Duties

Summary

Join the team! This position is located in the Division of Enforcement & Litigation, Office of Compliance and Field Operations. The Office identifies & investigates potentially hazardous products; enforces mandatory standards & regulations; negotiates voluntary recalls, other corrective actions & civil penalties; conducts administrative litigation to obtain mandatory recalls; and assists in the drafting & review of rules and regulations affecting CPSC's compliance and enforcement authority.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

An attorney in the Division of Enforcement & Litigation will:

• Identify new matters to investigate based on internal and external data and newly emerging technologies
• Investigate whether consumer products present substantial product hazards
• Negotiate voluntary corrective actions with manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers
• Determine investigative and legal strategies
• Recommend whether cases should be closed, resolved informally or litigated
• Litigate administrative actions seeking mandatory product recalls, including drafting pleadings and motions
• Represent the Agency at hearings, trials, and appeals
• Investigate and negotiate civil penalties stemming from violations of Acts administered by the Commission
• Advise on and recommend referral of matters to the Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Provide legal advice related to regulations and policy affecting the Commission's compliance and enforcement authority

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Up to 25% travel in Local Commuting Area

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14 - There is no guarantee for advancement. Promotions are dependent on available work, demonstrated ability to perform duties at a higher level, performance requirements, and supervisory recommendation.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must meet education requirements.
• Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (see Other Information for details)

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the tentative employment offer may be withdrawn.

If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Please see http://www.sss.gov for more information.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form . We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities.

Upon appointment, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450. You will need to provide the information annually.

This appointment requires completion of a two year trial period unless you have previously successfully completed a trial period that meets the following: 1) in the same agency, 2) in the same line of work (determined by the employee's actual duties and responsibilities) and 3) contains or is followed by no more than a single break in service that does not exceed 30 calendar days. Failure to successfully complete the trial period may result in termination of employment.

Qualifications

In addition to the mandatory education requirement, applicants at the GS-12, GS-13 and GS-14 levels must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

GS-12: 1) conducting investigations and assessing evidence developed in recommending litigation or other resolutions; 2) preparing pleadings and legal documents; AND 3) providing legal advice related to statutory and regulatory enforcement authorities.

GS-13: 1) conducting investigations and determining investigative and legal strategy; 2) drafting and negotiating agreements 3) drafting pleadings, motions, or legal memoranda; 4) participating in hearings or trials; AND 5) providing legal advice related to statutory and regulatory enforcement authorities.

GS-14: 1) conducting complex investigations and determining investigative and legal strategy; 2) drafting and negotiating complex agreements; 3) drafting complex pleading, motions, or legal memoranda; 4) representing clients in hearings or trials; AND 5) providing legal advice on complex matters related to statutory and regulatory enforcement authorities.

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position within the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Basic Requirement: All applicants must possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree and be an active member of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

GS-11: In addition to the basic requirement, applicants must have: (a) one year experience as a practicing attorney; OR (b) a second professional law degree (LL.M); OR (c) superior law school achievement.

Superior Law School Achievement is demonstrated by one of the following:

• Academic standing in the upper 1/3 of the law school graduating class
• Work or achievement of significance on his/her law school's official law review
• Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif
• Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team which represents the law school in competition with other law schools
• Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation
• Significant summer law office clerk experience

GS-12: In addition to the basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have either: (a) two years of experience as a practicing attorney; OR (b) one year of experience as a practicing attorney and a second professional law degree (LL.M).

GS-13: In addition to basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have three years of experience as a practicing attorney.

GS-14: In addition to basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have four years of experience as a practicing attorney.

All applicants are required to provide proof of current, active bar membership and proof of good standing.

ALL applicants must also submit a law school transcript to demonstrate successful completion of education requirements. A copy of an SF-50 is not adequate proof of meeting the education requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

CPSC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized.

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking reference and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before appointment or onboarding with CPSC. To request a legally required exception from this requirement please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

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.

After the vacancy closes, we will review your application package to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your responses to the questionnaire, resume and supporting documentation will then be reviewed. Your resume must support your responses to the self-assessment questions or your score may be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited to an interview.

Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, salary, duties performed for each position, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level/pay band.

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
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Your package must be complete and submitted in the manner specified in this section. Packages that are submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the agency point of contact will not be considered.

A complete application includes: 1. Resume; 2. vacancy question responses; 3. law school transcripts; 4. proof of active bar membership and good standing; and 5. Submission of any required documents.

If you are a current or former federal employee you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action. Indicate on your application the highest permanent grade you have held; if this grade is different from your current grade, submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing this grade.

For proof of Veterans Preference you must submit a DD-214 (member copy 4)and, if applicable, Standard Form 15, VA Letter. You can find additional information about Veterans' Preference at http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.

If you are eligible for special hiring authority, please indicate this when you apply, and submit the supporting documentation for proof of eligibility for the special hiring authority, such as disability, Peace Corps service, Interchange Agreement, etc.

Other documents identified in this announcement.

All supplemental documents must be submitted electronically before the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

You have three choices for submitting your supplemental documents:
1. Download from your USAJOBS account; or
2. Upload your file(s); or
3. Fax using the online Fax Cover Sheet.

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.