ATTORNEY-ADVISOR (CONTRACT) Job in Fort Gregg-Adams, VA

Vacancy No. DECA-25-12658644-DE Department Defense Commissary Agency
Salary $130,084.00 to $169,108.00 Grade 14 to 14
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/17/2025 Close Date 2/10/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Fort Gregg-Adams, VA


Summary

This is a Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA) position with duty in the Office of General Counsel, Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA). The General Counsel of the Department of Defense is dual hatted as the DLSA Director; DLSA provides a full range of legal advice and services to officials of the Defense Agencies and the DoD Field Activities.

Read the entire announcement before starting the application process.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to All U.S. Citizens. All qualified applicants are considered and Veterans' preference does not apply.

Duties

The Defense Commissary Agency is located on Fort Gregg-Adams, in the greater Richmond, VA area (RVA). Richmond is a popular travel destination with a reputation for good food as well as local vineyards, breweries and distilleries. Virginia, including the Fort Gregg-Adams and RVA areas, is rich in history and culture with easy access to myriad outdoor activities. Popular nearby destinations include Washington, D.C., Charlottesville and Williamsburg, VA, and Virginia Beach. It is also only a couple of hours away from the Blue Ridge Mountains and other popular east coast beaches as well as state and national parks and wildlife refuges.

The Office of General Counsel, DeCA, has a robust and varied legal practice in support of DeCA and its mission. Our attorneys provide legal advice, counsel and representation in substantive areas including federal labor and employment law, commercial law, fiscal law, procurement law, construction law, environmental law, government standards of conduct and ethics, administrative law, and issues arising under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. Our attorneys represent DeCA before various administrative bodies and provide litigation support to U.S. Attorney Offices for matters pending in Federal courts.

As an Assistant General Counsel for Commercial Law, the incumbent reports to the Deputy General Counsel for Commercial Law and assists in discharging the responsibility of DeCA OGC to provide legal advice, counsel and representation in all aspects of the commercial law portfolio, including but not limited to contracts, fiscal law, environmental law, government ethics and standards of conduct, construction law, international law, administrative and civil law, the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, business law, intellectual property and data rights, issues of statutory and regulatory interpretation and the drafting of proposed legislation.

The incumbent independently performs in-depth legal research and analysis, as well as writing briefs, legal memoranda, and other documents. The incumbent addresses difficult and novel legal and policy questions where frequently there is an absence of clearly applicable precedent. The incumbent represents the agency before third parties, including but not limited to the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, and the Government Accountability Office, and is responsible for the investigation, preparation and presentation of the agency's positions and defenses before such tribunals.

The incumbent addresses difficult and novel legal policy questions where frequently there is an absence of clearly applicable precedents. The incumbent provides support to the Department of Justice in matters litigated in Federal courts. The incumbent may perform the duties of the Deputy General Counsel for Commercial Law in his/her absence and other duties as assigned.

Read the entire announcement before starting the application process.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Be a U.S. citizen or national. Applicants with a Permanent Resident Card are authorized to live and work in the U.S. but are not eligible for employment in positions requiring U.S. citizenship. If selected, proof of citizenship is required.
  • Meet minimum age requirement. See the Additional Information.
  • Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
  • Appointment is subject to successful verification of identity and employment eligibility through E-Verify. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  • Appointment is subject to a favorable suitability or fitness outcome, as determined by a completed background investigation. New federal employees will be fingerprinted.
  • Be able to obtain and maintain clearance eligibility based on the appropriate background investigation.
  • May be subject to a probationary/trial period.
  • Direct deposit of pay is required.
  • Meet the physical requirements identified in the Qualifications section.
  • A two year trial/probationary period may be required

Qualifications

Qualification requirements for Attorney positions can be found in DoD Instruction 1442.02, "Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys."
  • The minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration
  • Applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD) from that institution.
  • Bar Membership: An applicant must currently be an active member of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
  • Applicant must have professional legal experience in excess of 3 years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.
  • Basis for Rating: Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and on the extent to which their application shows possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the position

As part of the online application process, you will respond to a series of questions designed to evaluate your level of experience in the position's competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics).

  • Minimum Qualifications



Overtime: Occasional
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
Bargaining Unit Status: Not Covered
Obligated Position: No
Those retired under CSRS or FERS considered: No. DoD criteria not met.
Telework eligible: Yes - as determined by the agency policy
Remote work eligible: No

Education

USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY.

You MUST provide transcripts and/or other documentation to support your educational claims.

Transcripts. REQUIRED when using education to meet qualifications or when education is required.

Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.

Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable.

When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities.

Additional information

Executive Order 12564 requires a federal workplace to be free of illegal drugs and prohibits the use of illegal drugs both on and off duty by federal employees. As a reminder, marijuana is still classified as an illegal drug by the Federal government and is prohibited for use by Federal employees even if such use is legal in the state where the Federal employee resides and/or works. The Defense Commissary Agency is a Drug-Free Federal Workplace where the use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated and may result in penalties up to and including removal from Federal service..

