General Counsel

This position is part of the Council of Inspectors General Integrity Efficiency. The incumbent will be responsible for serving as a senior attorney, providing legal counsel to the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Executive Director and legal advice throughout the agency.

Duties

• Provides legal advice and counsel to CIGIE leadership and staff on a diverse array of legal subject areas, including ethics, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Inspector General Act of 1978 (IG Act), federal employment, contracts, appropriations, information access, and privacy.
• Represents the office in administrative litigation, such as hearings before the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Conducts legal research on complex legal issues by analyzing federal statutes, executive orders, court decision, legislative hearings , and committee reports, as well as evaluating factual, technical, and legal matters.
• Examines and evaluates legislative proposals for CIGIE, while also preparing or reviewing proposed new policies and amendments to existing regulations. Determines the impact of legislation and regulations on the scope of CIGIE' s operations and authority.
• Prepares and reviews congressional testimony and other responses to requests for information from Congress. Manages any involvement CIGIE has in legal proceedings that arise from requests for documents or testimony.

Salary

• $169,279 - $197,200/year

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation.
• Direct Deposit of pay is required.
• Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.You must meet all the following qualification requirements:

1. You must possess a J.D./LL.B. Law Degree from an accredited college or university. (You must submit a copy of your transcripts.) AND
2. You must be an active member in good standing of the Bar of a state, a territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (You must submit proof of Bar Membership to verify your standing.)
3. For the GS-15: You must possess at least 5 years post J.D. legal experience in the following: Providing expert, authoritative legal advice and policy determinations on complex and sensitive matters impacting the planning, operations, and oversight activities of a government agency; Advising senior leadership on legal, regulatory, and policy issues central to the mission of an agency; Providing expert and authoritative counsel in connection with administrative, civil, and criminal investigations; Offering expert legal interpretation and strategic guidance on information disclosure, data access, and confidentiality requirements; Formulating legal opinions, policy guidance, and written determinations on matters with significant operational impact; Evaluating the legal implications of proposed actions, policies, and programs, including risks and compliance considerations; Providing seasoned counsel on workforce, ethics, procurement, appropriations law, and other administrative law matters as needed

All experience must be clearly described in your resume to receive credit.

Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. You can only submit one resume; Only the resume submitted under the "Resume" "Document Type" will be used to determine your qualifications and for rating purposes.

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education This position has a positive education requirement. You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims of possession of a law degree (J.D. or LL.B.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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. For further information, visit: www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications Transcripts and proof of Bar membership MUST be provided with your application package to receive further consideration. Must have an active Bar membership in good standing. If selected, must maintain active Bar membership in good standing while employed as an attorney. Other Information 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. Veterans Preference: It is not a requirement to apply Veterans Preference in filling this Excepted Service position. However, the agency will follow the principles of Veterans Preference to the extent administratively feasible. Applicants eligible for Veterans Preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation to their submissions (e.g., DD-214 Form, SF-15, or other substantiating documents). This assignment may be made permanent without further competition. Telework Suitability: The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act. Stipulations of Employment: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: Your performance and conduct; The needs and interests of the agency; Whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment may be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. This position is subject to a negative drug test prior to entrance on duty, and random drug testing while you occupy the position. If selected, the position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure report requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 450 Form) within 30 days of your appointment. Work Schedule: This position allows for a flexible work schedule. Miscellaneous: Council of Inspectors General Integrity Efficiency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days. Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment mm/yy, and duties performed.

Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

2. Other supporting documents:

• College transcript(s)-J.D./LL.B. Law Degree transcripts from an accredited college or university.
• Certification of Bar membership: proof that you are a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Cover Letter (optional)

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If applicable, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. Failure to provide this documentation may result in a non-preference determination. For more information on veterans' preference (see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-employment-initiative/vet-guide/).

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.

How to Apply

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 and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. You may preview the Application Questionnaire at: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12971266
3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
4. Read the Eligibility questions carefully. The questions address if you are eligible to apply to this vacancy announcement. Your responses will affect your consideration for the position. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. You will only be considered under the options you have selected. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility questions, you will not be considered for this position.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://login.usajobs.gov/Account/Login). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this link:
https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.