Chief of Staff

The Office of the People's Counsel (“OPC” or the “Office”) is an independent agency of the District of Columbia government, headed by a People’s Counsel, an attorney appointed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia. By law, the People’s Counsel is the advocate for consumers of utility services in the district. The Office is a statutory party in all utility-related proceedings before the Public Service Commission and the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water). The Office represents the interests of District ratepayers before federal regulatory agencies and is authorized to investigate the operation and valuation of utility companies, independent of any pending proceeding, and represents the interests of DC Water consumers.

Serves as the senior executive advisor to the People’s Counsel on administrative, operational, organizational, and strategic management matters. Oversees day-to-day agency operations and ensures effective coordination among executive leadership, program divisions, and administrative functions.

Duties And Responsibilities

Directs and oversees activities necessary to carry out the goals, objectives, and strategic priorities of the Office of the People’s Counsel (OPC), delegating authority for the overall planning, coordination, direction, and timely execution of agency programs and operations. Develops and implements organizational goals and objectives for subordinate supervisors, managers, and organizational units to ensure alignment with OPC’s statutory mission, operational priorities, and executive initiatives.

Manages and provides executive oversight of senior-level managers, supervisors, and subordinate staff across CS‑07 through MS‑15 levels. Establishes policy direction and ensures performance accountability for units responsible for human resources, operations, communications, information technology, consumer and water services, and other administrative and programmatic functions.

Oversees the Office of Human Resources and provides executive direction concerning workforce planning, staffing, employee and labor relations, position classification, compensation administration, performance management, policy development, leave administration, compliance with District personnel regulations, ADA/FMLA requirements, and organizational development initiatives. Ensures human capital strategies support agency goals, operational continuity, and workforce effectiveness.

Provides executive oversight of operational functions under the Chief Operations Officer, including information technology, communications/public information, administrative services, facilities coordination, and agency operational support. Ensures operational units are effectively managed and aligned with OPC’s mission and strategic priorities.

Oversees Communications and Public Information activities, including development and implementation of agency communication strategies, media relations, stakeholder engagement, public outreach campaigns, and consumer education initiatives. Ensures communications efforts enhance agency visibility and support utility consumer advocacy objectives.

Directs and oversees the Associate Director of Consumer and Water Services and related consumer advocacy programs responsible for complaint resolution, consumer education, outreach, and coordination with community organizations, utilities, District agencies, and external partners. Ensures programs effectively advance OPC’s consumer protection mission.

Oversees agency operational planning activities, including development of annual work plans, strategic initiatives, operational priorities, and performance objectives. Reviews analytical, operational, and statistical reports concerning agency operations, staffing, budgetary planning, budget submission to the Mayor, the Council of the District of Columbia, and organizational performance to ensure consistency with OPC goals and objectives.

Oversees budgetary planning and resource management, including review of funding allocations, expenditures, procurement requests, contractual services, and resource utilization. Ensures compliance with District regulations and alignment with approved budgetary authorities and agency priorities.

Provides leadership and guidance concerning the development and implementation of agency policies, procedures, management directives, and operational standards. Evaluates existing organizational structures, policies, and administrative practices to improve operational effectiveness and ensure compliance with applicable District government regulations and executive directives.

Advises the People’s Counsel on policy initiatives and operational matters impacting OPC programs and agency administration. Reviews proposed legislation and administrative actions to evaluate operational, fiscal, staffing, and programmatic impacts on the agency and develops recommendations concerning implementation strategies and organizational response.

Ensures internal operational controls, risk management measures, and accountability systems are implemented and maintained to safeguard agency resources, strengthen program integrity, and support effective and efficient service delivery. Identifies operational issues and develops corrective actions and strategic solutions to address organizational challenges and improve agency performance.

Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with District government officials, regulatory agencies, utility providers, consumer advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders to advance agency objectives and strengthen service to District utility consumers.

Qualifications

Individual must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to MS*15 grade level in the District of Columbia government or comparable experience in another governmental or private sector organization. Specialized experience is defined as progressively responsible executive-level experience providing leadership, operational oversight, policy direction, and management of multiple administrative or programmatic functions, including supervision of subordinate managers and professional staff.

EDUCATION

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in Public Administration, Business Administration, Human Resources, Government Management, Law, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, plus a minimum of ten (10) to fifteen (15) years of work-related skills, knowledge, or significantly higher executive-level experience.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION

None

WORKING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a typical office environment. The work requires interaction with numerous individuals by face-to-face and telephone but is mostly sedentary.

PROMOTION POTENTIAL

None

Residency Requirement

If the position you are applying for is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment.

Duration of Appointment: Management Supervisory Service (MSS): At-will employment applies to the MSS. All positions and appointments in the MSS serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

EEO STATEMENT

The District of Columbia Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, family responsibilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, homeless status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, participation in a legally protected activity, parental status, matriculation, personal appearance, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Other Significant Facts

The incumbents of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability.