Associate General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) serves as the chief legal advisor to the Federal Communications Commission and its various bureaus and offices; represents the Commission in litigation in federal courts; recommends decisions in adjudicatory matters before the Commission; assists the Commission in its decision making capacity; and performs a variety of legal functions regarding internal and other administrative matters.

Duties

The Associate General Counsel serves under the General Counsel and the Deputy General Counsels as the Chief of Staff within the Office of General Counsel (OGC) and functions as a principal advisor to the General Counsel on highly complex legal, policy, and management matters affecting the Commission. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating legal strategy, overseeing cross-bureau legal initiatives, and ensuring effective management of legal operations within the Office of General Counsel.

Job duties of the Associate General Counsel Chief of Staff include:  

• Serves as Associate General Counsel and Chief of Staff with primary responsibility for providing executive-level leadership and direction in the development and implementation of legal policy and regulatory strategies supporting the Commission’s statutory responsibilities. Oversees legal analysis and policy development involving telecommunications law, administrative law, and federal regulatory policy. Directs and coordinates legal activities across OGC divisions and works closely with Commission bureaus and offices to ensure consistent interpretation and application of the Communications Act and related
  statutes.
• Serves as the senior management official responsible for coordinating strategic initiatives, operational priorities, and internal management activities within the Office of General Counsel. Advises the General Counsel on organizational strategy, workload management, and legal priorities. Ensures coordination of legal matters across the Commission and facilitates communication between OGC leadership, Commissioners’ offices, and other bureaus and offices. Provides authoritative legal advice to the General Counsel and senior Commission leadership on complex legal and regulatory matters involving communications law, administrative law, and federal regulatory policy.
• Coordinates the development of Commission-level legal strategies related to major rulemakings, enforcement actions, adjudications, and litigation matters. Ensures legal consistency across Commission actions and advises on legal risk and policy implications. Represents the Commission in high-level interactions with other federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, and the Federal Trade Commission, on matters involving communications policy, regulatory enforcement, and litigation.
• Coordinates legal strategy with other agencies on issues involving telecommunications policy, competition, and administrative law matters.
• Leads and supervises senior attorneys and professional staff responsible for legal policy coordination, program management, and operational support within the Office of General Counsel. Establishes strategic priorities, allocates resources, and ensures effective management of legal programs and operations. Promotes collaboration across OGC divisions and with Commission bureaus to support the Commission’s mission and legal responsibilities.

Salary

• $151,661 - $228,000/year

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship.
• Must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Drug Testing Required.
• Top Secret/SCI Clearance Required
• Bar Membership Required

This position has been designated as a Testing Designated Position in accordance with the Commission's Drug-Free Workplace Plan. If selected for the position, you will be subject to drug testing prior to employment and periodic random testing after entering on duty.

Other:
-  Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.  The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application.  If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job.

-  If applicable, you will be required to serve a probationary period of one year.

-  In order for you to be employed at the FCC, there are certain Commission and Federal laws governing the financial interests of you and members of your immediate family. If selected for the position, you must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Failure to submit all required documentation by the closing date of this vacancy announcement, including adhering to the maximum two-page resume requirement, will result in removal from consideration. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

Your resume must include your full name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and complete employment history.  For each position listed, please include: Employment dates in MM/YYY - MM/YYY format (or MM/YYYY - Present), Agency/Employer name, Position title, Grade level(s) held and a description of duties performed.  

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, you must also demonstrate the following Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs):

Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must clearly demonstrate the ability to meet the ECQs within their two (2) page resume (any experience exceeding 2 pages will not be reviewed).  Current or former SES members must submit an SF-50 and/or QRB Certification of ECQs to show current or former service in the SES.  OPM's Guide to the Senior Executive Services Qualifications provides detailed information on the ECQs. 

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs)

ECQ 1 - Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding:  This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2 - Driving Efficiency:  This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3 - Merit and Competence:  This core qualification  involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4 - Leading People:  This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture.  This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. 

