Duties

As a Pipeline Safety Law Attorney Advisor, you will:

• Work with other attorneys, program staff, subject matter experts, and agency leaders to: set national policies on pipeline safety; pursue enforcement for violations of pipeline safety standards, including civil penalties and compliance orders; support emergency response following pipeline incidents, including issuance of emergency orders;
• Develop and adopt new regulations to further enhance and improve pipeline safety;
• Develop guidance and interpretations to assist the regulated community in maintaining compliance;
• Support litigation by or against the United States; and other legal support for PHMSA and its pipeline safety program.

As a Hazardous Materials Safety Law Attorney-Advisor, you will work with program clients, subject matter experts, and modal partners to:

• Set national policies on hazardous materials safety requirements for all modes of transportation;
• Pursue enforcement actions, including civil penalty cases, compliance orders, and emergency orders and recalls;
• Issue special permits, which allow for innovative safety approaches and new technologies;
• Develop guidance and interpretations, to assist the regulated community in maintaining compliance with federal hazardous materials transportation laws; and
• Support U.S. efforts with respect to international rulemaking and harmonization of transportation safety requirements.

The ideal candidate will have knowledge and experience with a range of legal practice areas associated with the transportation industry and the Department of Transportation, such as: administrative enforcement, including charging documents, adjudications, hearings, and negotiations; regulatory development and drafting; administrative appeals and litigation; legislative drafting and analysis; and working collaboratively with other attorneys, engineers, policy leaders, and safety experts performing a wide variety of legal tasks in a government setting.

Please submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcripts, proof of bar membership, and a writing sample via email to PHMSA.Attorney.Jobs@dot.gov . Please indicate whether you are applying to the Pipeline Safety Law Division, the Hazardous Materials Safety Law Division, or both positions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• This is an Excepted Service position.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
• Resume and transcripts must be submitted to PHMSA.Attorney.Jobs@dot.gov

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.

Qualifications

Your qualification and experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following:

To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience and Education possess a professional law degree (LLB, or J.D.), and be in good standing of a bar. No professional legal experience necessary.

• Experience performing legal services involving compliance and regulatory issues;
• Experience preparing legal memoranda and opinions; and/or
• Experience maintaining a relationship with customers to assure their understanding of legal positions.

To qualify for the Grade 12: A law degree, bar membership in good standing and either TWO years of professional attorney experience OR one year of professional attorney experience and a second professional law degree (LL.M) which requires one full year of graduate study. Be an active member in good standing of the bar in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

And at least 1 year of professional attorney experience, which includes:

• Experience performing legal services involving compliance and regulatory issues.
• Experience preparing legal memoranda and opinions.
• Experience maintaining a relationship with customers to assure their understanding of legal positions.

To qualify for the Grade 13: A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least TWO years of professional attorney experience. Be an active member in good standing of the bar in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

And at least 1 year of professional attorney experience, which includes:

• Experience performing legal services involving compliance and regulatory issues.
• Experience preparing legal memoranda and opinions.
• Experience maintaining a relationship with customers to assure their understanding of legal positions.

To qualify for the Grade 14: A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least THREE years of professional attorney experience. Be an active member in good standing of the bar in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

And at least 1 year of professional attorney experience, which includes:

• Experience performing legal services involving compliance and regulatory issues.
• Experience preparing legal memoranda and opinions.
• Experience maintaining a relationship with customers to assure their understanding of legal positions.

To qualify for the Grade 15: A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least FOUR years of professional attorney experience. Be an active member in good standing of the bar in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

And at least 1 year of professional attorney experience, which includes:

• Experience performing legal services involving compliance and regulatory issues.
• Experience preparing legal memoranda and opinions.
• Experience maintaining a relationship with customers to assure their understanding of legal positions.

For all types of consideration, 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

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Education

MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENT AND CURRENT MEMBER OF THE BAR REQUIREMENT

In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.