Attorney-Advisor (Contract)

The Defense Commissary Agency is located on Fort Lee, in the greater Richmond, VA area (RVA). Richmond is a popular travel destination with a reputation for good food as well as local vineyards, breweries and distilleries. Virginia, including the Fort Lee and RVA areas, is rich in history and culture with easy access to myriad outdoor activities. Popular nearby destinations include Washington, D.C., Charlottesville and Williamsburg, VA, and Virginia Beach. It is also only a couple of hours away from the Blue Ridge Mountains and other popular east coast beaches as well as state and national parks and wildlife refuges.


The Office of General Counsel, DeCA, has a robust and varied legal practice in support of DeCA and its mission. Our attorneys provide legal advice, counsel and representation in substantive areas including federal labor and employment law, commercial law, fiscal law, procurement law, construction law, environmental law, government standards of conduct and ethics, administrative law, and issues arising under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. Our attorneys represent DeCA before various administrative bodies and provide litigation support to U.S. Attorney Offices for matters pending in Federal courts.

As an Assistant General Counsel for Commercial Law, the incumbent reports to the Deputy General Counsel for Commercial Law and assists in discharging the responsibility of DeCA OGC to provide legal advice, counsel and representation in all aspects of the commercial law portfolio, including but not limited to contracts, fiscal law, environmental law, government ethics and standards of conduct, construction law, international law, administrative and civil law, the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, business law, intellectual property and data rights, issues of statutory and regulatory interpretation and the drafting of proposed legislation. The incumbent independently performs in-depth legal research and analysis, as well as writing briefs, legal memoranda, and other documents. The incumbent represents the agency before third parties, including but not limited to the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, and the Government Accountability Office, and is responsible for the investigation, preparation and presentation of the agency's positions and defenses before such tribunals. The incumbent addresses difficult and novel legal policy questions where frequently there is an absence of clearly applicable precedents. The incumbent provides support to the Department of Justice in matters litigated in Federal courts. The incumbent may perform the duties of the Deputy General Counsel for Commercial Law in his/her absence and other duties as assigned.

This position is in the Excepted Service

The Defense Commissary Agency is an Equal Employment Opportunity Agency

Who May Apply: U.S. citizens.

Notice of Veterans Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documents (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit an SF 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. (SF15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov.) If two of more applicants for an attorney position are determined to be equally "best qualified" for the position, but one of the applicants is a preference eligible veteran, the preference eligible veteran has preference over the non-preference eligible applicant.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

- Occasional Travel
- Business travel is required less than 20% of the time

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED

- PCS may be authorized.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

- U.S. Citizenship is Required
- Direct Deposit of Pay is Required
- Tour of Duty: Full Time
- FLSA: Exempt
- Bargaining Unit: No
- License/Certification: Bar Certificate of Good Standing in Active Status

Conditions of employment

• Be a U.S. citizen or national. Applicants with a Permanent Resident Card are authorized to live and work in the U.S. but are not eligible for employment in positions requiring U.S. citizenship. If selected, proof of citizenship is required.
• Meet minimum age requirement. See the Additional Information.
• Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
• Appointment is subject to successful verification of identity and employment eligibility through E-Verify. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Appointment is subject to a favorable suitability or fitness outcome, as determined by a completed background investigation. New federal employees will be fingerprinted.
• Be able to obtain and maintain clearance eligibility based on the appropriate background investigation.
• May be subject to a probationary/trial period.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• This position is in the Excepted Service

Qualifications

• Qualification requirements for Attorney positions can be found in DoD Instruction 1442.02, "Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys."
• The minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration
• Applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD) from that institution.
• Bar Membership: An applicant must currently be an active member of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
• Applicant must have professional legal experience in excess of 3 years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Basis for Rating: Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and on the extent to which their application shows possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the position

SELECTIVE FACTORS: Selection will be based on the judgment of the selecting official as to which applicant is best qualified to perform the duties of the position. The breadth and depth of relevant experience and knowledge, and the quality of past performance, will be the primary considerations used for selection. Important selection factors are demonstrated strong legal analytical ability; excellence in communication skills, including written and oral communications, client relations/customer support and interpersonal skills; trial experience; knowledge of the law of the military installation, administrative law, federal procurements, fiscal law, environmental law, and the standards of conduct. Other desirable selection factors are knowledge of personnel law, dispute resolution, intellectual property, and the law relating to independent contractors. A selection panel may be used and oral interviews may be conducted with all, with some, or with none of the applicants, solely at the option of the selecting official.

Other Requirements:

The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened for basic qualification requirements, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position as described in this vacancy announcement.

·You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
·Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.

·One year trial/probationary period may be required.

·You must include the announcement number on your application

As part of the online application process, you will respond to a series of questions designed to evaluate your level of experience in the position's competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics).

• Minimum Qualifications

Overtime: Occasional
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
Bargaining Unit Status: Not Covered
Obligated Position: No
Those retired under CSRS or FERS considered: No. DoD criteria not met.
Telework eligible: Yes - as determined by the agency policy
Remote work eligible: No
PCS Authorized: Yes