Chief Contract Law Division

This position is within the Department of Commerce (DOC) and located in the Office of the Secretary, Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Deputy General Counsel for Administration, Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Transactions and Program Management, Contract Law Division. Contract Law Division (CLD) | U.S. Department of Commerce

Duties

• As Chief of the Contract Law Division, the incumbent serves as a senior leader of the Contract Law Division as the Office of General Counsel's authoritative expert in procurement and non­procurement government transactions, the incumbent:
• Serves as senior legal advisor providing legal judgment to enhance business efficiency during acquisition planning, solicitation, drafting and of evaluation, contract awards, and contract administration. Recommends changes in policy and procedure; drafts and reviews final decisions of contracting officers under the Contract Disputes Act; advises on contract claims by the Government; and the demands for relief by contractors, e.g., ratification actions, equitable adjustments, requests for extraordinary relief and breach of contract claims. Incumbent is expected to remain abreast of activities in all assigned functional areas and exercises authority in any matter, which does not constitute a deviation from, or reversal of, policies previously established.
• Assists the Assistant General Counsel for Transactions and Program Management on matters relating to administrative law involving the Assistant Secretary for Administration and the Chief Financial Officer, other secretarial officers and the various units under their supervision. In this connection, the incumbent:
• Prepares, advises on, or examines for legal form and legal implications, public and internal orders (including delegations of authority) issued by the Department in connection with its administrative activities and programs which require the approval of the Secretary of Commerce, the Deputy Secretary of Commerce, or the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Chief Financial Officer.
• Prepares advises on, or examines for legal form and legal effect, legal instruments of the Department relating to its internal administrative affairs, grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, leases, licenses, environmental and land use matters, research and development, and other government transactions, entered into by the Department. Provides legal assistance with respect to interpretation of or disputes arising out of such transactions, legal actions to be taken, appeals therefrom, and related court proceedings.
• Reviews Executive Orders and Proclamations to determine their general legal effect upon administrative programs and activities of the Department and upon internal administration in general or in relation to specific Department operational units and programs.
• Maintains review procedures for all the Department's DOC's procurement contracts and non­procurement transactions for legal issues prior to award, proposed terminations for default and convenience, and all other proposed final decisions by the Department's contracting officers, grants officers and other obligating officials for legal sufficiency, including compliance with the Contracts Disputes Act, the Competition in Contracting Act and other laws and regulations as applicable.
• Performs other special duties as assigned by the Assistant General Counsel for Transactions and Program Management, Associate Deputy General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel for Administration, and /or the Deputy General Counsel and General Counsel.

Salary

• $151,661 - $228,000/year

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
• Initial Senior Executive Service (SES) Career appointee is subject to a one-year probationary period.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.

There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents:

• Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights, for those who undergo an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check for personnel vetting, which includes Rap Back,
• FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation), and
• SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov), (applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information)

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 Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES.

Resumes over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed and will be disqualified. Your resume should be 2 pages or fewer and must not include images or graphics. Your resumes 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.

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

PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (PTQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

1. Executive experience overseeing legal operations, delivering strategic counsel on procurement, federal assistance, and related government transactions, and advising senior policy officials on complex legal issues tied to high-profile programs of congressional and public interest.
2. Executive experience developing strategy for administrative hearings involving procurement and nonprocurement transaction claims and advising senior officials on procurement and nonprocurement transaction related litigation matters in the Government Accountability Office, United States Court of Federal Claims, Circuit Courts of Appeal, and U.S. District Courts.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

• 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 the 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.

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education Incumbent must have a law degree and an active bar membership in good standing in the bar of a U.S. State, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territory. If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Other Information Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement. Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx) False Statements: 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 subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action. OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Required Documents

A complete application includes items described below. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants.

1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs. PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER.

2. VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy.

3. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable:

• CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
• SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification.
• CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Most recent performance evaluation.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete this application and submit any required documents specified in the Required Documents section and submit by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

Follow the prompts to select and upload your résumé and/or other required documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the "Include Personal Information" section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.

You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

It is applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and uploaded, (i.e., resume and other required documents) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application.

Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail. Due to security processes, mail delivery takes approximately 2-3 weeks to process at which time the vacancy announcement will be closed, and no further consideration will be given to additional application packages.

To view the application form, visit:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12838551