Duties

Summary

The Office of Chief Counsel, IRS, the largest tax law firm in the country, is looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our team and gain valuable experience in a legal environment. The Office of Chief Counsel's mission is to serve America's taxpayers fairly and with integrity by providing correct and impartial interpretation of the internal revenue laws and the highest quality legal advice and representation for the Internal Revenue Service. It's a great place to work!

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Division Counsel/Associate Chief Counsel (National Taxpayer Advocate Program) serves as the executive for the National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) organization. As such, he/she is responsible for managing, directing and providing legal advice for programs and services related to the mission of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, known as the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) (see Internal Revenue Code section 7803(c)). He/she is responsible for the coordination of all legal services provided to the NTA and the NTA's headquarters employees, and for reviewing, elevating, and coordinating, if requested by TAS, legal advice provided by field Chief Counsel offices to field TAS offices. The Office of the Division Counsel/Associate Chief Counsel (National Taxpayer Advocate Program) is also responsible for consulting with and advising the NTA about legislative proposals, the issuance of Counsel guidance, including regulations and other advice that impacts areas of interest to the NTA and for assisting with the review of any legal matters included in either of the NTA's reports to Congress required by section 7803(c). As the Office's recognized expert on all issues involving the Taxpayer Advocate Service and taxpayer rights, the incumbent serves as the chief legal advisor to the Chief Counsel, the NTA and TAS, and other IRS officials on all issues involving the development, interpretation and application of Internal Revenue Code sections 7803(a)(3), 7803(c), 7526, and 7811, related off-Code provisions, and any future related Code or off-Code provisions. He/she is responsible for directing the development of legislation, regulations, rulings and advisory opinions on these areas, as well as the coordination of litigation matters, when appropriate.

Duties:

• Serves as Chief Counsel's principal representative in coordinating the delivery of legal services to the NTA and the NTA's headquarters employees. Monitors activities of Counsel's field and National Office functions to ensure services are timely, of high quality, and responsive to the needs of the NTA and the NTA's headquarters staff, and/or TAS field personnel, as appropriate. Works with Counsel staff, as needed, on a case, or office, basis to improve service. Alerts the Chief Counsel to any systemic organizational impediments, and makes recommendations for effecting program improvements.
• Serves as central point of contact for all questions/issues relating to Counsel's role in providing legal support to the NTA and TAS. Directs request for assistance and provides liaison support, when needed, to facilitate the process of the NTA's requests for legal advice from the National Office. Reviews, elevates, and coordinates legal advice issued to local TAS offices from field Counsel offices if so requested by TAS. Serves as link with Counsel staff to advise of any concern expressed by the NTA. Where possible, works with the NTA and/or Counsel staff to address controversial, or problematic, program issues.
• Coordinates the Service's position in litigation with the Associate and Division Counsels, the Service, and DOJ in areas within the Division Counsel/Associate Chief Counsel's jurisdiction. Makes Appeal and settlement recommendations and prepares other documents setting out the Service's position in such cases.
• Coordinates the resolution of cases and other matters where the subject matter is within the jurisdiction of the Division Counsel/Associate Chief Counsel's. Works with the Service, Division Commissioners, Associate and Division Counsels, the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate including the NTA, and other components of the Service as applicable.
• Advises DOJ as to the facts and legal positions of the Service in matters within his/her jurisdiction; prepares recommendations concerning defense, settlement, appeal, or certiorari; and coordinates other matters with DOJ as required.
• Processes or coordinates, as appropriate, petitions and complaints, briefs, actions on decision, and other matters with the Associate and Division Counsel.
• Advises the Chief Counsel on short and long range program objectives, and the legal services needed to support the mission and function of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate. Makes recommendations to the Chief Counsel on staffing and other resource allocations.
• Provides oversight of the technical issues and management areas under the jurisdiction of this office or involving the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate or taxpayer rights. Exercises full authority over a staff of GS-15 attorneys and support personnel. Assigns and reviews work, and evaluates employee performance. Proposes/effects disciplinary action(s) when appropriate. Provides management, budget, personnel, and other support and ensures requirements in the areas of professionalism, ethics, UNAX, EEO, etc. are met by subordinates.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel may be required.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
ES

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Please refer to "Conditions of Employment."
• Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
• Public Trust (85PS) Background Investigation required.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Subject to a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• 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.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9 . Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
• Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
• The employment of any candidate, including a current employee or a new hire, selected for this position may be conditional upon classification and/or audit of federal tax returns. This audit may include up to 2 years of returns.
• Because of its tax-related mission, the Office of Chief Counsel requires fingerprinting, tax verification, and background security investigation as part of the pre-employment process.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement, candidates must clearly describe progressively responsible leadership experiences that demonstrate the executive level managerial capabilities comprising the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) of the Senior Executive Service. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level or its equivalent in Federal service or with state or local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations. Candidates must have one year of general legal experience plus three years of professional legal tax experience. Professional legal experience may have been gained in either the public or private sector, or through Volunteer Service . One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, as well as the number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

Executive Core Qualifications (Managerial Qualifications)

The following five ECQs provide the focus for the Office of Personnel Management certification of executive qualifications for initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service. The listing of elements for each activity area is illustrative, not exhaustive.

A) Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

Unless you are currently serving under a Career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, you must address the ECQs. The following five ECQs provide the focus for certification of executive qualifications for initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service and also provide a basis for assessing relative quality of management experience for this position. The listing of elements for each activity area is illustrative, not exhaustive, and it is not expected that an individual will be a subject-matter expert in all of these activities. Please provide a brief explanation providing two examples of your experience with each ECQ.

Leading Change--This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

Leading People--This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

Results Driven--This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

Business Acumen--This core qualification requires the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

Building Coalitions--This core qualification requires the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and Local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

B) Professional/Technical Competencies (PTCs):

In addition to the general managerial competencies set out in the Executive Core Qualifications and mandatory for all Senior Executive Service positions, candidates must show evidence of the following more specific competencies in order to meet basic qualifications for this position:

Mandatory:

This position requires a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Federal tax statutes and regulations and IRS tax policies, including detailed knowledge of the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of the 1998 (RRA) and Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Candidates must have demonstrated the ability to manage a legal services program, including the ability to review and assess the organizational effectiveness of program services and policies, and to design and implement procedures to improve/optimize organizational performance.

Candidates must have demonstrated the ability to make and effect timely and well-considered decisions, and to resolve issues/problems of substantial impact, sensitivity, and complexity.

Candidates must have demonstrated the ability to supervise others to promote maximum utilization and development of staff and to support equal employment opportunity initiative and goals.

The J.D. and/or LL.M. must be from an ABA-accredited law school. (An LL.M. in Taxation is desired but not required.)

Candidates must be an active member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

Desirable:

General understanding of the operations and organization of the Internal Revenue Service and the Office of Chief Counsel.

Knowledge of the legislation and regulations process with the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service.

(Note: Failure to address these factors will result in your application being disqualified.) Narrative responses to the Technical Qualifications and Desirable Qualifications should not be more than two pages for each. Please provide the Executive Core Qualifications, Technical Qualifications and Desirable Qualifications each on separate sheets of paper.

Education

You must have graduated with a J.D. and/or LL.M. from an ABA-accredited law school.

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 .

If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of credibility of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

Additional information

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
• This is a non-bargaining unit position.
• We offer opportunities for telework.
• We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.
• Relocation expenses will be paid for Federal employees only.
• Required to file a public financial disclosure report (OGE Form 278e) upon entry on duty, and annually thereafter.
• Initial SES appointment will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• After entrance on duty, failure to successfully meet the background investigation and favorable adjudication requirements may be grounds for termination.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your application includes your resume and responses to the online questions and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume will result in a "not qualified" determination.

Applicants will be considered based on their overall background as it relates to the position to be filled. All application materials and interviews, if conducted, will be used in the final evaluation and selection process.

Candidates found basically qualified will be further evaluated by an Executive Resources Board based on the extent and quality of their experience as it relates to the Professional/Technical Competencies and the Executive Core Qualifications needed for this position. Appropriate consideration will be given for job-related training, education, awards, publications, and supervisory appraisals of job performance. Interviews of applicants may be held at the option of the Board. Selected applicant will be subject to certification of their executive qualifications by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (unless previously certified). (Note: Current and former SES members, and other candidates who have already been OPM/QRB-certified, are not required to address the executive core qualifications. They must, however, provide documentation of certification in the form of an SF-50 showing career SES status, or an OPM issued SES qualification certificate.)

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview. We will not reimburse costs related to the interview such as travel to and from the interview site.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

A complete application includes (1) a resume, (2) vacancy question responses, (3) a supplemental narrative statement that addresses your possession of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Competencies (PTCs), and (4) submission of any required documents noted in the vacancy announcement. Please note that if you do not provide all required information as specified in this announcement, you will not be considered for this position (or will not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

Cover letter (memorandum of interest) summarizing your interest in the position.

All applicants are required to submit a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/year and number of hours for experience listed on your resume. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Please view resume tips .

A supplemental narrative statement that addresses your possession of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Competencies (PTCs).

If you are not an OPM-Certified SES member or candidate, you must address the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).

CHIEF COUNSEL EMPLOYEES:
A Supervisory Report (ERB Form 1-88, 4/11) regarding your suitability for the position as completed by your current or most recent supervisor. You are responsible for notifying your supervisor that this report must be received no later than five workdays after the closing date of this announcement.

CURRENT AND FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES - Documentation Relating to Your Federal Employment:

• Submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your current (or most recent) grade and competitive service status. (The "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2".)
• Indicate on your application the highest permanent grade you have held; if this grade is different from your current grade; submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing this grade.
• Submit a copy of your most recent, signed, completed annual performance appraisal which includes the final rating. If the performance appraisal is not dated within the last 12 months or if you have not received a performance appraisal, please explain why in your application.

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.