Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Administrative Law Division, Office of General Counsel (the "Division").

This position is a full-time remote position due to the pandemic however once we are required to return to the FCC Headquarters building in Washington, DC, full-time, onsite presence at FCC Headquarters in Washington, DC is required.

THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Incumbent will serve as a senior attorney in the Administrative Law Division of the Office of General Counsel of the Federal Communications Commission, specializing in corporate and commercial law matters. He/she reports directly to the Associate General Counsel, Chief of the Administrative Law Division, and will be a member of and report to the Team leader of the Transaction, Fraud, and Bankruptcy Teams within the Office of General Counsel.

Responsible for identifying risks to Commission programs, policies, and resources due to potential litigation arising from corporate or commercial issues, including those associated with large and complex mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, and other transactions involving regulated entities; researching and developing solutions to minimize these risks and to attain Commission objectives; drafting or revising sections of orders and providing oral and written legal advice to the Bureaus/Offices and Commissioners' offices. Prepares, reviews, analyzes and edits acquisition agreements, debt instruments, and other transactional documents.

Coordinates with the Enforcement Bureau and Office of Inspector General on fraud and corporate matters. Advises Offices and Bureaus on compliance plans and merger conditions. Drafts, reviews, and offers advice regarding FCC and DOJ pleadings and filings in bankruptcy and fraud litigation. Formulates policy statements, proposed Commission decisions, proposals for modification of regulations or enactment of new regulations, and position papers. Provides a high level of original and creative analysis, interpretation and formulation of policy positions and regulatory provisions on an original basis. Provides legal advice and services at the highest level of responsibility on projects involving extremely complex and difficult legal, factual, and policy issues.

Incumbent researches appropriate source materials, confers with staff experts and analyzes all relevant data and information. Based on interpretation of Commission policy, precedent, and other relevant factors, determines appropriate Commission positions, and drafts proposals, recommendations, and decisional items.

Develops criteria for implementation of Commission decisions. Based on comprehensive knowledge of legal and policy implications of decisions, presents recommendations for staff action, ensuring that actions proposed are consistent with the public interest and with the intent of the Commission's findings. As assigned, directs work of team to develop detailed programs.

Incumbent may be called upon to represent the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, or Transactions Team Leader in conferences with representatives of industry and government to discuss and resolve their concerns and/or present the Commission's position on various matters within incumbent's area of expertise. Provides authoritative and expert advice and information on legal and/or policy matters to other staff and managerial personnel both within the Office and Commission and in the industry; participates on panels and gives speeches as an expert on matters within the Office and the Commission.

Incumbent keeps abreast of legal, legislative, and regulatory developments affecting the Commission by reviewing court and Commission decisions, professional publications, and trade press, and by researching legislation, decisions, opinions and regulations.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Bar Membership Required.
• Education-Transcripts Required
• Successful completion of a background investigation required
• US Citizenship.
• Second round interview candidates are required to provide a writing sample.

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.

Second round interview candidates will be required to provide a writing sample.

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.

Professional Law Experience: Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience in or equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.

To Qualify for the GS-15: Applicant must possess at least four years of professional law experience and at least one year of the experience must be specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service performing the following:

Examples of specialized experience include:

1. Experience providing expert guidance to managers on issues involving a broad range of issues and activities which establish new policy, alter long-standing policy, and/or establish legal precedent and policy matters involving agency or organizational projects and activities.

2. Experience providing oral and written legal advice on corporate and commercial law issues; settlement agreements; letters of credit; compliance plans; and pleadings in bankruptcy and fraud cases.

3. Experience responding to questions which are covered by interpretations of other courts, agencies, and other legal authority.

4. Experience recommending policies and developing and/or implementing new or amended general laws or legislation.

5. Experience drafting and reviewing proposed orders, settlements, consent decrees, letters of credit, legal pleadings, and other related documents.

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

You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions. Education requirements include: a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M.

Additional information

EEO Policy Statement Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement Veterans Information Legal and Regulatory Guidance

THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

All candidates will be considered without regard to political or religious affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, nondisqualifying physical or mental handicap, age, or any other nonmerit factor. THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

All applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position. Applicants who do not respond to the application questions and/or do not submit a supporting resume will be rated ineligible. Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy
questions.

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); 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):

1. Knowledge of corporate, transactional, and commercial law.

2. Ability to advise high level officials as to the legality of proposed policies and decisions.

3. Ability to identify risks to programs, policies, and resources due to potential litigation arising from corporate or commercial issues.

4. Ability to provide legal advice and services at the highest level of responsibility on projects involving extremely complex and difficult legal, factual, and policy issues.

5. Ability to fully comprehend potential effects of advice and decisions, and consider and incorporate all appropriate policies, as well as use sound judgment concerning the need to change existing policies and procedures and provide solid, well-reasoned advice.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

***ALL SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE FCC'S HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ONCE YOU APPLY TO THIS VACANCY YOU WILL BE PROMPTED BY THE SYSTEM TO EITHER UPLOAD DOCUMENTS OR PRINT FAX COVERSHEETS - THE FAX NUMBER WILL BE LISTED ON THIS SHEET. IF FAXING, ALL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED SHOULD BE FAXED SEPARATELY ON THE FAX COVERSHEET 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 AGAIN.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO FAX THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, CONTACT THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE AT 418-0130 PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.***

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.