Duties

• Lead a team of attorneys in procurement law to provide legal services to Department agencies.
• Independently conduct legal reviews of documents, represent the client Agency in administrative proceedings and judicial litigation, and represent the client Agency and USDA in interactions with other Federal agencies.
• Provide expert advice and assistance and leadership for representation of the Department with the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Justice other Federal agencies, and Congressional committees.
• Independently draft legal documents including briefs, memorandums, and reports that describe and analyze complex issues.
• Partner with USDA agencies to assess their goals and objectives and provide counsel on legal sufficiency of potential solutions.
• Lead legal teams on integrating best practices; enabling legal counsel on legal matters; providing litigation support to a variety of clients; and rendering actionable advice to senior USDA legal and non-legal leaders.
• Mentor junior attorneys in subject matter areas of practice.
• Provide training to OGC and agency client personnel in areas of practice.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Must submit Cover Letter, Resume, Proof of Bar membership, Law School Transcripts, and Narrative.
• Review of the OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) entries have been reviewed and determined to be satisfactory.
• Requires a favorable credit check as part of the background investigation.
• Additional selections may be made from this announcement.
• Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Obtain and use a Government issued charge card for business-related travel.
• May be subject to satisfactory completion of a two year probationary or trial period.

Qualifications

For consideration, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for attorney positions:

• Successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the America Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD) (Law School transcript required), and
• Currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to the basic requirements, the following additional experience is required. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the specialized experience requirements. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Applicants should have demonstrated specialized experience in legal research and writing, providing informal legal advice, reviewing regulations and statutes, and handling litigation. The focus of this position is Federal procurement, fiscal, and grants and agreements law. Applicants should demonstrate experience in independently conducting and leading teams in bid protest and contract disputes before GAO, the Court of Federal Claims, and the Consolidated Board of Contract appeals for USDA mission support, facing opposition counsel from K Street firms and similar firms around the country; providing expert legal, business, and innovative advice in cooperation with contracting officials with respect to procurement options and development of solicitations for areas as diverse as firefighting operations, emergency response, and IT contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars; advice with respect to fiscal law impacts of contract actions and litigation, as well as independent fiscal law advice and appropriations drafting when needed; suspension and debarment general advice; and providing advice on matters related to grants and cooperative agreements mainly in the Research, Education, Economics, and Extension mission area of the Department. This experience should be clearly documented in the cover letter, narrative, and resume.

GS-15: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the (GS-14) level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies to successfully perform as an Attorney Advisor (General). Examples of such experience include: Ability to plan and assign priorities to tasks and assignments to further develop knowledge of complex subject-matter areas. Works independently to determine methodologies, milestones, goals, and termination points for most assignments. Completes assignments with an understanding of management requirements and meets organizational objectives.

NOTE: This experience must be demonstrated on your resume/supporting documents.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Bar Membership: Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by the time you begin the position.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Narrative: You must submit a written statement, in your cover letter or in a separate document, explaining your interest in working for USDA's Office of the General Counsel, and noting any relevant course work, training, or prior experience that you believe should be considered in evaluating your application.

It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the above requirements (education and bar membership). Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: You MUST submit a copy of your transcript if you want to substitute your education for experience. If you claim qualifications based on education, and do not submit a transcript, your education will not be used in making a qualification determination and you may be found "not qualified".

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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Additional information

Telework Eligible: Yes, up to four days per week.

This is a bargaining unit designated position.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

Relocation expenses are not authorized.