  • The minimum age requirement is generally 18 years. Employing those under 18 may be possible under certain circumstances. If under 18 years of age, ensure you provide documentation showing how you are eligible.
  • Applicants with financial difficulty are not automatically removed from consideration.
  • Selectees are required to complete an online onboarding process.
  • Retired military service members cannot be appointed to a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian position within 180 days of their retirement date. 5 United States Code 3326.
  • PCS costs are authorized, budget permitting. Most civilian PCS entitlements are now taxable. The Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) reimburses eligible employees for additional Federal, State, and local income taxes incurred as a result of receiving taxable travel income. More information is available at Civilian Relocation/PCS Tax Changes.
  • Financial Statement Required. Employment and Financial Interest.
  • License/Certification: Bar Certificate of Good Standing reflecting Active Status.
The following may result in a rating of ineligible. Ineligible applicants receive no consideration.
  • Submitting an incomplete application package, such as missing documents, illegible documents, and/or missing information necessary to determine qualifications and eligibility. A resume reflecting part-time (PT)/full-time (FT) or nothing rather than the number of hours worked per week (e.g., 40, 30, 20, etc.) may be considered incomplete.
  • Submitting encrypted documents or uploading Adobe portfolio documents.
  • Submitting any document that contains a photo or image of you.
  • Including social media links, inappropriate material or content, classified or government sensitive information, or personal information such as age, gender, race, religion, or social security number on your resume.
  • Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or questionnaire responses.
  • Deliberately attempting to falsify your application information, such as copying portions of this announcement into your resume.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

HR reviews your documents to determine if you are qualified and meet requirements. Your questionnaire score is a preliminary measure of how well your background matches the required competencies.

Under category rating procedures you are placed into one of three categories based on the evaluation results:


Best Qualified -Candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that substantially exceeds the position's minimum qualifications, including all selective placement factors and appropriate quality ranking factors.
Highly Qualified - Candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications.
Qualified- Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are proficient in some but not all of the position's requirements.

HR refers qualified and appointable applicants to the hiring manager for selection consideration. Selections are subject to restrictions of the DoD referral system for displaced employees.

Neither preference nor priority entitles you to a Federal job. You must apply, meet the qualification standards and all additional requirements, and submit all necessary documents. Military spouses must be in the best qualified group in order to receive military spouse preference.

SELECTIVE FACTORS: Selection will be based on the judgment of the selecting official as to which applicant is best qualified to perform the duties of the position. The breadth and depth of relevant experience and knowledge and the quality of past performance will be the primary considerations used for selection. Attorneys performing duties at the GS-14, or equivalent-level, are expected to perform with substantial independence even when working on the most complex or difficult matters. Important selection factors are demonstrated substantial experience in the following: legal analytical ability and sound professional judgment; excellence in oral and written communication skills across audiences; strong client and colleague relations and interpersonal skills; ability to interpret law and provide authoritative legal advice; recognized ability as an advocate, including the ability to balance competing interests and provide alternative courses of action to advance agency interests; skill in resolving extremely complex and difficult legal questions which will be precedent-setting in nature and demonstrated advisory and conflict-resolution skills. Highly desirable selection factors are: substantial knowledge and experience pertaining to government contracting and fiscal law, environmental law, construction law, intellectual property and data rights, administrative and civil law, government ethics, drafting and reviewing legislation, and statutory interpretation; litigation experience particularly before the Government Accountability Office, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, and Federal courts; dispute resolution; and experience regarding the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act.

Required Documents

Resume. Learn more about creating a suitable resume by watching this video or reading What to include. Using the USAJOBS Resume Builder will help you submit a complete resume. Applying for a Federal job requires more information than applying for a job in the private sector. Therefore, a resume is typically longer than two (2) pages and usually does not need to be more than five (5) pages.

An example of legal writing and advocacy skills demonstrated by a relevant legal brief, memorandum, letter, etc. (10 pages or less).

At a minimum, your resume MUST contain:

  • Your name, address, phone, email address.
  • Job Title. Series and grade (Federal Positions only).
  • For each position held including employment beginning and ending dates (Month/Year).
  • Your resume should reflect a description of duties performed and that you are either Part-Time with the number of hours per week listed, Full Time or 40 hours per week as your work schedule.
Questionnaire. Preview at https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12658644.

SF 50 Notification of Personnel Action. Required for current and former federal employees. Submit a copy of your most recent SF 50 showing your current position title, pay plan-series-grade, tenure and position occupied. To obtain a copy of your SF 50, all current Department of Defense (DoD) employees can access MyBiz, employees receiving HR servicing from DLA can access eOPF and former civilian employees can request a copy from the National Archives.

Veterans Preference.
  • There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Uniformed Service") to their submissions.
  • Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. (SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website atwww.opm.gov.)

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Your complete application package must be received by 11:59 PM ET on 02/10/2025.

You are responsible for verifying your application package is complete, accurate, and submitted timely. As uploaded documents may take one or more hours to clear the virus scan, plan accordingly to ensure your application process is complete and your application package is submitted by the specified closing date and time.

To begin, click Apply to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your resume, required documents, and/or other supporting documents. You need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply or create an account before applying. You will be taken to an online application. Follow all prompts and complete the online application, verify you've included all required and supporting documentation, and submit your application. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application is found at the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To receive consideration, you must complete all steps of the application process.

You can verify your application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, selecting the Application Status link, and then selecting the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page displays your application status, the documents received and processed, and your questionnaire responses.

Agency contact information

DeCA HQ Servicing team
Phone
614-692-2331
Fax
215-516-6088
Email
DHRCDDECAHQ@DLA.MIL
Address
DECA HQ
1300 Eisenhower Street
Fort Gregg-Adams, VA 23801
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Notices post to your USAJOBS account and are emailed to you. You can expect to receive a notice when you complete the application process, when your qualifications status is determined (qualified or not qualified), and when your referral status is determined (referred or not). If you are referred but not selected, you can expect to receive a final notice after the hiring manager makes a selection.

The hiring manager may choose to conduct interviews and may conduct telephone interviews to preclude travel hardships for applicants. Someone from the hiring agency (i.e., DeCA) will contact you if the hiring manager decides to interview you.

Should you receive a tentative job offer, be aware such offers are automatically withdrawn if you fail to (1) record an acceptance or declination by the response date provided in the offer notice and/or (2) meet any pre-employment requirements, including a scheduled appointment. If you receive a job offer, use a computer to submit your response rather than a mobile/cell phone.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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