This position is located in the Spectrum Policy Branch, Policy and Rules Division (Division), Office of Engineering and Technology (OET or Office), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) located in Washington, DC. RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID. THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.
Duties
The incumbent serves as an Attorney Advisor performing professional legal and policy work involving spectrum management, RF equipment security, communications supply-chain integrity, equipment authorization, certification and testing processes, emerging technologies, and national-security considerations associated with communications equipment entering or operating within the United States marketplace. The incumbent independently handles difficult legal and regulatory assignments requiring substantial professional judgment and the interpretation and adaptation of statutes, regulations, Commission precedent, judicial decisions, administrative law principles, and established policy to complex or evolving factual and technological circumstances. Assignments frequently involve matters for which directly applicable precedent is limited, incomplete, or requires interpretation in light of new technologies, equipment configurations, industry practices, or national-security concerns. The incumbent develops legal analyses and regulatory alternatives, prepares recommendations, drafts substantial Commission-level documents, and may serve as the principal staff attorney for significant portions of rulemaking proceedings or other regulatory initiatives. The attorney works closely with engineers, economists, technologists, policy specialists, and other attorneys to integrate legal, technical, policy, and national-security considerations into Commission decision-making. The incumbent provides advice and recommendations to senior attorneys and Division management concerning assigned matters and coordinates legal and policy issues with other FCC bureaus and offices, federal agencies, regulated entities, industry organizations, certification bodies, testing laboratories, and other stakeholders.
Salary
Qualifications
Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. In order to be deemed as "BEST QUALIFIED" candidates must meet both the educational requirements AND the Specialized Experience. A. Education You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions. Education requirements include: a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M. NOTE-If you do not provide a transcript at the time of application, a transcript will be required to be provided at the time of selection. AND B. Specialized Experience For the GS-11 position: No specialized experience required according to FCC internal Attorney Advisor recruitment procedures; only educational qualification requirements are required to be met. Education requirements include: a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M. For the GS-12 position: Applicants must have at least one year of full-time professional law experience gained after being admitted to the bar. The minimum one-year work experience requirement includes at least one year of specialized experience that is directly related to the position being filled and that is at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is defined as follows: 1. Experience conducting legal research and analysis involving statutes, regulations, administrative or judicial precedent or regulatory policy. 2. Experience drafting legal memoranda, recommendations, rulemaking documents, orders, notices, or other legal or regulatory materials. 3. Experience reviewing comments, petitions, filings, technical information, or other materials to identify and analyze legal or policy issues. For the GS-13 position: Applicants must have at least two years of full-time professional law experience gained after being admitted to the bar. The minimum one-year work experience requirement includes at least one year of specialized experience that is directly related to the position being filled and that is at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is defined as follows: 1. Experience conducting legal research and analysis involving statutes, regulations, administrative or judicial precedent or regulatory policy. 2. Experience drafting legal memoranda, recommendations, rulemaking documents, orders, notices, or other legal or regulatory materials. 3. Experience reviewing comments, petitions, filings, technical information, or other materials to identify and analyze legal or policy issues. 4. Experience resolving legal and/or regulatory matters. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). 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. SME REVIEW Subject matter experts will review your application to determine if you meet the following required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) (competencies required at the full performance level; GS-13). Ability to prepare clear, concise, and legally supported memoranda, analyses, correspondence, and portions of regulatory or rulemaking documents. Ability to research and analyze statutes, regulations, judicial or administrative decisions, and other legal authorities to address legal and regulatory issues. Ability to analyze legal and policy issues involving regulatory programs such as telecommunications, spectrum, equipment authorization, emerging technologies or related matters. Ability to communicate legal and regulatory information effectively with various stakeholders. Ability to independently identify and analyze legal and regulatory issues, evaluate alternative approaches, and develop legally supportable recommendations consistent with applicable statutes, regulations, precedent, and policy. Ability to independently analyze and resolve difficult legal and regulatory issues. If you are deemed to be qualified by the Subject Matter Experts, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for hiring consideration. Alternatively, if your application is not deemed as qualified by the Subject Matter Experts, your application will not be referred to the hiring manager for hiring consideration.
Education
Refer to Educational requirements outlined within the "Qualifications" section.
Required Documents
Merit Hiring Plan Resume Requirements In compliance with Executive Order 14170, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service resumes must not be longer than two pages in length. The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement. Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below: Contact Information Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number. Relevant Work Experience Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions) Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 –08/2022) The number of hours you worked per week Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement. Resumes must be formatted as outlined above. If the two page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration. The FCC is providing the following applicant resume resources: Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit USAjobs-How to Write a Federal Resume Your application MUST be received by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement. You must submit a resume at the time of application. Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for the vacancy. Current Federal employees must also submit a copy of an SF-50 documenting one year of time in grade. If an SF-50 is not submitted to verify time in grade, the applicant will be rated as ineligible. This position may require the submission of supplemental documents before selection. Law academic transcripts (unofficial is acceptable). Proof of current, active bar membership. Writing sample demonstrating the ability to analyze complex legal and/or policy issues. Professional references. Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload supporting application documentation. If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. Supplemental Documents Required: Current Federal employees should submit a copy of an SF-50 documenting one year of time in grade. If an SF-50 is not submitted to verify time in grade, the application will be rated as ineligible. Transcripts Bar Membership If transcripts and proof of bar membership are not provided at the time of application, this documentation must be provided at the time of selection. Veterans must submit a legible Member 4 copy of the DD-214 which reflects the manner of discharge. Please refer to OPM's VetGuide for further information about veterans' preference via the following link: VetGuide
How to Apply
To apply to this announcement go to the website: https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?a=FC00&k=Federal%20Communications%20Commission As outlined in the "Required Documents Details" section of the announcement, resumes must meet be no longer than two pages in length and must meet the resume formatting requirements. Your application, including resume, all supplemental documents, registration information and answers to job specific questions must be received no later than midnight U.S. Eastern time of the closing date. For more information on applying federal jobs, please check this webpage: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/process If applying online poses a hardship, you may contact either the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement or you may contact the Apply Government Solutions help desk (prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement) via e-mail at fedhirehelp@applygovernment.com or you may reach them directly at 866-656-6831. The Apply Government Solutions Help Desk is available Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST. NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission's automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date. NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission's automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date.
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
