on complex issues affecting organized wholesale electricity markets.
• Build productive relationships with regulators, legislators, industry participants, and stakeholders representing diverse interests.

Qualifications

Required

• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Licensed attorney with eligibility for admission to the Pennsylvania Bar
• 15+ years of progressively responsible legal experience
• Significant leadership experience managing attorneys, legal professionals, or cross-functional teams
• Minimum of 10 years practicing law in regulatory, commercial, litigation, energy, or related practice areas
• At least 5 years of experience involving the electric industry, FERC regulation, or organized wholesale electricity markets
• Exceptional written and oral advocacy skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex legal, regulatory, market, and power system issues to executive leadership and external stakeholders

Preferred

• MBA or other advanced business degree
• Deep familiarity with the company's Operating Agreement, Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT), market rules, planning functions, committee processes, and neighboring RTO/ISO relationships

Why This Opportunity?

This position offers the opportunity to serve as one of the most influential legal leaders in the North American electric industry. The Deputy General Counsel will help shape regulatory policy affecting wholesale electricity markets, resource adequacy, transmission planning, grid reliability, and the ongoing energy transition while working alongside some of the industry's leading legal, regulatory, engineering, and market professionals.

The role provides broad executive visibility, meaningful leadership responsibility, and the opportunity to influence policy at the highest levels of the electric power industry.

Interested?

If you're an experienced energy attorney with significant FERC and wholesale electricity market experience and are interested in discussing this exceptional leadership opportunity, please contact Variant Partners for a confidential conversation.