Duties

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to provide complete legal services that will facilitate the United States Air Force's successful execution of its acquisitions.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Performing Legal Research and Fact-Finding - With some supervision, the incumbent conducts legal research on difficult legal or factual questions in connection to bid protests and contract dispute litigation.
• Prepares Authoritative Written Legal Products Critical - With some supervision, the incumbent prepares written legal products, pleadings and litigation documents for the assigned senior counsel's review.
• Litigation - Whenever litigation is undertaken, the incumbent will be given responsibility for some phase of the written or oral proceeding.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• This position is centrally managed. PCS expenses are authorized will be paid by the legal career field.
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
• Incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a top secret clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access, based upon a Single Scoped Background Investigation.
• This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to random testing for drug use.
• Periodic travel away from the normal duty station may be required.
• Overtime may be required.
• Incumbent is required to file an Office of Government Ethics ("OGE") Form No.450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• Position has promotion potential to GS-14.
• DNRP will be paid.

Qualifications

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• You MUST have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD). Note: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.
• In addition, at the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status and in good standing with a bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status.

For GS-12
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:In addition to the above requirement: you must have professional legal experience in excess of two (2) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position at equivalent to the GS-11 level or National Security Personnel System (YA-02) level; or The second professional law degree (LL.M.), plus one year of professional legal experience at the GS-11 level or National Security Personnel System YA2 level.

For GS-13
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to the above requirement: you must have professional legal experience in excess of two (2) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

For GS-14
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to the above requirement: you must have professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
1. Graduation from an accredited law school (J.D.) and active membership in good standing in the bar of a State or the District of Columbia.
2. Two (2) years of federal acquisition related experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level. The
second professional degree (LL.M.) in government procurement law may be substituted for one year of federal acquisition related experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level.
3. Knowledge of procedural rules governing litigation at the United States Government Accountability Office, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, and the United States Court of Federal Claims.
4. Knowledge of applicable federal procurement statutes, regulations (including the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Department of Defense regulations, and Air Force regulations), case law, Executive Orders, and executive branch and agency policy guidance applicable to government contracting, privatization, ethics, and acquisition.
5. Proficiency in legal research methods, including familiarity with on-line legal databases and other agency resources.
6. Ability to clearly and effectively communicate authoritative oral legal advice concerning the various stages of contracting, acquisition and procurement management.
7. Skill in interpreting the law and applying it to specific situations and the exercise of legal judgment.
8. Ability to render authoritative written and legal opinions and products involving extremely complex and difficult legal problems arising from the formation and management of contracts.
9. Highly skilled in reviewing all legal documents (e.g., agency contractual instruments, pleadings, discovery, and other non-litigation related legal documents) for legal sufficiency and protection of the government's interests.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

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

Education

Must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, and be currently licensed as an attorney, in active (or equivalent) status and in good standing, with the bar of a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth. The attorney must maintain such bar membership in at least one jurisdiction during the entire course of employment with the Air Force.

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here . To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Incentives: Recruitment and/or retention incentives may or may not be used.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here .

Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. The law made taxable certain reimbursements and other payments, including driving mileage, airfare and lodging expenses, en-route travel to the new duty station, and temporary storage of those items. The Federal Travel Regulation Bulletin (FTR) 18-05 issued by General Services Administration (GSA) has authorized agencies to use the Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) and Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) to pay for "substantially all" of the increased tax liability resulting from the "2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" for certain eligible individuals. For additional information on WTA/RITA allowances and eligibilities, please visit: https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/FTR%20Bulletin%2018_05%20Relocation%20Allowances_0.pdf

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applications who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Trust determination process

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be provided with your application. Applicants who do not submit required documentation to determine eligibility and qualifications will be eliminated from consideration. Other documents may be required based on the eligibility/eligibilities you are claiming. Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide and the required documents you must submit to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming.

Online Application: Questionnaire

Resume: For qualification determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week (if part-time) and dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as insufficient and you will not receive consideration for this position. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series and grade, i.e. GS-0301-09. Current Federal Civilian Employees should list any relevant performance related rating (given within the last three years) and/or incentive awards in your resume. Do NOT include photographs (or links to social media such as LinkedIn ), inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume.

Transcripts/Registration/License: If qualifying on education/position requires education, you must submit copies of your transcripts and if required for the position, submit an active, current registration/license.

Veterans: If claiming Veterans' Preference - Submit VOW certification memo or copy of the official DD-Form 214, which must include the character of service/type under honorable conditions (i.e., with an honorable or general discharge). This will be annotated in block 24 on member copy 2, 4, or 7 of the DD-Form 214. If you are also claiming 10-point preference and/or 30% Disabled Veteran, you must submit a VA Letter or a disability determination from a branch of the Armed Forces (or documentation of Purple Heart, if applicable).

Promotion Consideration: If you wish to be considered as a promotion candidate and your SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you meet the one-year time-in-grade requirements. You will need to provide additional SF-50s which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Promotions, Within-Grade, Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old).

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act requires federal agencies to treat an eligible active duty service member as a veteran, disabled veteran, and preference eligible (as applicable) when applying for civil service positions before the effective release or discharge date. Appointment of military members before the release or discharge date is permissible if the member is on terminal leave. At the time the active duty member applies for a civil position, he or she must submit a "certification" memo in lieu of a DD-Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty . Active duty members applying for a civil service position without submitting a valid certification memo or DD-Form 214 with their application will render the member ineligible for the position. The certification memo must originate from the member's military service branch on official letterhead and contain the following:

• Name/Rank/Grade of Service Member
• Branch of Armed Forces
• Dates of Active Service (Start and End Date(s)
• Expected Date of Discharge/Release from Active Duty
• Terminal leave start date (if applicable)
• Expected character of service/discharge and type of separation (i.e. separation or retirement)
• Must be certified within 120 days of anticipated discharge
• Signature by, or by direction of the adjutant, personnel office, unit commander, or higher headquarters commander

NOTE: The VOW Act provides tentative preference. If appointed, a DD Form-214 must be submitted upon receipt.

NOTICE OF VETERANS' PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation.

NOTE: Applicants for attorney appointments do not require veterans' preference in order to be eligible for consideration.

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.