Duties

As the Assistant General Counsel (Oversight and Compliance), you will serve as agency lead for Congressional Investigations and related Oversight matters, representing the agency before Congress, and advising the General Counsel (GC), the CEO, and senior leaders regarding congressional oversight and other congressional relations matters. The Oversight and Compliance group is a new group in the OGC. You will be responsible for standing up and developing this new practice group. The head of the practice group must take into account the impact of agency legal positions and actions on the various, often novel operations and authorities requisite to carrying out a large news-media organization; doing so requires top-notch, creative and flexible legal thinking; strong interpersonal skills; common sense; collegiality; kindness; a positive attitude; and perhaps, above all, a good sense of humor.
USAGM is unique in the federal government: We create, produce, and broadcast news around the world. We do so for foreign audience in countries which limit or block their people's access to a free press and information, or lack the infrastructure to produce news which reports on local events. A statutory firewall ensures that the agency has editorial independence, meaning our news is free from any partisan or political interference, and adheres to the "highest professional standards" of journalism.
The practice of law at USAGM is unique within the federal government. The USAGM is first and foremost a news-media organization, which means that you will gain expertise in the practice of media law, supporting journalists operating around the globe. In that regard, we deal with those matters that impact all media organizations, including intellectual property and licensing; transmission of our content via terrestrial antenna, satellite, and internet; and press freedom and first amendment issues. We are also a government agency and so our practice also deals with the multitude of legal issues that any government law office deals, including federal employment and labor law; federal contracting; appropriation and fiscal law; grant law; and FOIA and ethics. Finally, we operate around the world, which means that we routinely deal with matters of foreign law and international law, including matters foreign labor law, foreign litigation; trade and economic sanctions; and international agreements.

Duties directly related to the incumbent are as follows:

Advise the GC, Deputy General Counsel, and agency leadership on congressional oversight and investigations and any number of extraordinarily complex and sensitive related assignments that entail extensive and novel legal analysis; cross organizational collaboration; fact finding; in-depth subject matter knowledge in key areas (or the ability to gain it quickly); top notch communication and presentation, and the ability to defend recommendations; sufficient experience with congress or congressional relations necessary to carry out the duties; and (most critically) proven flexibility and strategic and creative thinking so as to serve as a thought leader to address novel legal issues that the agency faces in its unique statutory mission. This may include, but not be limited to:

• Provide general legal advice on a host of complex matters affecting USAGM, with a priority focus on providing legal counsel to Agency elements on the complex aspects of oversight and compliance, particularly with respect to Congressional Oversight.
• Advise the CEO and senior leaders on oversight matters and congressional inquiries, in close collaboration with Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA).
• Advise on and lead strategy and responses to oversight requests from Congress.
• Review Congressional requests and advises on responses, to include drafting and editing such responses. As directed, lead agency response on Oversight Matters and/or coordinate such matters with OCA.
• Draft memos, policies, and other documents for USAGM executive management, ensuring compliance with law and policy. Briefs USAGM executive management on issues related to Congressional affairs.
• Prepare the CEO, senior officials, and other agency witnesses for congressional hearings, testimony, briefings, meetings, and transcribed interviews.
• Represent USAGM in sensitive discussions with Congressional staff and senior policymakers.
• Defend USAGM equities during Congressional testimony and/or in the context of congressional requests. Manages or supports, as appropriate, document review and production in response to Congressional requests. Engages directly with Congressional staff or counsel to address legal concerns raised by Congressional requests. Develops and evaluates legislative, regulatory, and other policy proposals that implicate USAGM equities.
• Advise the General Counsel in support of the representation of the agency in various matters, including litigation. Serves as liaison to and coordinator with related USAGM program offices.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by closing date of the announcement to be considered.
• Applicants must complete online questionnaire.
• If you are a male applicant, born after 12/31/59, you are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act. The Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
• This is a critical sensitive position. If selected, this position requires the completion of the SF-86. Top secret security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance.
• If selected, you will be subject to a background investigation for federal employment and the ability to obtain a clearance. The background investigation will include, among other aspects, a review of your credit and legal history.
• This position is not covered by a union agreement.
• Transcripts or proof of bar membership may be required before an offer is extended.
• If selected for this vacancy, you may be required to file the OGE Form 450 (Confidential Financial Disclosure Report) or Form 278.
• The full performance grade level for this position is GS-15.
• New appointees to the Excepted Service must serve a two-year trial period. This position has been designated supervisory requiring that the selectee serves on an initial appointment as a supervisor or manager serve a one-year probationary period.
• Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling bases and a selection may be made before the announcement closes. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
• This position is telework eligible.

Qualifications

Screen out factor: Applicant must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be 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.

In addition to the Basic Requirement for this position, your resume must demonstrate one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility comparable to the GS-13 or comparable pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector to qualify for GS-14 and at the GS-14 level to qualify you for GS-15. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Specialized Experience for this position:

In order to qualify at the GS-14 level, applicant must have a minimum of three years total legal experience at least one of which is comparable to GS-13 or equivalent experience providing expert legal and policy advice in one or more of the following: Legal experience in any one or a combination of the following performed in a law office, government office, or in the legal department of a business establishment, in the armed forces, or other Federal service: Experience conducting legal research, analyzing statutes, writing legal opinions; Writing authoritative or advisory legal opinions involving interpretation of state or Federal laws, regulations, and orders, or the drafting of such regulations or orders; or drafting, analyzing, and other legal activities with respect to bills, regulations, Executive Orders, proclamations, or statutory provisions.

In order to qualify at the GS-15 level, applicant must have a minimum of four years total legal experience at least one of which is comparable to GS-14 or equivalent experience providing expert legal and policy advice in one or more of the following: Legal experience in any one or a combination of the following performed in a law office, government office, or in the legal department of a business establishment, in the armed forces, or other Federal service: Experience conducting legal research, analyzing statutes, writing legal opinions; Writing authoritative or advisory legal opinions involving interpretation of state or Federal laws, regulations, and orders, or the drafting of such regulations or orders; or drafting, analyzing, and other legal activities with respect to bills, regulations, Executive Orders, proclamations, or statutory provisions.

Education

As a minimum requirement applicant must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association, but education must be supplemented by experience as described above.

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 .

Additional information

If you are an eligible Inter agency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 80 or above on the rating criteria for this position. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.

Applicants claiming veteran's preference must submit a DD-214 (copy # 2 or 4 - member copy); veterans who are claiming disabled veteran preference must also submit a VA disability letter and a SF-15; AND, applicants seeking widow or other special veterans' preference must submit a SF-15 and all documents indicated for their specific form of preference.

If you are still on active duty, you may submit a statement of service from your Personnel Command which states the date you entered active duty, the date you are separating, and the campaign medals you have received.

We may select from this announcement to fill any other vacancies within the Office of General Counsel.