Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Office of General Counsel (OGC), Cross-Cutting Issues Law Office (CCILO), Washington, DC. For more information on this office, visit its website: http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-general-counsel-ogc .

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

About the Cross-Cutting Issues Law Office:

The Cross-Cutting Issues Law Office (CCILO) is one of seven law offices that comprise OGC and consists for three practice groups. The office provides legal counsel and legal services to EPA programs and other Law Office, with respect to the Administrative Procedure Act, federal Indian Law, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Advisory Committee act, Environmental Justice, international environmental issues, climate change, and several other areas

Responsibilities:

CCILO, in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), is seeking applicants to serve as Deputy Associate General Counsel, a supervisory position. The Deputy Associate General Counsel will work with the Associate General Counsel to supervise three assistant general counsels, 11 attorneys, and one program specialist.

The Deputy assists the CCILO Associate in working with attorneys in the Office to provide legal counsel on matters related to: advising on Administrative Law, FACA, NEPA, EJ, federal Indian law, international environmental law, and other laws under CCILO's purview; working with Department of Justice attorneys on litigation matters; and determining the effect on EPA of proposed legislation, new or proposed program requirements, etc.

The CCILO Deputy will assist the CCILO Associate by providing legal counsel, opinions, litigation support, and legal services with respect to areas in CCILO's portfolio. The Deputy will also exercise supervision over CCILO staff. CCILO attorneys advise the highest levels of Agency managers, and it is not uncommon to manage high profile, critically sensitive issues.

Responsibilities of the Law Office

CCILO provides legal advice under the federal statutes, executive orders, Constitution, treaties, and policies that affect all of EPA's programs -- including the Administrative Procedure Act, federal Indian law, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Endangered Species Act, Environmental Justice (EJ) (E.O. 12898), 5th Amendment takings, Endangered Species Act, Historic Preservation, and Children's Health (E.O. 13045). The Office also provides advice on rulemaking issues such as final agency action, judicial deference, and administrative records as well as providing a focal point for international environmental legal expertise and advice. In addition, the Office handles legal matters arising in connection with the Agency's scientific functions, and coordinates climate change resilience issues.

CCILO is divided into three practice groups, each of which is led by an Assistant General Counsel:

International Environmental Law Practice Group

Communities and Ecosystems Practice Group

Regulatory Issues Practice Group

Responsibilities of the Deputy Associate General Counsel

Assists the CCILO Associate in working with attorneys in the Office to provide legal counsel on matters related to: advising on Administrative Law, FACA, NEPA, EJ, federal Indian law, international environmental law, and other laws under CCILO's purview; working with Department of Justice attorneys on litigation matters; and determining the effect on EPA of proposed legislation, new or proposed program requirements, etc.

Assists the CCILO Associate in supervising the Office: plans and assigns work and establishes priorities, as needed; addresses matters related to time and attendance, including approving leave requests and time cards; establishes standard office operating procedures, counsels and instructs subordinates; interviews candidates for positions and recommends personnel actions; identifies training needs and provides for employee development; hears and resolves complaints; effects minor disciplinary measures and recommends actions in more serious cases; collaborates with managers in other law offices to coordinate the work of CCILO; and ensures resources are used effectively.

Assists the CCILO Associate in the development of awards, recognition, and performance evaluations.

Works closely with the senior leadership in various program offices and the Regions to provide legal counsel in relevant substantive areas.

Represents EPA and OGC at conferences and/or meetings held with staff offices of the President, other departments and agencies, the Office of Management and Budget, the Government Accountability Office, the Department of Justice, and Congressional members or their staff. Acts on behalf of the CCILO Associate when the Associate is unavailable or as directed.

Works closely alongside others with different viewpoints and social identities from your own (including race, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and genetic information).

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional Travel, Intermittent international travel, for annual meetings, trade negotiations, and/or capacity-building initiatives.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen. If selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
• You must submit a resume and required documents (See How to Apply).

Qualifications

Applicant must have an LLB. or J.D. degree from an accredited law school; must be admitted to practice before the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and must maintain active status as a member of the bar of one of these jurisdictions. Incumbent should have experience in providing legal advice and counsel at EPA, other federal, state or local agencies or courts, non-governmental organizations, or in private practice.

If you are selected, you must complete a one-year trial period.

Applicants must have experience in providing legal advice and counsel at EPA, other federal, state or local agencies or courts, non-governmental organizations, or in private practice.

The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal, leadership, communication and organizational skills, a strong customer service ethic, and an eagerness to teach and mentor attorneys in the Office. Please explain any specialized experience working under the statutes for which CCILO provides counsel in your written statement of interest.

Note: Please include a separate business-style resume with your application in lieu of the automated USAJobs resume. This document should be uploaded as part of your complete application packet described below under the Supporting Documentation Tab.

If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form prior to your first day of employment and annually thereafter.

This position is designated as a Moderate Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation.

To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have at least five years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues; conducting highly complex counseling and litigation; and leading junior attorneys, paralegals and support staff.

Education

At EPA, diversity is a vital element in bringing a balance of perspectives to bear on every challenge we face. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce because we know that the individual strengths and abilities of our employees make us a stronger organization. The more inclusive our employee base is, the greater the variety of ideas that are generated, and the more representative we are of the nation we serve. To learn more about how EPA values and supports our diverse workforce, visit Equal Opportunity Employment at EPA . You can also hear a diverse group of attorneys talk about their careers at EPA on the Legal Careers at EPA Webinar .

It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination. For more information, visit https://hru.gov/Studio_Recruitment/tools/Mythbuster_on_Federal_Hiring_Policies.pdf .

EPA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: http://www.epa.gov/careers/epa-job-vacancy-announcements-policies-and-procedures .

If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.

Position has portable work and selectee may be eligible to telework.

This position is in the excepted service. Selection under this appointment authority does not confer civil service competitive status; however, this position is covered for the purpose of federal retirement and benefits.

Except in special circumstances, those new to the federal government will be hired at the starting salary (step 1) of the applicable grade range listed above.

If you are selected, you will be expected to report to work as soon as practical but no later than thirty (30) days from the date you receive a final job offer. Extension of this reporting requirement may be granted only under extraordinary circumstances.

Additional information

EPA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: http://www.epa.gov/careers/epa-job-vacancy-announcements-policies-and-procedures

If you have part-time work experience, read this: http://epa.gov/ohr/ezhire/vacancy_requirements.htm

If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.

Position has portable work and selectee may be eligible to telework.

It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination. For more information, visit https://hru.gov/Studio_Recruitment/tools/Mythbuster_on_Federal_Hiring_Policies.pdf.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above and demonstrate an ability to perform the responsibilities of the position.

Initially, you will be evaluated based on the information contained in your resume packet. If an interview is granted, you will also be evaluated based on the responses you provide during an interview. In responding to interview questions, you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did and the outcome.

There is no numerical rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Office of General Counsel considers veteran's preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Documents to be submitted should be provided as one, consolidated PDF document in the following order, uploaded under the Supporting Documentation Tab:

• Resume (Submit a separate business-style resume: do not rely upon the automated USAJobs resume)
• Written statement (no more than two single-spaced pages) specifically addressing your qualifications for this position
• References (names and contact information of three professional references)
• Copy of law school transcript (unofficial or official).
• Copy of bar certification
• Veterans' Preference Documents - DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service), VA letter stating overall/combined disability rating (percentage), and an SF-15, if applicable; active duty service members: submit certification from the Armed Forces documenting active duty dates, expected discharge/release date, campaign medals/badges, and character of service (a certification is any written document from the Armed Forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged/released from active duty service in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after you submit the certification).

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.

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.