Duties

As a Supervisory Attorney Advisor, you will:

• Manage the activities and work product of the staff attorneys and other personnel within the Regulatory Affairs Law Division.
• Research, or supervise the research of, each of statutes, legal opinions, policies, regulations, guidance, case law, and historical PHMSA and Department practice, on matters for which the Regulatory Affairs Law Division is responsible, including those involving complex or high-profile issues of law or policy. The position provides, or supervises the provision to, PHMSA officials and personnel in carrying out their regulatory oversight activities, legal advice and support (either orally or in writing, as appropriate) on compliance with administrative law legal authorities and implementing guidance and procedures. The position recommends revisions of policy and procedural guidance on an ongoing basis, thereby ultimately influencing policy and program decisions.
• Serve as a supervisory attorney for the Regulatory Affairs Law Division and a recognized expert within PHMSA on matters for which the Division is responsible, including those involving regulations, guidance, and pertinent procedure. The position ensures that the content of, and procedure involved in issuing, PHMSA regulations and guidance are consistent with the letter and intent of law, and are administratively sound, efficient, and economical in operation. In developing regulations and guidance, the position considers the needs, desires, and attitudes of the PHMSA, State and local officials, industry, the general public, and other affected stakeholders. The position ensures that legal advice and support are conveyed to the program offices and other stakeholders in a manner that is constructive and sensitive to program office policy objectives as well as PHMSA and Departmental interests.
• Prepare, or supervise the preparation of, briefs, memoranda, and pleadings or filings in administrative proceedings and court cases involving PHMSA regulations and guidance.
• Review and comment on the accuracy and significance for PHMSA regulatory oversight activities of draft legal materials including legislation, hearing testimony, Departmental regulations and guidance, and regulations and guidance of other Federal agencies.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors.

This position is that of PHMSA's Supervisory Attorney-Advisor for Regulatory Affairs Law in the Office of Chief Counsel, with comprehensive responsibility for the direct supervision of staff as the Deputy Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulatory Affairs. Under the direction and supervision of the Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulatory Affairs and the Deputy Chief Counsel, the incumbent supervises the work of staff attorneys and other personnel in the Regulatory Affairs Law Division in the Office of Chief Counsel.

Ideal Candidate: This position is perfect for an experienced supervisor with 5 or more years of experience in a busy counsel's office in the federal government or the private sector. The incumbent is responsible for managing the activities and work product of the staff attorneys and other personnel within the Regulatory Affairs Law Division, and in so doing exercises strong program and project management skills (to include the creation and management of action plans, milestone tracking, and identification of need for supplemental resources) in ensuring the timely development and delivery of legally sound, high-quality work product. The incumbent, as a supervisory attorney, performs those duties in a manner demonstrating independence, initiative, accountability, expert knowledge of Federal administrative law, fundamental understanding of the content and technical bases for PHMSA safety regulations, as well as superior judgment and strategic thinking.

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.
• Job announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 30 days
• Position is eligible for telework under an approved telework agreement.

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 Grade 15: You must meet the following experience requirements. Applicants must have current, relevant experience which is related to the work of this position, such as:

• Experience conducting briefings for and providing legal advice and assistance to executives and senior staff in carrying out the activities of their respective programs
  
• Experience managing attorneys or leading teams or projects in a legal office.
  
• Experience in pipeline safety law, administrative enforcement, rulemaking, legislation, litigation and environmental law.
  
• Experience coordinating legal issues and professional application of legal principles, precedents and rulings.
  

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.

Required Competencies and KSAs:

Administrative Law - Knowledge of state and Federal administrative laws, including procedures, regulations, guidelines, and precedents related to case preparation and settlements.

Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.

Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Reasoning - Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.

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.

CANCY IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 200 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AND WILL CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT ON THE CLOSING DATE OR AT MIDNIGHT ON THE DAY WE RECEIVE THE 200TH APPLICATION, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.