Duties

Summary

Organizational Location: This attorney position is located in the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), Commercial and Administrative Law Division, (CALD), Washington, D.C.

NOTE: One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement.

BUS: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages .
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The incumbent of this position will directly support the mission of the ICE Office of Acquisition Management, the ICE Office of Chief Financial Officer, and OPLA oversight of major procurements and fiscal obligations. This selectee will be responsible for advising and assisting ICE officials (including the Head of Contracting Activity and Chief Financial Officer) in carrying out ICE responsibilities with respect to acquisition programs and inquiries involving fiscal and appropriations law. The incumbent will also provide legal counsel and representation in a variety of practice areas, including but not limited to federal procurement, fiscal law, general administrative, and intellectual property law. Duties also include litigation, specifically representing ICE in protests before the Government Accountability Office, claims before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, and assist the Department of Justice counsel in all aspects of trial preparation of contract and certain administrative claims because the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and U.S. District Court.

Duties of the incumbent in this position will include: providing procurement, fiscal and administrative law guidance, counsel, and support to the ICE Office of Acquisition Management, the ICE Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and the Executive Associate Director for Management and Administration. Legal interpretations and opinions often require the highest degree of originality and creative legal thinking to obtain the necessary balance between conflicting interests, factual issues, and policy considerations; conducting extensive research, analysis, and evaluation of highly particularized areas in support of the acquisition process; providing oral and written advice concerning interagency agreements, appropriation law issues, and virtually all aspects of contract matters, including formation, claims, disputes, terminations, appeals, and litigation.

The incumbent should possess the following characteristics and competencies: well-developed written advocacy skills, organizational skills, communication skills, the ability to function both independently and as part of a team, interpersonal relationship skills, strong work ethic, and an ability and willingness to learn a new area of law. Litigation experience is highly preferred, but not required. Experience with procurement law issues is highly preferred.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position
• Must pass background investigation and drug screen for federal employment
• Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959
• Relevant Experience (see Qualifications and Evaluations Tab)
• Complete Application Package (see How to Apply Tab)

Qualifications

Applicants with fewer than five (5) years of experience practicing law must submit a copy of their law school transcript and grade point average or class ranking as part of the application package.

Qualifications by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of the announcement. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Education

Applicants must be a graduate of a school of law 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.

Additional information

This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.

E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities.

Suitability: If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment , and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation for Public Trust as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check, a review of 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.

Promotion Potential: This position has full promotion potential to the GS-0905-15. This position will be filled at the GS-12, GS-13, GS-14 or GS-15 grade level. If a selection is made at either grade level, promotion to the next higher level is without further competition. Applicants selected below the full performance level of GS-15 will have promotion opportunity to the full performance level without further competition when the incumbent is eligible and recommended by management for promotion. When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

Trial Period: New attorneys to the Federal government will be required to serve a trial period of 2 years.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Notice to Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the Excepted Service; however, the OPLA considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.

Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documents (e.g., DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active duty) to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. The SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov

Financial Disclosure: If you are hired, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.

A cover letter is required as part of this application. It must specifically address - item by item in separate numbered and bulleted paragraphs - the applicant's knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience for each of the relevant duties listed above and must also discuss his or her characteristics and competencies for the position. An applicant need not have specific knowledge and experience with regard to each of the duties listed above in order to qualify for the position.

Your qualification for this position will be evaluated based upon the responses you provide on the job specific questionnaire and other required documents as part of the application process for this position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work through national Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. professional; philanthropic, religious, community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that relates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience to be fully credited.

All the information you provide may be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application forms, by checking references and through other means, including the interview process. This verification could occur at any stage of the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating you ineligible, not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. You must include the documentation below (in addition to specific information requested elsewhere in the vacancy announcement) to receive consideration for this position. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.

Resume: A resume that includes announcement number, education and training. Work experience should include: job title, duties, employer's name, employer's telephone number, employer's address, starting and ending dates (MM/YY), hours worked per week, and indicate whether or not we may contact your current supervisor. This documentation must be submitted with your application package.

Your responses to the occupational questionnaire.

Transcript: You must submit a copy of your transcript and grade-point average or class ranking, to prove that you possess a Juris Doctor (JD) from an American Bar (ABA)-accredited law school if you graduated within the past five years. If you have five years or more practicing law, your transcript is not required.

Bar Membership: You must submit proof of your current membership (card or other documentary evidence) or certificate of good standing from the bar to which you are licensed. This documentation must be submitted with your application package.

Certificate of Good Standing: If you are selected, before you enter on duty you must submit proof that you are a 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 you do not have a bar card or other documentary evidence as proof of your current membership, you must submit a certificate of good standing. The proof must be dated within six months of the date this application is submitted.

Writing Sample: A writing sample must be submitted as part of your application package. It should not exceed ten (10) double-spaced pages. Please do not submit attachments. This documentation must be submitted with your application package.

Cover Letter: You must submit a cover letter detailing the skills, legal experience, and interests that qualify you for the position with your application package. This documentation must be submitted with your application package.

It must contain the following information:

• your full name;
• home address;
• home or work e-mail address;
• home, work, and cell telephone numbers;
• name of the law school, year of graduation, and year admitted to the bar

Are you a current or former Federal employee? Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action which shows competitive service appointment, tenure group, and salary.

Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable): If you are a discharged, non-disabled veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives at www.archives.gov/veterans.

If you are a veteran within 120-days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1)your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2)under honorable conditions, 3)your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4)dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 7) dated within 120 days of your separation.

If you are a disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipient, or mother or spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a completed SF-15 and all additional proof required by the SF-15, as applicable. If you don't have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it at http://www.ebenefits.va/gov/ or call 1-800-827-1000.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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.