Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Cybersecurity & Communications Reliability Division, Washington, DC.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

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

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The incumbent will serve as Division Chief and will: lead and manage a staff of professionals involved in complex public safety and communications network reliability policy and rulemaking activities, as well as information collection and technical analyses; formulate policy recommendations to senior management and perform analyses and studies concerning communications reliability as these relate to public safety, homeland security, national security, disaster management and related issues; lead the development of priorities and strategies for the Division, and coordinate communications reliability and other public safety/homeland security-related activities.

The incumbent will serve as the Division's primary advisor on the application and interpretation of laws and regulations with respect to communications reliability, and will provide legal oversight and interpretation on impact to the Division's activities of the Communications Act, Administrative Procedures Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, Freedom of Information Act, Federal Advisory Committee Act, and other relevant statutes, Commission rules and decisions.

The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring that all memoranda, reports, written analyses and other written documents prepared by the Division are consistent with all applicable statutory and regulatory provisions, as well as court and agency precedents.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - 2 to 3 times per year, 2-5 days each trip

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance Required.
• Writing sample demonstrating the ability to analyze complex legal issues
• FCC Employees Only
• Education-Transcripts Required. Bar Membership Required.
• Drug Testing Required
• Must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must:

-Currently be employed in the Federal Communications Commission in positions serving under career, career conditional, or excepted service (Schedule A appointments under authority 213.3102(d)-Attorneys) appointments.

In addition, continued employment is contingent upon the Commission's decision to grant you a Top Secret/SCI level clearance, and your ability to maintain this clearance. Finally, this offer is contingent upon your successful results of the initial mandatory drug testing and periodic testing as determined by the Commission.

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.

Examples of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service performing the following: supervising a multifunctional staff or project team responsible for staff/project functions and activities; planning, coordinating and conducting legal research and analysis related to public safety and communications network reliability; researching, interpreting and applying public safety and communications laws, rules, regulations, and guidance, particularly as they pertain to ensuring communications networks are reliable, resilient and secure; analyzing and evaluating public safety and network reliability technical reports and industry data, as well as understanding of the telecommunications policy process; developing, recommending, and evaluating legal policy options and alternatives; conducting oral presentations (i.e., presenting plans and proposals to senior management officials, presenting technical information to diverse audiences); producing legal written communications (i.e., legal briefs, technical reports, assessments, plans and proposals).

PART-TIME OR UNPAID 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

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, non disqualifying physical or mental handicap, age, or any other non merit 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. required supplemental documentation (Writing sample demonstrating the ability to analyze complex legal issues); 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 lead and direct a diverse group of professionals toward a common purpose.

Ability to perform under pressure during difficult times or when conflicting priorities arise.

Ability to manage multiple assignments, some or all of which may have tight deadlines.

Knowledge of public safety and homeland security-related communications policies and regulatory matters.

Ability to communicate orally and in writing to explain and advocate policies and decisions to different audiences, including senior leadership, representatives of other government agencies, industry stakeholders and consumers.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

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.***

Supplement Documents Required:

Employees must provide a legible Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade along with your most recent annual performance appraisal.

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.