POSTING: 16-2025

OPENING DATE: JULY 11, 2025

CLOSING DATE: JULY 25, 2025

TITLE: RESEARCH SCIENTIST 3

WORKWEEK: 35 HOURS (NL)

EXISTING VACANCIES: 1

SALARY: $74,534.83 - $105,943.75

DIVISION/OFFICE: DIVISION OF CLEAN ENERGY

OPEN TO: GENERAL PUBLIC

At the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (“Board”), you will be part of a highly effective and collaborative team working to ensure that safe, adequate, and proper utility services are provided to all members of the public who desire such services.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Office of Clean Energy Equity (OCEE) is part of a highly effective and collaborative team within the Division of Clean Energy working to achieve New Jersy’s goal of an affordable and just clean energy future. You will be working alongside a team of dedicated professionals at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to advance the state’s leadership in areas such as renewable energy and energy efficiency with a specific focus of applying an equity lens to all efforts. Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Clean Energy Equity or other supervisory position, the Research Scientist 3 position will assist the Clean Energy Equity (“CEE”) and broader Clean Energy team with the design, implementation, and administration of policies and programs that advance energy resilience initiatives predicated on environmental justice (“EJ”) and equitable practices.

WORK RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provide research support, develop, and administer programs that advance climate and energy resilience throughout the state with primary focus in overburdened communities. Research and data analysis through geographic information system (“GIS”) software to support measures and policies that address extreme heat, land use, and energy burden.

Collaborate within the agency in all aspects of the Board’s policies, program development, and implementation.

Collaborate with partner State agencies in the implementation of relevant policies, programs, training, and education; work with stakeholders and provide effective outreach on energy equity and climate resilience initiatives.

Work with other BPU teams to develop, investigate, research, propose and implement new or modified policy that integrates equity and justice into other clean energy initiatives and across programs/departments with utilities, external partners, and community members and groups on the development of CEE programs. Draft proposals, orders and memos to effectuate policy objectives, conduct complex policy analysis and research including developing professional briefing materials.

Assist in running educational webinars, stakeholder meetings, collecting stakeholder feedback and briefing decision-makers.

REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in a discipline appropriate to the position.

EXPERIENCE: Two (2) years of experience in a field appropriate to the position.

NOTE: A Doctorate in a discipline appropriate to the position may be substituted for two (2) years of experience indicated above.

RESUME NOTE: Eligibility determination will be based upon information presented on the resume and/or education documents provided. Applicants who possess foreign degrees (degrees earned outside of the U.S.) are required to provide an evaluation indicating the U.S. equivalency prior to the closing date. Failure to do so may result in your ineligibility.

GENERAL INFORMATION
BENEFITS: The State of New Jersey offers a variety of employee benefits statewide, including:
• Health and Dental Benefit Plans
• Prescription Drug Plan
• Vision Care Reimbursement
• Deferred Compensation
• 12 Vacation Days, 15 Sick Days, 3 Administrative Leave Days
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Telework available for some positions*
• Flexible and Health Savings Accounts
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness
• Paid Leave for Military Training
• Alternate Work Week (AWP) available for some positions*

Pursuant to the BPU’s policy, procedures, and/or guidelines.

HOURS OF WORK: The hours of work for this position are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All No Limit (NL) titles will be required to perform work beyond the stated hours of work as needed, in compliance with applicable collective bargaining agreements and laws.

STATE AS A MODEL EMPLOYER (SAME) APPLICANTS :If you are applying under the NJ “SAME” program, your supporting documents (Schedule A or B letter), must be submitted along with your resume by the closing date indicated above. The SAME program allows candidates, who identify as having a significant disability, to apply for non-competitive and unclassified positions through a fast track hiring process. For more information about the SAME program and the Fast Track Hiring program, please click here if you have any questions, please email, or call the contact as indicated on the job vacancy announcement.

