Job Requisition ID: 51715 
Closing Date: 12/19/2025
​Agency: Illinois Power Agency
Salary: $75,000 - $100,000
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time 
County: Cook; Adams; Alexander; Bond; Boone; Brown; Bureau; Calhoun; Carroll; Cass; Champaign; Christian; Clark; Clay; Clinton; Coles; Crawford; Cumberland; DeKalb; DeWitt; Douglas; DuPage; Edgar; Edwards; Effingham; Fayette; Ford; Franklin; Fulton; Gallatin; Greene; Grundy; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardin; Henderson; Henry; Iroquois; Jackson; Jasper; Jefferson; Jersey; Jo Daviess; Johnson ; Kane; Kankakee; Kendall; Knox; LaSalle; Lake; Lawrence; Lee; Livingston; Logan; Macon; Macoupin; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Mason; Massac; McDonough; McHenry; McLean; Menard; Mercer; Monroe; Montgomery; Morgan; Moultrie; Ogle; Other; Peoria; Perry; Piatt; Pike; Pope; Pulaski; Putnam; Randolph; Richland; Rock Island; Saline; Sangamon; Schuyler; Scott; Shelby; St. Clair; Stark; Stephenson; Tazewell; Union; Vermilion; Wabash; Warren; Washington; Wayne; White; Whiteside; Will; Williamson; Winnebago; Woodford
Number of Vacancies: 1

****A COVER LETTER AND RESUME IS REQUIRED FOR THIS JOB POSTING****

Please attach a Cover Letter that describes your interest in and qualifications for the position, a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV), and three professional references in the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application. You WILL NOT be considered for the position if you attach a CMS100, CMS100b or any other document in lieu of the documents requested. 

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Work Hours: M-F; 9AM - 5PM
Headquarter Location: 180 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 60601
Work County: Cook
Email: ipa.hr@illinois.gov
Posting Group: Legal, Audit & Compliance; Environmental & Natural Resources; Leadership & Management; Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Illinois Power Agency

Associate Legal Counsel – Wholesale Markets

The Illinois Power Agency is an independent State Agency created in 2007 to develop annual electricity procurement plans and renewable resources procurement plans and to conduct procurement events to ensure adequate, reliable, affordable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable electric service for default supply customers of Illinois electric utilities. The Agency also conducts procurements and administers programs that promote the development of renewable energy resources to meet State Renewable Portfolio Standard goals and targets. For more information about the Illinois Power Agency, please refer to: https://ipa.illinois.gov/

The Associate Legal Counsel – Competitive Markets will work on cutting edge legal and policy issues in a rapidly evolving field under the direction of the Chief Legal Counsel.  These opportunities include work focused on the ongoing management of competitive procurements to facilitate the development of utility-scale solar and wind projects, monitoring developments at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) and within Regional Transmission Organizations (“RTOs”) impacting renewable energy development and the IPA’s energy procurement processes, participating in regional and national committees and working groups through which policies are debated, the ongoing management of renewable energy incentive programs, energy policy and procurement, contract development, legislative review, litigation, and administrative law.  Responsibilities under this position will primarily focus on work related to electricity procurements, competitive procurements to support the development of renewable resources, and related public policy initiatives, but may include other legal and public policy-related assignments as required by the Agency.

 Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist the legal team and Agency staff in the development and preparation of procurement plans, including the Agency’s annual Electricity Procurement Plan, biennial revisions to the Agency’s Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan, and any future planning processes.
• Assist the Chief Legal Counsel and Deputy Legal Counsel in litigation before the Illinois Commerce Commission, including litigation seeking approval of the IPA’s procurement plans and docketed proceedings implicating Agency interests or jurisdiction, especially those related to resource adequacy, electric grid planning, transmission planning, and other dockets with an impact upon the Agency’s competitive procurements and planning.
• Assist the Director, Planning and Procurement Bureau Chief, and Chief Legal Counsel in the research, drafting, and publication of a policy study or studies to evaluate the potential impacts of various legislative proposals purporting to help the State on its path to the equitable attainment of 100% clean energy.
• Advise Planning and Procurement Bureau during the Indexed REC Contract development and implementation of procurement plans. Serve as the Agency’s representative in regional and national committees through which wholesale energy and capacity policy challenges are addressed and policy decisions are formulated. 
• Monitor activities and serve as one of the Agency’s in-house experts on FERC decisions and RTO policies, insofar as those decisions and policies impact the IPA’s approach toward its energy, capacity, and renewable energy resources competitive procurement events. 
• Assist the Chief Legal Counsel, Planning and Procurement Bureau Chief, Chief DEI Officer, and program managers with interpretation of the Illinois Power Agency Act and other applicable Illinois and federal laws and regulations in the administration of the Agency’s procurements and programs.
• Assist the Chief Legal Counsel in researching and formulating guidance on legal issues for both internal and external constituencies.
• Assist the Chief Legal Counsel and Agency staff with the review and analysis of proposed legislation, including legislation impacting the Agency or the industry in which the Agency operates. 
• Assist the Chief Legal Counsel with the development, adoption, and implementation of administrative rules promulgated by the Agency. 
• In coordination with the Director, the Bureau Chief of the Procurement and Planning Bureau, the Chief Legal Counsel, and the Deputy Legal Counsel, assist in developing IPA positions in contested matters and in anticipation of contested matters.
• Under the supervision of the Chief Legal Counsel and Deputy Legal Counsel, provide legal representation in other matters involving the IPA.
• Represent the Agency at meetings, conferences, and other gatherings which focus on the Agency’s work, especially those related to resource adequacy and grid/transmission planning.
• Participate in Agency-level policy discussions; work directly with Agency management; gather and provide information to the Director and Chief Legal Counsel for review; coordinate with staff and consultants in review and analysis of agency programs and procurements to ensure policy objectives are met.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Skills and Qualifications:

• A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and membership in good standing with the Illinois bar. The Agency will also consider applications from individuals with pending membership in Illinois bar, or membership in another state bar and willingness to take the Illinois bar exam within 6 months.
• Experience in the energy, environmental, consumer protection, and/or public interest fields.
• Motivated independent worker, comfortable taking the lead on assigned issues.
• Strong legal research, writing (especially persuasive writing), and editing skills.
• Attention to detail, ability to become familiar with technical and complex information on short time frames.
• Strong critical thinking and analytic skills.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively within a fast-paced, dynamic, and creative environment.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• At least two (2) years of experience with renewable energy programs or development, administrative law, or public interest fields.

The Associate Legal Counsel is prohibited from: (i) owning, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the voting capital stock of an electric utility, independent power producer, power marketer, or alternative retail electric supplier; (ii) being in any chain of successive ownership of 5% or more of the voting capital stock of any electric utility, independent power producer, power marketer, or alternative retail electric supplier; (iii) receiving any form of compensation, fee, payment, or other consideration from an electric utility, independent power producer, power marketer, or alternative retail electric supplier, including legal fees, consulting fees, bonuses, or other sums. These limitations do not apply to any compensation received pursuant to a defined benefit plan or other form of deferred compensation, provided that the individual has otherwise severed all ties to the utility, power producer, power marketer, or alternative retail electric supplier.

This is a merit compensation position.  Position Salary Range: $75,000-$100,000.  Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.  The position is a hybrid position and will require in-office and field work periodically. 

To apply, please submit a cover letter that describes your interest in and qualifications for the position, resume, and three professional references along with your online application.

Applications without a cover letter describing the applicant’s relevant experience and why the applicant would be a strong candidate for this position will not be reviewed for consideration.

No phone calls please.

The Illinois Power Agency is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Use the “Apply” button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.

If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so. 

State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees – a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. 

Non-State employees should log in on the using the “View Profile” link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.  If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.

If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:

State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid

Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com – click “Application Procedures” in the footer of every page of the website.

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• donotreply@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
• systems@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com