ECQ 5 -  Achieving Results:  This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

MANDATORY TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES: All candidates must clearly demonstrate the ability to meet the Mandatory Technical Qualifications within their two (2) page resume (any experience exceeding 2 pages will not be reviewed).

MTQ 1- Demonstrated expert knowledge of telecommunications law, administrative law, and federal regulatory processes governing communications policy, including experience providing authoritative legal advice on complex statutory and regulatory matters, such as interpretation and application of the Communications Act and related statutes;  ability to lead legal analysis supporting rulemakings, adjudications, enforcement matters, and/or litigation affecting communications policy and federal regulatory programs.

MTQ 2 - Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex legal and policy initiatives across multiple organizational components within a federal regulatory environment, including experience advising senior leadership on legal strategy; managing high-profile or sensitive legal matters; ensuring consistency in legal interpretations across organizational units; overseeing multidisciplinary teams of attorneys and policy professionals; and coordinating legal priorities with senior officials, commissioners; offices, and external stakeholders.

Education Applicants must meet the minimum basic educations requirements for Attorney positions. Applicants must possess a law degree (J.D., or LL.B) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member of the bar of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a federal court of general jurisdiction. Proof of law degree and bar membership must be submitted with application. Other Information EEO Policy Statement Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement Veterans Information Legal and Regulatory Guidance Required Documents

1) Optional Applicant Questions; optional, but strongly encouraged for applicants seeking to demonstrate alignment with the agency's leadership values.

2) Resume (limited to 2 pages) cover letter optional.

3) SF50 or proof of SES reinstatement eligibility. OPM Candidate Development Program graduates must provide a copy of the OPM/QRB Criterion B certification.

4) Copy of Bar Membership in good standing.

How to Apply

Apply on-line using the Commission's automated recruitment system in https://fcc.usajobs.gov or at www.usajobs.gov. 

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FULL CONSIDERATION, YOUR APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING (in addition to registration information required to utilize this web site):

1.  Resume  - Your resume must clearly demonstrate that you meet the ECQs and the MTQs required for this positions.

• ECQs and MTQs must be addressed within your resume; separate narrative statements will not be accepted. 
• The resume may not exceed two (2) pages.
• Resumes should include the following information:
  • - Vacancy announcement number such as SES-2025-002
    - Full name, mailing address, and day and evening phone numbers
    - Job title (include series and grade if Federal job)
    - Duties and accomplishments
    - Employer's name and address
    - Starting and ending dates of employment (month and year)
    - Information about honors, awards, and special accomplishments

If applying online poses a hardship, or you have any questions regarding eligible status, please contact the HR point of contact listed on the vacancy announcement during business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time) prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

2.  Optional Essay Questions (Per OPM Guidance)

In accordance with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Merit Hiring Plan, applicants are encouraged to respond to the following four optional essay questions:

Question 1: How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government?  Provide a concrete example from your professional, academic, or personal experience. (Constitutional Commitment)

Question 2: In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness?  Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. (Government Efficiency)

Question 3: How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role?  Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. (Advancing Executive Orders and Policy Priorities)

Question 4: How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic, or personal achievements?  Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effective in this position. (Work Ethic)

• Your responses will not be scored or rated; however, they may be reviewed by the selecting official and agency leadership as part of the hiring process.
• Each response should be no more than 200 words.
• Applicants must certify that all responses are their own work and have not been generated by artificial intelligence tools.
• You will not be disqualified if you choose not to respond.
• Responses may be addressed on your cover page of the resume.

For more information on applying for federal jobs, please check this webpage https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Main_Page

Required documents must be received no later than midnight U.S. Eastern Standard Time of the closing date, or it will not be considered.  Requests for extensions will not be granted.  

Benefits The FCC offers a wide range of employee benefits, including: Health Insurance Life Insurance Dental & Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Accounts Long-Term Care Insurance Holidays and Leave Retirement Thrift Savings Plan Transit Benefit Alternative Work Schedule Telecommuting