Duties

Summary

NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Renders legal advice to key agency officials on a broad range of legal questions concerning the activities of the NEH.
• Interprets NEH enabling legislation, conflicts of interest and ethics questions, FOIA matters, and regulatory requirements.
• Reviews and approves for legality contracts, agreements, and legal documents.
• Drafts regulations, legal opinions, memoranda, directives, and reports to other federal agencies.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizen
• Relevant experience and/or education
• Favorable background investigation
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service

Qualifications

Your application will be assessed based on your possession of the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies:
1. Ability to analyze complex factual and legal issues and communicate them orally and in writing;
2. Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team, with appropriate supervision given the experience level;
3. Knowledge of legal and administrative processes and litigation practice;
4. Legal experience with grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements;
5. Legal experience with Federal ethics rules and regulations; and
6. Legal experience in labor-relations, equal employment and/or Federal personnel laws.

At the GS-11 level: Candidates must possess a J.D. and at least 1 year of experience as a practicing attorney.

At the GS-12 level: Candidates must possess a J.D. and at least 2 years of experience as a practicing attorney.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. or equivalent degree and be a member in good standing of a recognized bar of a State, a Territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Additional information

1. If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.

2. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and 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.

3. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

4. This position may require completion of a 1-year trial period.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation and determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.

Application of Veterans' Preference

* Preference eligibles who meet MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS and the SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

Any exaggeration of an applicant's experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating an applicant ineligible, not hiring the applicant, or for termination after he/she begins work. If a determination is made that in responding to the competency-based question an applicant has rated themselves higher than is evident in their resume, experience, and/or education, the applicant's score may be manually adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS will receive a rating of IFM (ineligible due to missing forms). Requests for reconsideration will not be considered for applicants who fail to submit a complete application package. We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, fax transmissions, etc.

Only send documentation as requested/required by this announcement and that directly supports your qualifications for this position.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

All applicants are required to submit the following supporting document type(s):

• Cover Letter
• Proof of Bar Membership
• Resume
• Transcript
• Writing Sample

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.