Paralegal Specialist

The Senior Paralegal Specialist performs substantive legal duties in support of NNSA/NA-LA. Duties include: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act review/coordination; Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP) liaison; NA-LA liaison for external auditing groups such as OIG, GAO, or U.S. Department of Labor; NNSA ethics reviews/file management; LANL litigation coordination, invoice reviews, and use of the Litigation Management Tracking System (LMTS).

Duties

As a Paralegal Specialist, you will:

• Perform legal analysis of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) requests under the provisions of applicable statutes and determines if documents or segregable portions can be released. Reviews proposed FOIA responses submitted by the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) contractor for accuracy, coordinates final responses with the NNSA FOIA Officer/team, and performs related support.
• Serve as NA-LA's liaison for the DOE Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP). Coordinates and integrates EEOICP activities resulting from claims filed by current or former employees of LANL, follows up on DOE/NNSA or Department of Labor data requests as needed, and performs related support.
• Serve as NA-LA's liaison with external auditing groups and agencies such as the Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), and other entities as needed. Handles management referral process for NA-LA and coordinates with LANL. Receives requests for management to investigate or review anonymous hotline reports or written allegations of potential waste, fraud, or abuse by LANL employees, brings substantive issues to the attention of management, coordinates referrals to management or LANL as appropriate, consolidates and develops responses, and closes out actions.
• Provide oversight support for LANL contractor litigation, reviews litigation reports, tracks contractor outside attorney costs, conducts reviews of contractor legal invoices to assess accuracy/compliance, prepares correspondence for the contracting officer/counsel as needed, and coordinates with NNSA General Counsel and NA-LA staff attorneys on issues as appropriate. Compiles, maintains, and prepares litigation reports using the agency's Litigation Management Tracking System (LMTS). Supports other litigation related functions as needed.
• Support NNSA/NA-LA ethics program officials, identifies and provides appropriate DOE/NNSA ethics guidelines/federal regulations, assists ethics counselors in addressing staff questions, and serves as a local system administrator for the Department's Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 450) system. Helps NNSA attorneys prepare ethics documents (e.g., recusals, 5 C.F.R. 2635.502 authorizations, post-employment restrictions, etc.), conducts research as needed to support legal opinions on various matters of agency interest, and performs related duties as required.

Salary

• $62,392 - $165,288/year

Conditions of Employment

• Subject to Random Drug Testing
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Favorable suitability determination required.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance.
• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification.
• May be required to successfully complete a one (1) year probationary period. Employees serving on a probationary or trial period may be terminated at any time during the probationary or trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
• Please limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, you will be disqualified.

Probationary periods are required for new employees appointed to competitive service positions for the first time; or reinstated employees who return to Federal service after a break in service of 30-days or more and who have not completed a probationary period will need to complete the requirement. Trial periods are required for all excepted service employees. Trial periods served in the same position and agency with no break in service will satisfy the requirement.

Qualifications

NQ-2:

To meet qualification requirements for the NQ-2 level (GS-9-11 equivalent), a qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service, i.e., NQ-01 or GS-07/08.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience performing paralegal or legal work demonstrating knowledge of at least 3 of the 5 listed below:

1. Examines and processes a variety of legal documents.
2. Analyze and evaluate data responses of complex and sensitive requests.
3. Prepares briefings, pleadings, litigation recommendations, documents and correspondence.
4. Search and review legal references and case files.
5. Provides support and other sources of information and data for attorneys or court personnel.

NQ-3:

To meet qualification requirements for the NQ-3 level (GS-13/14 equivalent), a qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service, i.e., NQ-02 or GS-12.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience performing paralegal or legal work demonstrating knowledge of at least 4 of the 5 listed below:

1. Legal research, laws, precedent decisions, regulations, agency policies and practices, judicial or administrative proceedings;
2. Reviews/coordinates responses to FOIA/Privacy Act requests (or similar requests sought through a state authority).
3. Manages matters related to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), either through the DOE Program, U.S. Department of Labor, or a related state program.
4. Management and coordination of responses to inquiries by federal or state audit/investigation authorities (e.g., OIG, GAO, or similar state authorities); /state ethics programs and related matters.
5. Provides liaison support to legal counsel in carrying out their responsibilities.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education NQ-2: Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. NQ-3: No education substitution at this grade level. Other Information Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. All positions require successful completion of a background investigation. All males born after December 31,1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government. In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration. EEO Policy: Click HERE. Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Click HERE. Veterans Information: Click HERE. Telework: Click HERE. Selective Service Registration: Click HERE. Information about the NNSA Demonstration project can be found by clicking HERE. Required Documents ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire. Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date). Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume may not be considered. Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements. If selected, it is mandatory that you provide official transcripts. For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube. NNSA will accept a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience. Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement: SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" (current/former federal employees): To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility! Full position title; appointment type; occupational series; pay plan, grade, and step; tenure code; and service computation date (SCD).If your current position SF50 does not indicate you have competitive/excepted service status or does not reflect the pay plan and grade of the highest position you have held in the competitive/excepted service, in addition to your current SF50, you must provide your previous SF-50s that provide the proof of competitive/excepted status and highest grade held on a permanent basis. If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information. Veterans applying under VEOA: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information. Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.

The application process is as follows:

1. You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/.
2. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
3. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
4. You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.

You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/

Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this vacancy announcement.

If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.