TELEWORK: This position may be eligible to participate in the Department's pilot Telework Program/Policy, which offers eligible employees the opportunity to work remotely up to two (2) days per week, if approved by Management per operational needs, subject to all requirements of the Department’s Telework Program/Policy. For questions regarding Telework eligibility, please ask during the interview process if selected for an interview.

WORK AUTHORIZATION: In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification forms upon hire. Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States according to the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services Regulations. The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorships for citizenships or Visas to the United States.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: The “New Jersey First Act,” N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70) effective September 1, 2011, contains new residency requirements for public officers and employees, unless exempted under the law. Current, new, or prospective employees should be aware of the following: Effective September 1, 2011, all employees of State and local government must reside in the State of New Jersey, unless exempted under the law. If you already work for State or local government as of September 1, 2011, and you do not live in New Jersey, you are not required to move to New Jersey. However, if you begin your office, position or employment on September 1, 2011, or later, you must reside in New Jersey. If you do not reside in New Jersey, you have one year after the date you take your office, position, or employment to relocate your residence to New Jersey. If you do not do so, you are subject to removal from your office, position, or employment. For more information, visit: https://www.nj.gov/labor/research-info/njfirst.shtml

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Qualified candidates are welcome to submit a letter of interest, resume, writing sample, a completed State of NJ Employment Application and Personal Relationships Disclosure Form along with your best contact number and email address to:

humanresources@bpu.nj.gov

(Subject line must include the specific job posting number)

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in a discipline appropriate to the position.

EXPERIENCE: Two (2) years of experience in a field appropriate to the position.

NOTE: A Doctorate in a discipline appropriate to the position may be substituted for two (2) years of experience indicated above.

RESUME NOTE: Eligibility determination will be based upon information presented on the resume and/or education documents provided. Applicants who possess foreign degrees (degrees earned outside of the U.S.) are required to provide an evaluation indicating the U.S. equivalency prior to the closing date. Failure to do so may result in your ineligibility.

About New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities ("NJBPU" or “Board”) is the state agency with authority to oversee the regulated utilities, which provide critical services such as natural gas, electricity, water, telecommunications, and cable television. The law requires the Board to ensure safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey.The Board addresses issues of consumer protection, energy reform, deregulation of energy, and telecommunications services and the restructuring of utility rates to encourage energy conservation and competitive pricing in the industry.The Board is also responsible for monitoring utility service and responding to consumer complaints.The Board is considered a quasi-judicial body, meaning that it functions similar to a court or judge. Anyone may file a petition (or a request for action) asking the Board to consider a matter within its jurisdiction. Most often petitions are filed by the utilities, ratepayers, or interested parties, but sometimes the Board will initiate a matter on its own.Once a petition is filed, the Board decides if it will retain the matter (which will become a case) or send the petition to the Of...fice of Administrative Law (OAL). If the case is sent to the OAL, a judge will make an initial decision that the Board will ultimately accept, reject, or change. Regardless of whether the case is sent to the OAL or retained by the Board, the case goes through a legal process that may involve public hearings, briefs, discovery, and testimony. The parties involved include the petitioner, the Board’s staff, and often the Division of Rate Counsel (the state entity charged with representing the ratepayers and consumers of New Jersey). Others may ask to be involved as an intervener or a participant, but those parties must meet certain standards provided in the regulations (N.J.A.C. 1:1-16.3) to be granted that status.Members of the public are invited to voice their opinions at public hearings. Public hearings are listed on NJBPU's website and notices of these hearings appear in newspapers. All evidence, arguments, and comments provided at the public hearings are made part of the record to ensure that the OAL judge and/or the Board is making an informed and impartial decision based upon the facts as presented by both sides. It is important that the public provide its input at the public hearings to ensure these comments are included in the record of the case.The Board then decides the case at one of its public agenda meetings, and will issue an order setting forth the reason for its decision. The Board’s decision may be appealed to the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court.

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