Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all U.S. citizens who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements. Please see the "Additional Information" and "Required Documents" sections for further information.

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice and representation to ensure Foundation programs and operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders, including those addressing merit-based employment, accountability, and effective workforce management.

OGC seeks an attorney to serve as Assistant General Counsel for federal employment law.

The Assistant General Counsel will:

• Provide legal advice on federal personnel law, including employee relations, performance management, discipline, adverse actions, and workplace conduct, consistent with merit system principles and applicable Executive Orders.
• Advise on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) matters, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, ensuring compliance with federal nondiscrimination requirements.
• Counsel management on workplace issues, including harassment, misconduct, whistleblower protections, and professional standards of conduct.
• Represent the agency in administrative litigation, including matters before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Office of Special Counsel (OSC); perform discovery, draft motions, prepare witnesses, and conduct hearings and appeals.
• Advise supervisors and leadership on personnel actions and strategies to promote compliance, accountability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Support implementation and interpretation of workforce policies aligned with Executive Orders and federal guidance.
• Collaborate with Human Capital, civil rights, and other agency offices to ensure consistent legal interpretation and application of personnel policies.
• Monitor legal and policy developments in federal personnel law and provide timely guidance to leadership.
• Conduct legal research; analyze complex issues; and deliver clear written and oral legal advice.
• Participate in interagency efforts and working groups on personnel and workforce policy matters.
• Provide support on related legal areas, as needed, to meet OGC and agency mission requirements.

Conditions of employment

This position is outside the competitive civil service.

1. Selectee will be required to have a background investigation prior to onboarding.
2. Selectee may be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

It is NSF policy that personnel employed at, or Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) individuals detailed to, NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign talent recruitment programs. Failure to comply with this NSF policy could result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment and referral to the Office of Inspector General.

NSF has determined that all of its positions are eligible for telework. Work suitable for telework depends on job duties; therefore, employees must receive approval from their supervisor for telework and have a telework agreement in place. Entering into a telework agreement is voluntary.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a J.D. from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), plus after award of the J.D., eight or more years of professional legal experience.

Candidates must have expertise related to the areas of law relevant to the position for which they wish to be considered, as articulated in the Duties and Experience section above.

Bar Membership: Member in good standing of the bar of a State, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Also, desirable, but not required, is experience and/or interest in other areas of Federal government legal practice, such as intellectual property, federal property, and/or environmental law.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, expertise, education, and research activities relevant to the duties of the position. In some cases, additional assessment processes may also be used. We strongly encourage you to specifically address the Quality Ranking Factors below. This will ensure that you receive full consideration in the evaluation process.

Quality Ranking Factors

1. Demonstrated expertise in federal employment law, including employee relations, performance management, and adverse actions, with the ability to apply merit system principles and advise management on complex workplace matters.
2. Experience advising on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and requirements, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and handling issues involving harassment, misconduct, and workplace compliance.
3. Litigation experience in federal employment law matters, including representation before administrative bodies such as MSPB, EEOC, OSC, or FLRA, with demonstrated skills in discovery, motion practice, witness preparation, and hearings.
4. Ability to provide strategic legal advice to senior leadership and management officials, including translating complex legal requirements into practical guidance that supports accountability, effective workforce management, and compliance with Executive Orders.
5. Strong analytical, research, and communication skills, including the ability to assess complex legal issues, develop policy guidance, and deliver clear, concise written and oral advice in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

• All applicants are required to submit a legible resume that is no longer than two pages. IMPORTANT NOTE: Only the two-page resume will be reviewed to determine if your technical qualifications for this position meet the requirements listed in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement. Additional information beyond your two-page resume (e.g., cover letters, links to additional information, a Curriculum Vitae) will not be reviewed to determine if the basic qualification requirements are met. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience.
• You must submit proof of your active Bar Membership in order to be considered for this vacancy.
• In addition to the two-page resume, a Curriculum Vitae (CV) may be submitted as a Supplemental Application document for consideration during the evaluation process.
• Applicants may also submit a cover letter.
• In addition, applicants may choose to submit responses addressing the quality ranking factors with their application. While not required, submission of these responses is strongly encouraged, as they may be used to further assess candidates during the evaluation process, post referral.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how their background relates to the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) listed in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section of this announcement. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to list all applicable awards either in their CV or in a supplemental statement. This information will be used in the evaluation process.

In order to be considered for federal appointments, Non-Citizens must affirm that they meet the Appropriations Law eligibility criteria by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered. Non-Citizens who are exempt from the Appropriations Law requirements due to their status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on December 16, 2009 must provide a statement with their application noting their exemption with documentation of proof of status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on that date.

Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your resume. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, you MUST submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.

All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.

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