Duties

As an Attorney-Advisor (Open Continuous) GS 0905 13/14/15, your typical work assignments may include the following under supervision:

• Provide oral and written advice, analysis, interpretations, and guidance on complex and sensitive legal and policy matters both for individual questions and as related to DHS programs and operations.
• Draft and review documents for consistency with all applicable legal authorities and requirements, to include: ethics guidance, financial disclosure reviews, analysis and advice, directives, correspondence, reports, memoranda, testimony, regulations, Federal Register notices, directives, legislation, guidance and other such documents.
• Represent the office in meetings and conferences with representatives of other legal divisions, programs, components, U.S. Office of Government Ethics, the White House, other Executive Branch agencies, industry, and the public on ethics questions.
• Draft and present ethics training to Headquarters officials, to include senior leadership and political appointees.
• Review financial disclosure reports, analyze and resolve potential conflicts of interest and related ethics questions.
• Assist with administration of the DHS Standards of Conduct Program.
• Provide guidance related to related areas of law, such as procurement integrity and partisan political activity regulations and policies.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U. S. Citizenship Required
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service
• You must successfully pass a background investigation
• You must be able to obtain a (SECRET) Security Clearance
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test
• Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment are required to serve a two (2) year trial period

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

GS-13:
1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD); or
2. The second professional law degree (LL.M.) AND
3. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position or two years of judicial clerkship.

GS-14 or GS-15:
1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD); or
2. The second professional law degree (LL.M.) AND
3. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization.

Specialized Experience:
The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) will evaluate eligible candidates based on the following criteria:
OGC will assess qualified applicants by comparing each candidate's qualifications to those pertinent to the position. OGC will consider relevant skills and experience, education and training, performance, and awards. The skills and experience listed immediately below are of particular importance to the position, and applicants should provide specific detailed information in these areas, where applicable, as part of their application.

Only applicants with superior legal research and writing skills will be considered. Applicants should possess strong oral and written communication skills, legal research and writing skills, interpersonal skills and exercise fair and sound judgment. Additionally, it is desired that the successful candidate have strong academic credentials.

For this position, specialized experience is defined as:

• Conducting complex legal analysis related to conflict of interest statutes, the Standards of Ethical Conduct laws, regulations, and applying department policies to departmental programs/operations or personnel.
• Supporting the administration of the DHS Standards of Conduct program, including completing required Ethics in Government Act requirements, conducting specialized or tailored training, as well as drafting departmental level policies.
• Advising on and reviewing Public and Confidential Financial Disclosure Reports, including nominee clearance for Presidential appointments.
• Familiarity with related areas of law including the Hatch Act, Federal Advisory Committee Act, Non-Federal Travel Support, and statutory gift acceptance interpretation.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service.
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will (not) be paid.

Promotion Potential: GS-15

This position may be filled at the GS-13, GS-14 or GS-15 grade level. If selection is made at the GS-13 or GS-14 grade level, promotion to the next higher grade level may occur without further competition.

This is a permanent appointment in the excepted service and will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment are required to serve a two (2) year trial period. Upon successful completion of the required trial period, this position will be permanent.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans , Peace Corps / VISTA volunteers , and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Application of Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Homeland Security considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD form 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.

Education

Applicants must be a graduate of a school of law school accredited by the American Bar Association and an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. If qualifying based on your education, you must submit a copy of your college transcript OR a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify education. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html .

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage.

Additional information

For Alternate Application Information please go to: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Employee Benefits."

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for SECRET clearance as a condition of placement in this NON-CRITICAL SENSITIVE position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12654 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within 90 calendar days of the initial issue date of the referral list. Multiple selections may be made from this announcement.

By applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for other similar positions.

You may be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and is subject to random drug testing for the duration of service with DHS.