Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Media Bureau, Audio Division.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The incumbent performs paralegal and administrative support functions for senior and professional staff. These functions include, but are not limited to, areas of communication, contracting and procurement, property management, budget and finance, personnel management, project management and management analysis.

General Legal Research

• Conducts legal research, compiles facts and background information, searches authorities and precedents on points of law, and prepares legal documents, reports, and memoranda for use of staff attorneys in rulemaking proceedings, such as Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Report & Orders, Memorandums, and Opinion and Orders. Particular emphasis is placed on knowledge of prior Division decisions, Commission and Court decisions concerning regulation of radio stations and other broadcast facilities, and Commission and Court decisions concerning procedural requirements in rulemaking proceedings.
• Performs a variety of duties in support of legal staff which include; researching and assembling actual data or material; locating or verifying citations; drafting correspondence relating to interpretation of rules and other topics; reviewing and developing summaries of comments on inquiries and rulemaking procedures; preparing waiver requests and other pleadings.
• Analyzes cases, legal documents, policies, statutes, regulations, and other legal sources for precedential or analogous information and/or argument. Prepares and edits legal documents.
• Assists with case management, tracking the assignment of cases and resolution of outstanding matters.

Fiscal Contract Law

• Researches and analyzes factual and legal questions which present a variety of issues for study by Division staff, prepares Notices of Proposed Rulemaking, subsequent Reports and Orders, and subsequent memorandum, Opinion and Orders, setting out guidelines for the resolution of such issues and resolving such issues.
• Screens procurement actions requiring legal review for completeness and ensures that requester provides necessary information to enable Media Bureau attorneys to complete the legal review.
• Prepares decision documents in cases complicated by the involvement of a large number of parties, proposals, or factual issues, or by the presence of a large number of interrelated cases.

General Office Management

• Supports the attorneys in the Audio Division of the Media Bureau in terms of coordinating with other sections to resolve automation issues, arranging for attorney conferences, and to ensure all aspects of logistical support.
• Advises, assists, and trains attorneys in preparation of documents using appropriate official formatting.
• Performs a variety of administrative or legal support functions, such as maintaining files of memoranda of agreement, creating files, and assisting attorneys in organizing case or reference materials (e.g., preparation of subject matter notebooks, PowerPoint presentations, and file indexes).
• Attends meetings and conferences and prepares relevant data, fact sheets and other legal information for supervisor or other professional staff members.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.
• Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions. Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Specialized Experience:

For the GS-09, applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 in the Federal service.

For this position, specialized experience includes the following:

Summarizing and organizing legal and factual material and other documentary data;

Conducting legal research;

Gathering, sorting, and evaluating documents for data relevant to specific projects;

Using various online application resources and software (e.g., Relativity, Concordance, Westlaw, Lexis);

Communicating orally with individuals within and outside of the organization; and

Communicating in writing to requests for legal documents and information. OR

Must have a Master's or equivalent degree in a related field from an accredited college or university or two full years (36 semester hours or equivalent) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B. or J.D. degree, if related.

For the GS-11, applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 in the Federal service.

For this position, specialized experience includes the following:

Summarizing and organizing complex legal and factual material and other documentary data;

Conducting legal research;

Reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating documents and files to provide facts and information in response to attorney requests;

Using various online application resources and software (e.g., Relativity, ConcordanceWestlaw, Lexis);

Communicating orally with individuals within and outside of the organization; and

Communicating in writing to requests for legal documents and information. OR

Must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field from an accredited college or university or three full years (54 semester hours or equivalent) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, if related. Or a combination of education and experience. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of a Paralegal Specialist.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID 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.

Education

Substitution of education for experience at the GS-09 or GS-11 level:

If qualifying based on education, you must submit transcripts by the closing date of the announcement or you will not be found eligible.

For GS-09: Must have a Master's or equivalent degree in a related field from an accredited college or university or two full years (36 semester hours or equivalent) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a LL.B. or J.D. degree, if related.

For GS-11: Must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field from an accredited college or university or three full years (54 semester hours or equivalent) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, if related. Or a combination of education and experience. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of a Paralegal Specialist.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be used to meet the qualification requirement.

