Administrative Specialist

Senior Administrative Assistant

The Office of Public Counsel ("OPC") provides effective advocacy to secure positive outcomes for Florida's regulated-utility customers in high profile rate cases. As a Senior Administrative Assistant, you are in a position of special trust and responsibility, bound by nondisclosure agreements that prohibit you from disclosing privileged legal matters in dockets where the amounts in controversy frequently exceed a billion dollars. You are expected to work both independently and collaboratively, as a member of a close-functioning administrative team, supporting the general needs of the office as well as OPC attorneys and expert consultants in matters leading up to and during administrative hearings and appellate litigation. This position is not remote.

The Office of Public Counsel has zealously represented Florida's customers in high profile litigation for the past 52 years. We intervene as a matter of right to represent the collective interests of all customers of Florida's publicly owned utilities. Our advocates actively confront critical affordability issues where the amounts in controversy can exceed billions of dollars. Our goal is to achieve increasingly positive outcomes for Florida's customers.

Salary: $41,964 $89,964.

Application Deadline: Anticipated start date as early as September 12, 2026. Open until filled.

Examples of Work Performed:

• Produce and manage large documents in Microsoft Word, manipulate spreadsheets in Excel, convert Excel spreadsheets to pdf, and produce and organize pdf documents in Adobe Acrobat.
• Draft grammatically correct, properly formatted legal documents and correspondence as instructed by attorneys; proofread and edit documents as needed.
• Track discovery activity, deadlines and status of responses.
• Prepare exhibits and documents for hearings; provide support at hearings onsite, including physical handling of prepared materials.
• Assist with complex legal filings at the State and appellate level.
• Maintain digital and physical files (confidential and non-confidential), according to appropriate policy.
• Perform general office duties; help provide phone coverage for the main phone line.
• Assist attorneys with daily administrative activities, including travel arrangements and entering travel expenses for reimbursement as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of administrative procedures and practices, including document management.
• Knowledge of legal and administrative terminology; ability to interpret and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Highly attentive to detail with a critical eye for producing accurate, high-quality content.
• Demonstrate an enthusiastic, positive, "whatever it takes" approach working independently and cooperatively as part of a support team.
• Manage multiple deadlines and work requirements simultaneously.
• Communicate effectively and professionally, verbally and in writing.
• Deal tactfully and courteously with utility customers on the phone, via email, etc.
• Ability to train others when needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of administrative experience. A master's degree from an accredited college or university can substitute for one year of the required experience. Professional administrative experience can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

Preferred Qualifications: Paralegal or legal assistance, and experience with complex document preparation is preferred.

Submission of Application: Qualified applicants should apply at GovernmentJobs.com, or by sending a completed legislative application, cover letter and resume to: Office of Public Counsel, Claude Pepper Building, 111 W. Madison St., Room 812, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1400.

Working for the Florida Legislature includes a lucrative benefits package, including affordable health insurance options, free dental, long-term disability and employee life insurance, as well as competitive retirement. Employees have access to a college tuition waiver program, an employee assistance program, paid annual and sick leave, and paid holidays.

Health and Dental Insurance: Employees have a choice of participating in the State Self Insured Plan or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) if available in the county of residence or employment (Standard and High Deductible Investor plans are available). Full-time employees pay $30 per month for family coverage or $8.34 per month for individual coverage. Part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work. For dental insurance, the Legislature offers a PPO plan that offers choice of dentist and pays from 50 to 100 percent of usual, customary, and reasonable charges. There is a $1500 maximum benefit per plan year. The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work.

Leave Accrual Benefits: Annual Leave accrues as follows based on creditable state service: Up to 5 years - 11 hours per month 5 to 10 years - 13 hours per month Over 10 years - 15 hours per month Sick Leave accrues at 9 hours per month for all full-time employees.

Life and Disability Insurance: Group Term life Insurance with an accidental death and dismemberment benefit provides $25,000 coverage. The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work. For disability insurance, the Legislature offers a Group Long Term Disability Insurance Plan that provides a monthly benefit of 60 percent of covered monthly earnings after an elimination period of 360 days. The Legislature pays the total premium.

Retirement: Participation in the Florida Retirement System is compulsory for all salaried staff, except certain re-employed retirees. New employees have until the end of the eighth month following their first month of employment to select a retirement plan, from the traditional pension plan or the investment plan. New employees will receive an informational packet approximately two months after the hire date. Members and staff contribute 3% of their salary towards retirement and the Legislature pays the remainder of the premium.

Florida Pre-Tax Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan: This state sponsored program includes Supplemental Insurance Plans, Health Savings Account (when enrolled with an Investor Health Plan), and a Flexible Spending Program on a pretax basis. The Supplemental Insurance Plans include hospitalization, cancer/intensive care, dental, vision, and accidental/disability. The Flexible Spending Program includes healthcare and dependent care accounts. A competitive Deferred Compensation Plan is also offered. The State of Florida Deferred Compensation Plan offers a number of investment options including variable annuities, mutual funds, and a bank, with a variety of contract providers.

Paid Holidays: New Year's Day - Martin Luther King Day - Memorial Day - Independence Day - Labor Day - Veteran's Day - Thanksgiving Day - Friday After Thanksgiving - Christmas Day - Personal Holiday

Total Compensation Statement: The Total Compensation Statement provides a monetary value of each benefit listed below as well as a total annual compensation estimate. The annual salary amount used in this example is $40,000. Note: All values are based on individual plans.