Duties

Summary

The Office of the Chief Counsel (AGC) provides legal services to the FAA Administrator and all agency organizations worldwide. Their primary functions are providing legal advice, reviewing agency action for legal sufficiency, and providing representational services.

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Responsibilities

The Assistant Chief Counsel for Litigation and Information Law provides executive direction and oversight of all aspects of legal services supporting the Agency's activity on two major sub-practices: (1) handling Agency litigation not handled by any other specific practice area; and (2) advising on information law matters. The Assistant Chief Counsel for Litigation and Information Law serves as the principal legal officer and legal expert for the Agency in all matters relating to litigation.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Directs planning, policy development, and execution of all legal aspects relating to Litigation and Information Law programs for the FAA and the Office of the Chief Counsel. Directs and coordinates legal sufficiency review of programs and policies to ensure program activities are consistent with the priorities of the FAA Administrator and Chief Counsel.

2. Renders opinions and interpretations of FAA's Litigation and Information Law authority and policies consistent with government statutes, Executive Orders, and applicable Department of Transportation and FAA policies.

3. Oversees the FAA's Litigation and Information Law management programs in both headquarters and the regions, including litigation, training, policy direction, and evaluation of services provided by client offices.

4. Oversees litigation, related strategic and organizational initiatives, and goals to include tracking and monitoring their completion. Directs expert legal advice regarding all aspects of Agency policies relating to aircraft accident litigation, aircraft accident hearings and inquiries, aircraft accident investigations, litigation against agency employees arising out of their official duties and tort suits against the agency or its employees. The litigation includes Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act litigation and other information law claims.

5. Implements legal aspects of Information Law management, related strategic and organizational initiatives, and goals to include tracking and monitoring their completion. Provides expert legal advice regarding all aspects including issues related to FOIA, Privacy Act, the AGC e-discovery program and legal issues pertaining to e-discover, records management and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

6. Establishes objectives and strategies for subordinates in support of the Litigation and Information Law goals of the FAA. Directs the work of subordinate managers and staff attorneys working within the Litigation and Information Law Division. Monitors and evaluates the performance of subordinate managers and their staff.

7. Oversees all aspects of legal services in the FAA's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in support of FAA activities. In addition, provides oversight of legal services in several unique areas: aircraft and airman registration; aircraft registration enforcement matters; and franchise fund programs.

Travel Required

25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
NA

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the FAA Executive System, you must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability; and that is directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Leadership and Technical Requirements listed below.

LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience in achieving operational results? If so, provide examples of ways you have exercised leadership to deliver significant results. Explain how you established goals, assessed outcomes, and improved products and services. Indicate how you identified and met customers' requirements and addressed the needs of stakeholders. Include examples of complex problems you solved or difficult obstacles that you overcame as a leader. Your description should include (1) the size and complexity of organizations you have led, (2) the scope of programs you have managed, and (3) the impact of your results on customers and other stakeholders.

LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience leading people? If yes, describe the size of the organization and number and types of positions you have managed. Discuss ways that you have established and maintained positive work environments and prevented or eliminated discrimination or harassment. Describe ways that you have mentored and developed employees and built individual and team performance. Discuss how you have established and led teams to deliver products and services. Include in your description experience in leading others in a matrix environment across organizations.

LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience building relationships? If yes, describe (1) the types of individuals with whom you routinely collaborate; and (2) the purpose and outcomes of the communication. Discuss your experience in communicating and cooperating with others to achieve goals. Provide examples of how you have built relationships to achieve consensus and how you were able to obtain the cooperation of others with competing priorities and perspectives. Describe how you effectively communicate information within and outside of your organization.

LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience leading strategic change? If yes, describe examples of strategic changes that you led for your organization; describe the entities that the change affected (agency, industry, organizational components). Discuss obstacles you encountered and how you overcame them to the benefit of the agency. Include in your description ways that you applied long range vision, developed strategies, and applied innovative ideas and techniques.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT: Demonstrated experience in providing advice and counsel concerning general or information law from an aviation perspective (such as FOIA, Privacy Act).

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html .

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

This position has a positive education requirement: In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have at least a Juris Doctor from an American Bar Association accredited law school, be admitted to practice before the bar of any U.S jurisdiction and be an active member of that bar. You must provide a copy of your official (or unofficial) transcript and an official certificate demonstrating you are an active member in good standing of a state bar at the time of application and by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If you are selected for this position, you will be required to submit an official transcript.

Failure to submit required documents by the closing date of the announcement will result in loss of consideration.

Preview Job Questionnaire
Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.
Veterans preference does not apply to the FAA Executive System.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/financial_disclosure_requirements

The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family.

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

This is not a bargaining unit position.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

1. A resume
2. An attachment individually addressing the Leadership and Technical Requirements if you do not address them in the
answer blocks within the application.
3. Proof of Education: Transcripts (official or unofficial)
4. Proof of good standing before bar association in a U.S. jurisdiction.
5. A Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) certificate if you are claiming noncompetitive status based on your completion of an SESCDP program.
Note: Please do not submit additional materials (e.g. DD Form 214, performance plans/evaluations, letters of recommendation); they will not be considered as part of the application package.

This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 905 series.

College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the, 905 series with the FAA.

College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying a 905 series.

If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.

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.