Additional information

THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)

If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, provide a copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (which must show at least a "fully successful" rating or equivalent), and proof of eligibility, i.e., a RIF separation notice or Certification of Expected Separation, and SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. In addition to meeting all qualification requirements and selective placement factors (if applicable), CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the Well-Qualified criteria for the position in order to be given priority consideration. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is also on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

All applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position. The FCC determines the BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES based on the major job related competencies and evaluation of your knowledge, skills, and abilities reflected in your application and supporting documents using the CATEGORY RATING PROCESS. All eligible applicants under Delegated Examining (DEU) will be placed in one of the following three categories:

1. Highly Qualified (Score 90-100) - the applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of major job related competencies and possession of all evaluation criteria;
2. Fully Qualified (Score 80-89) - the applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of major job related competencies and possession of the evaluation criteria; and
3. Minimally Qualified (Score of 70-79)- the applicants possessing only the specialized experience described in the vacancy announcement.

An automated score is administered based on the on-line application process used. Eligible applicants will receive a numerical rating based on their responses to the job specific questions for this position.

Application of Veterans Preference: The category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have compensable service-connected disability 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.

A selecting official may make selection from the highest quality category ("HIGHLY QUALIFIED") provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in the same category.

Applicants under Merit Promotion will be considered in accordance with the agency's merit promotion plan and union agreement.

There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:

1. the core questions
2. the vacancy questions
3. supplemental documentation (e.g., DD-214, SF-50, SF-15, transcripts), if applicable; and
4. your resume.

Applicants will be rated ineligible, if they do not respond to job-specific questions, provide supplemental documents and submit resume. For more information, please click on Rating Process.

You will be evaluated for this position on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs):

• Ability to conduct research, analyze information, and recommend solutions;
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, rules, and regulations;
• Ability to communicate orally;
• Ability to communicate in writing; and
• Ability to interact with individuals at all levels of authority both within and outside the Commission.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process

Required Documents

***Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Some positions require supplemental document(s). All required supporting documents MUST be received in the FCC'S Human Resources Office by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. Additionally, you may not receive the special consideration, e.g. Vet's Preference, for which you may be eligible without the appropriate supporting documentation. Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to either upload the documents or print fax coversheets to fax the documents. The fax number will be listed on this sheet. If faxing, supplemental document(s) required should be faxed separately on the fax cover sheet provided. Once faxed, you should receive an email confirmation within an hour. If you do not receive an email confirmation, your fax has not been successfully received and you should fax it again. If you are unable to fax the required documentation, contact the Human Resources Office at 202-418-0130 prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.***

Hardcopy Supplement Documents Required:

1. When the area of consideration is "Government-Wide" or "All U.S. Citizens." current Federal employees, including those eligible for noncompetitive transfer or reassignment, must provide a legible hardcopy of Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade along with your most recent annual performance appraisal.

2. If applying for consideration under a non-competitive appointment such as Schedule A, Excepted Service, all documentation establishing your eligibility must be provided.

3. Veterans MUST submit form DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," or an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.

4. College Transcripts (For Positive Education Required positions and if qualifying based on education and or experience and education.), if applicable.

Required Documentation for CTAP and ICTAP eligibles:

1. An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or other official documentation, which shows that you were declared displaced or surplus while serving as a career or career-conditional competitive service employee, in tenure group 1 or 2, OR are a current or former Executive Branch agency employee in the excepted service serving on an appointment without time limit, at grade levels GS-15 or equivalent and below, and who has been conferred noncompetitive appointment eligibility and special selection priority by statute for positions in the competitive service.

2. An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or other official documentation which shows the position you may be or is being separated from has the same or higher promotion potential as that of the vacancy.

Additionally for CTAP eligibles:

A copy of your Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice;

A notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area;

A Certificate of Expected Separation; your agency's certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or a similar notice).

Additionally for ICTAP eligibles:

A copy of your RIF separation notice, a notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area;

An OPM notice that your disability annuity has been (or will be) terminated;

Certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or

Certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement and will receive the special OPM annuity.

A copy of a current (or last) performance rating of record of at least fully successful or equivalent (not required if you are an ICTAP eligible due to compensable injury or disability retirement).

For more information on CTAP and ICTAP download a copy of The Employee's Guide to Career Transition at http://archive.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.pdf

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.