Duties

Summary

Incumbent will act in the capacity of Deputy General Counsel, Administration, and Chief Ethics Officer at the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council). The incumbent will provide expert legal analysis and advice and program and administrative support to the Office of Executive Director (OED) regarding agency compliance with applicable Federal administrative laws, regulations, orders, and guidance.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Provide expert legal analysis and advice and program and administrative support to the Permitting Council Office of Executive Director (OED) regarding agency compliance with applicable Federal administrative laws, regulations, orders, and guidance, including those related to agency organization, finances, human resources (HR), information management, procurement, and ethics
• Assist in developing and implementing related Permitting Council procedures, guidance, and training
• Serve as Chief Ethics officer for OED, and develop ethics policies, analysis, and advice for OED and current and former OED employees for compliance with Federal and post-employment ethics laws and policies, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Federal information and records management and disclosure requirements
• Liaise between OED and other federal agencies and their attorneys
• Perform detailed legal and policy research, compiles findings, drafts legal memoranda and opinions, and present them
• Counsel clients, including senior FPISC leaders, on complex legal issues and provide innovative and highly effective guidance on possible courses of action; expertly prepare complex, high profile, and persuasive legal documents on complex legal issues for a variety of internal and external recipients.
• Expertly conduct or direct legal research and analysis on extremely complex or sensitive legal issues as well as on laws, regulations, and policies that have a significant impact on FPISC and brief leadership on issues and findings.

Travel Required

25% or less - You may be expected to travel 1-5 days per month for this position.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required.
• May be required to complete background investigation.
• A one year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Must provide resume and supporting documents (See required documents).
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
• Current admission to the Bar and license to practice law within the US

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you meet the Basic Requirement, Bar Good Standing and have the required specialized experience for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying:

Basic Education Requirement:

The Assistant General Counsel occupation has specific educational requirements which apply to all positions. Education above the high school level must have been completed in a U.S. college, university, or other educational institution that has been accredited by one of the accrediting agencies or associations recognized by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education.

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 prior to an offer of employment for verification).

BAR Membership:

You must currently be a member in good standing of a bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Specialized Experience:

You must have three or more years of professional legal experience acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. One year of the required professional legal experience is equivalent to the GS-13 under the General Schedule or other pay systems. This experience was acquired after being admitted to the bar. Examples of this experience are: analyzing facts, ascertaining law, giving opinions and stating facts on legal issues; conducting legal research in order to provide oral and written advice on complex legal and factual issues ; analyzing and interpreting federal ethics and administrative and labor law explaining legal principles and identifying alternative courses of action; and preparing legal reports and other documents required by the agency/organization in various actions.

Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

For more information on the qualifications for this position, https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series

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.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.htm

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

In addition, when reviewing applicant's transcripts, assumptions will not be made. Applicants MUST state which coursework is relevant.

Additional information

*If selected for an interview, you may be asked to provide samples of your writing that exemplify clear, cogent, well-organized legal and/or policy documents that are most relevant to this position. Examples may include: 1) legal memos, 2) position papers, 3) analytical studies, 4) documents reviewing and analyzing statutes and regulations, 5) court briefs, and 6) policy and procedural documents. Writing samples should be completed either independently or with minimal supervisory direction.

This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.

FPISC 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.

• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Applicants will be evaluated based upon review of submitted application package and how well you meet the qualifications of the position including Quality Rating Factors described in the qualifications section above.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Occupational Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies:

• Legal, Government and Jurisprudence

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to job responsibilities and qualifications as stated:

• Skill dealing with complex legal issues
• Knowledge of federal ethics and administrative and labor law, or the demonstrated ability to learn a new area of the law in a short period of time
• Ability to represent the Council in complex litigation
• Knowledge of the enabling acts under which the Council carries out its program is preferred
• Ability to conduct legal research in order to provide oral and written advice complex legal and factual issues

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/09/2021.

Résumé which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format , and indicate hours worked per week . If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.

A complete Occupational Questionnaire

Copy of Active Bar license

• Veterans Preference Documentation :
  • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15 . If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives .
  • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
  • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran , you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15 , and if applicable, a completed SF15 . You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.

Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 85 on the rating criteria for this position.

If you are applying under a special hiring authority you MUST submit proof of eligibility with your application. For information related to special hiring authorities for severely disabled persons visit: http://www.opm.gov/disability/PeopleWithDisabilities.asp

Current, former, and non-competitive Federal employees must submit SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Action) that show: effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency. Examples include promotion & within-grade increase actions. Award SF-50s often do not show this information. Multiple SF-50s may be needed to show all information.

Former or current Political Appointees: OPM must authorize employment offers for former or current Political Appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information. Submit proof of your former or current status, such as your SF-50.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

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.