Clarification from the agency

Open to all current Army M-Day and current Air DSG members within the Virgin Island National Guard for which you are applying. Are you a current Army M-Day or current Air DSG member within the Virgin Island National Guard for which this position is being advertised?

As a ATTORNEY-ADVISER (GENERAL) ,GS - 0905- 14, you will:

• Assures that both Adjutant General, head of the state military department and staff elements receive the best possible legal advice and recommendations for actions.
• Responsible for preventive law, which requires foreseeing potential issues, taking proactive action to deflect, and resolving the concern. Must be fully knowledgeable of Department of Defense (DoD), service, NGB, state policies and operations, and local policies in order to recognize potential issues and problems before they arise, and to provide meaningful input into appropriate resolutions.
• Reviews state National Guard operations, and takes necessary action where required, to assure competent functioning. Assures that policy guidance from DoD, NGB, service departments, and state decisions on legal and policy concerns are understood and carried out as intended.
• Oversees, drafts, and reviews all federal contracts from RFP to post-award for legal sufficiency prior to submission to US Property and Fiscal Officer (USPFO). Assures that contractual documents are prepared in a legally acceptable manner, considering laws and regulations. Advises contracting officers on contract terminations and bid protests.
• Furnishes legal advice regarding the application of restrictions and limitations contained in authorization and appropriation acts, and related legislation as they affect the state NG. Advises on legal aspects of all federal and state legislative matters affecting the state NG and provides upon request, information for federal and state legislative committees, hearings, and investigations.
• Advises and reports on requests for release of state NG information, records, and appearance of personnel in litigation involving state NG as an interested party, or when required by the court to provide documents or testimony.
• Has primary responsibility for handling regulatory Notices of Violations for environmental violations and assisting the State's attorney General with environmental litigation Assures that no conflicts of interest exist, and as the Deputy Standards of Conduct official/Ethics
• Provides ethics training upon request, and when required by law or regulation. Oversees and administers the state NG military justice program. This includes overseeing AR 15-6investigations, Commander Directed Investigations, commander inquiries, courts martial, non-judicial punishment, issuing warrants, general officer memorandum of reprimand, letter of reprimand, letters of counseling, withdrawal of federal recognition, administrative discharge boards, AGR curtailments, and other state and federal administrative military matters.
• Oversees and administers the federally mandated investigations for NG servicemember suicides and unrestricted reports of sexual assault by or against NG service members.
• This includes coordinating with appointed investigating officers, civilian law enforcement agencies, prosecuting attorney offices, NGB Office of Complex Investigations, special victims' counsels, trial defense services; advising victim and perpetrator commands;
• Renders opinions concerning conflicts of interest and the Joint Ethics Regulation on all aspects of civilian personnel employment. Assists in preparation of administrative charges, and advises on subsequent disciplinary actions arising from prohibited activities.
• Evaluates proposed legislation and state NG regulations and issuances in terms of foreseeable effect on state NG programs, policies, procedures, regulations, and methods of operation.
• Acts as trial attorney for employment related administrative hearings, investigations, and litigation for state NG. Appears before investigators, examiners, and Administrative law judges, representing state NG at the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity commission Federal Labor Relations Authority.
• Formulates and proposes state NG's litigation strategy and legal position on issues of first impression involving interpretation and application of laws, regulations and policy issuances. Confers with, guides, and advises other DOD, service, NG, and state attorneys general lawyers concerning litigation strategy, dispute resolution, and defense of state NG.
• Incumbent serves as state NG contract and fiscal law counsel.
• Incumbent further provides authoritative interpretation and application of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Department of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation; and reviews proposed contracts for legal sufficiency. Reviews and processes AR 15-6, command directed investigations and other investigations relating to contractual/fiscal issues.
• Provides overall review that contracting procedures are up to date on changes in law and regulations. Assures that all contract claims are processed in a timely and correct manner.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED. If you are not sure you are eligible for military membership, please contact an Army National Guard recruiter at 340-712-8071 prior to applying for this position.
• This is an excepted service position that requires membership in a compatible military assignment in the employing state's National Guard, required prior to the effective date of placement.
• Selectee will be required to wear the military uniform.
• Acceptance of an excepted service position constitutes concurrence with these requirements as a condition of employment.
• Applicants who are not currently a member of the National Guard must be eligible for immediate membership and employment in the National Guard in the military grade listed in this announcement.
• Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
• Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
• Required to successfully complete a one year probationary period for Supervisory.
• An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.
• You are responsible to maintain awareness of your environmental responsibilities as dictated by legal and regulatory requirements, your organization, and its changing mission.
• Incumbent must be an active member of the bar in good standing in any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Incumbent must be an active member of the bar in good standing in any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually, in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7, Joint Ethics Regulation, Effective May 15, 2024
• You must possess the first law degree, a LL.B or a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited ABA law school, and, applicants at a minimum, must have in excess of three years of post-J.D. legal experience,

Qualifications

Military Grades: O3/CPT, O4/MAJ, O5/LTC

GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Two years of professional legal experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level. The second professional law degree (LL.M.) plus 1-year of professional legal experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level. An attorney without experience may, in unusual cases, be employed at the GS-12 or equivalent level provided the individual has advanced educational attainments substantially beyond those required for work at the GS-11 or equivalent level, and his or her education clearly indicates ability to perform work of the type to be assigned; for example, education that included courses directly pertinent to the work of the agency. The essential point in such cases is to ensure that the individual's education has enabled him or her to step into complex legal work characteristic of the GS-12 or equivalent level, and to operate with the degree of independence and responsibility typical of that level.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: The attorney shall have professional legal experience in excess of 3 years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Attorney-Advisors at his grade level expected to perform with substantial independence even when working on the most complex or difficult matters.

Must be an active member of the bar in good standing in any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

You must possess the first law degree, a LL.B or a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited ABA law school, and, applicants at a minimum, must have in excess of three years of post-J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-13 grade level. Specialized experience is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

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

1. Your resume showing:

• Contact Information-your name and the best way to contact you.
• Relevant work experience-include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and describe how you meet the required qualifications of the job. Federal jobs should include series and grade.
• Education, certifications or licensures.

2. Other supporting documents: Must be an active member of the bar in good standing in any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Next steps