Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Coast Guard, Environmental Law Division, Office of Maritime & International Law, Office of the Judge Advocate General, Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

You will serve as an Attorney-Advisor (General), responsible for furnishing legal services required to support Coast Guard compliance with and enforcement of all applicable environmental laws, treaties, and regulations; providing representation and, if necessary, litigation support on cases where the Coast Guard is either asserting or defending against environmental claims or demands, as well as enforcement and development of environmental policies and initiatives.

Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include:

• Providing legal advice and related services on the implementation and effect of a host of domestic and international environmental laws involving ship pollution, species protection, environmental planning, historic resource protection, clean air, water, hazardous waste management, and others, on USCG missions. This includes both USCG environmental compliance requirements under such laws as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as well as USCG environmental enforcement authorities under such laws as the Clean Water Act (CWA), Oil Pollution Act (OPA) and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS).
• Acting as the USCG's legal representative to interagency groups and in international forums, in these areas of the law.
• Consulting with and giving legal counsel, advice and guidance with respect to the application, enforcement, interpretation and construction of environmental conventions, treaties, statutes, regulations, orders, court decisions and the like to USCG officials in Headquarters and the field.
• Preparing responses to policy inquiries, letters, legal memoranda and testimony on complex environmental issues.
• Representing the Coast Guard in the pre litigation stages of cases in which the Coast Guard is asserting or defending against environmental demands or enforcement actions by environmental regulators and non-government organizations.

Consistent with the Division's practice, the individual selected will be responsible for handling a range of environmental law matters, including some of the most complex cases handled by the Division. We place a high value on diversity of background, experience and cultural perspective and encourage applications of all qualified individuals, including those from all racial and ethnic groups, both genders, LGBT individuals, veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - This position requires occasional travel. Some foreign travel may be required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• This position requires a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI).

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

All Candidates must possess a J.D. or LL.B degree from an accredited law school;

AND

Must be a member in good standing of the appropriate licensing authority of any state, territory of the United States, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or District of Columbia bar.

AND

Have at least 1 full year of Specialized Experience as a practicing attorney (equivalent in nature to the next lower level in the Federal service for the grade level applied for), where such experience equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. For example, to qualify:

At the GS-13 level: Applicants must have at least one full year of experience as a practicing attorney that is equivalent to the duties performed at the GS-12 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Providing legal advice and related services on the implementation and effect of a host of domestic and international environmental laws; acting as a legal representative to interagency groups and in international forums, in these areas of the law; consulting with and giving legal counsel, advice and guidance with respect to the application, enforcement, interpretation and construction of environmental conventions, treaties, statutes, regulations, orders, court decisions and the like; preparing responses to policy inquiries, letters, legal memoranda and testimony on complex environmental issues; and representing the organization in the pre litigation stages of cases in which the organization is asserting or defending against environmental demands or enforcement actions by environmental regulators and non-government organizations.

At the GS-14 level: Applicants must have at least one full year of experience as a practicing attorney that is equivalent to the duties performed at the GS-13 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Providing legal advice and related services on the implementation and effect of a host of domestic and international environmental laws involving ship pollution, species protection, environmental planning, historic resource protection, clean air, water, hazardous waste management, and others; acting as a legal representative to interagency groups and in international forums, in these areas of the law; consulting with and giving legal counsel, advice and guidance with respect to the application, enforcement, interpretation and construction of environmental conventions, treaties, statutes, regulations, orders, court decisions and the like; preparing responses to policy inquiries, letters, legal memoranda and testimony on complex environmental issues; and representing the organization in the pre litigation stages of cases in which the organization is asserting or defending against environmental demands or enforcement actions by environmental regulators and non-government organizations.

The types and complexity of cases and the work involved in handling them are evaluated to determine the level at which applicants are performing.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Education

This position does have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail.

All Candidates must possess a J.D. or LL.B degree from an accredited law school; AND, must be a member in good standing of the appropriate licensing authority of any state, territory of the United States, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or District of Columbia bar.

If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here

Additional information

Applicants will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. Certain responses on the form could pose a problem with suitability for employment determinations. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete/make updates to the OF-306 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, or imprisonment.

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 at click here

Recruitment incentives may be authorized.

Moving expenses will be paid in accordance with appropriate regulations.

If selection is made below the full performance level, the incumbent may be promoted up to the target grade without further competition, if all legal and regulatory requirements are met and when recommended by the supervisor. However, promotion to the full performance level is not guaranteed and is dependent on successful performance at the lower grade level(s).

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans , Peace Corps / VISTA volunteers , and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

More than 1 selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 45 days from the date the certificate was issued.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application and hiring process, please contact 202-795-6328. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit Reasonable Accommodation

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 résumé and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using the on-line assessment to place you in one of three categories.

The necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities to perform this job are:

Demonstrated knowledge of, and skill in, working closely with senior leadership on complex legal and policy issues related to actual or potential federal litigation.

Demonstrated knowledge of, and skill in, managing or coordinating the performance and activities of attorneys and support staff or teams that include attorneys and support staff.

Demonstrated knowledge of, and skill in, environmental laws and policies, especially federal laws, international treaties and conventions, executive orders and directives.

Demonstrated knowledge, and ability, to prepare or direct the preparation of legal opinions on questions of law.

Demonstrated knowledge, and ability, to ensure the quality of attorney work product.

Demonstrated knowledge and oversight of the type of legal advice required by a large and complex organization or agency and experience related to federal court litigation involving such an organization.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Your resume and responses to the self-assessment questions are an integral part of the process for determining your qualifications for the position. Therefore, you must support your responses to the self-assessment questions by providing examples of past and present experience in your resume.

Veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they are qualified. Veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. For information on veterans' preference, click here.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

In order to receive full consideration, you must submit:

1. A resume or any other written format of your choice which clearly identifies the following information:

* Job Information-Announcement number, title and grade.

* Personal Information- Full name, mailing address (with zip code), email address if available, day and evening phone numbers (with area code), country of citizenship, veterans' preference, highest Federal civilian series and grade held, if applicable.

* Education- College or University name, city and state, major(s)and type and year of any degrees received.

* Work Experience- job title, duties and accomplishments, current and former (within the last 10 years) employers' names and addresses, current and former supervisors' names and phone numbers where available, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours per week, salary, and indicate whether your current supervisor may be contacted.

* Qualifications- job-related training courses (title and year), skills, certificates and licenses, honors, awards, and special accomplishments.

2. A copy of your J.D. or LL.B. transcript.

3. A legal writing sample, not to exceed 10 pages.

4. You will be required to submit proof of current membership, in good standing, with the appropriate licensing authority of any state, territory of the United States, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or District of Columbia bar.

5. Information related to the skills and experience listed under the Evaluations section above, may be done on a separate document, or incorporate it within your resume.

You may find general application information and other forms at the website of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, www.usajobs.opm.gov .

None of the application documents will be returned.

In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard offers Career Transition Assistance Placement (CTAP) coverage to Attorneys within the Department of Homeland Security. Individuals who have special priority selection rights under CTAP provisions must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. If you are eligible under CTAP, you must submit a copy of your certificate of surplus status, certificate of expected separation, or your specific Reduction-in-Force notice establishing your eligibility under CTAP, a copy of your most recent SF-50 noting current position, series, grade level and duty location. You must clearly indicate the grade from which you separated or declared surplus.

All documentation as outlined above must be received by the closing date of the announcement. If you are unable to submit your documents electronically, you may fax or mail the documents. A fax cover sheet will be provided to you from the system, with fax number and instructions to transmit the requested documents. The required documents will also be accepted by mail and must be received by the closing date of the announcement. The mailing address is COMMANDANT (CG-123HQ), ATTN OFFICE OF CIVILIAN HUMAN RESOURCES (JOBS), US COAST GUARD, 2703 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SE STOP 7912, WASHINGTON, DC 20593-7912.

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.