Duties

Summary

Join the team! This position is located in the Headquarters Office of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Office of General Counsel. The office provides advice and legal counsel to the Commissioners and the organizational components of the Commission on matters of law arising under the Acts administered by the Commission, related statutes, and any other statutes or regulations pertaining to the functions of the Commission.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

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The incumbent will:

Investigate whether products present substantial product hazards and negotiate voluntary corrective actions with manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers of consumer products. Represent Commission staff in administrative litigation initiated in order to obtain a mandatory corrective action. Duties include drafting pleadings, preparing and responding to motions, conducting discovery, presenting evidence at hearings, and handling appeals. Investigate and negotiate civil penalty settlements for violations of the Consumer Product Safety Act and other Acts administered by the Commission.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Up to 25% travel in Local Commuting Area

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must meet mandatory education requirement

Must be a U.S. Citizen.

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the tentative employment offer may be withdrawn.

If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Please see http://www.sss.gov for more information.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form . We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities.

Upon appointment, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450. You will need to provide the information annually.

This appointment requires completion of a two year trial period unless you have previously successfully completed a trial period that meets the following: 1) in the same agency, 2) in the same line of work (determined by the employee's actual duties and responsibilities) and 3) contains or is followed by no more than a single break in service that does not exceed 30 calendar days. Failure to successfully complete the trial period may result in termination of employment.

Qualifications

In addition to the mandatory education requirement, all applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

GS-12: Conducting investigations; drafting and negotiating legal agreements; serving as first or second chair at trials; evaluating matters involving safety regulations and statutes; and reviewing investigative reports for legal sufficiency.

GS-13: Conducting investigations; drafting and negotiating settlement agreements with firms; serving as first or second chair at trials; evaluating complex matters involving safety regulations and statutes; and evaluating investigative reports for legal sufficiency.

GS-14: Conducting investigations; drafting and negotiating complex settlement agreements with firms; serving as first or second chair at trials; evaluating complex legal matters involving product safety regulations and statutes; and crafting legal opinions in the pursuit of civil penalties, corrective actions, and administrative litigation.

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience.

Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position within thirty (30) days of the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Basic Requirement: All applicants must possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree and be an active member of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

GS-12: In addition to the basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have either: (1) two years of experience as a practicing attorney); OR (2) one year of experience as a practicing attorney (see the specialized experience requirement) and a second professional law degree (LL.M).

GS-13: In addition to basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have either (1) three years of professional legal experience; or (2) two years of professional legal experience in addition to a second professional law degree (LL.M.).

GS-14: In addition to basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have either (1) four years of professional legal experience; or (2) three years of professional legal experience in addition to a second professional law degree (LL.M.).

All applicants are required to provide proof of current, active bar membership/good standing.

All applicants are required to provide a writing sample, no longer than 10 pages in length.

If you are a current or former federal employee, provide your most recent performance appraisal.

ALL applicants must also submit proof of successful completion of education requirements. This proof may consist of a law school transcript or other documentation which provides clear and specific proof of education, such as a diploma. A copy of an SF-50 only is not adequate proof of meeting the education requirements.

You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated unofficial transcripts are acceptable, All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified.

Additional information

CPSC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized.

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking reference and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

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.

After the vacancy closes, we will review your application package to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your responses to the questionnaire, resume and supporting documentation will then be reviewed. Your resume must support your responses to the self-assessment questions or your score may be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited to an interview.

Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, salary, duties performed for each position, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level/pay band.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Your package must be complete and submitted in the manner specified in this section. Packages that are submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the agency point of contact will not be considered.

A complete application includes: 1. Resume; 2. vacancy question responses; 3. law school transcripts; 4 proof of active bar membership; and 5. Submission of any required documents. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

If you are a current or former federal employee you must a copy of your most recent SF Form 50, Notification of Personnel Action, that shows: (1) permanent or career-conditional tenure (codes 1 or 2, in block 24), and (2) position occupied in the competitive service (code 1, in block 34). To be considered as a non-competitive eligible candidate, the SF-50 must show the highest grade level or promotion potential level applicant has attained competitively and grade must be equivalent or higher than the grade for which applying. 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.

For proof of Veterans Preference you must submit a DD-214 (member copy 4)and, if applicable, Standard Form 15, VA Letter. You can find additional information about Veterans' Preference at http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.

If you are eligible for special hiring authority, please indicate this when you apply, and submit the supporting documentation for proof of eligibility for the special hiring authority, such as disability, Peace Corps service, Interchange Agreement, etc.

Other documents identified in this announcement.

All supplemental documents must be submitted electronically before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. You have three choices for submitting your supplemental documents:
1. Download from your USAJOBS account; or
2. Upload your file(s); or
3. Fax using the online Fax Cover Sheet.

Failure to submit required documents, based upon how you apply, may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Official documents are not required at the time of application, copies are sufficient. If selected, official documentation must be submitted prior to appointment.

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.