Duties
As a Assistant General Counsel (Employment and Labor), you will be responsible for duties to include, but are not limited to:
- Providing legal counsel to Agency elements on the complex aspects of employment and labor law, particularly EEO law.
- Provides oral and written advice and technical legal guidance to key senior officials concerning all aspects of federal employment law, including adverse actions, performance management, and EEO issues.
- Represents the agency in appeals to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), complaints filed with the agency's Office of Civil Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), at arbitration proceedings, complaints before the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), and before other administrative tribunals.
- As necessary, the incumbent represents the agency in the Federal District Court by participating in the conduct of trials to include the full range of responsibilities attendant thereto, including assuming the position of trial attorney.
- Renders legal opinions in matters of legal rights and obligations based upon statutes, regulations, and court and administrative decisions.
- Provides assistance to Assistant United States Attorneys in litigation in the U.S. courts. Reviews and analyzes facts and develops evidence during the preparation of cases; participates in pretrial conferences; selects and interviews appropriate witnesses, preparing them to give testimony; and suggests questions to be asked in cross-examination.
- Provides legal advice and support of the offices within the Agency. This includes the operational aspects of the programs and other activities in the assigned offices.
- Interprets and, as appropriate, apprises agency management of developments in EEO, labor, and employment law policies or procedures as reflected in statutes, regulations, or case law.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S Citizen or U.S. National.
- This is a sensitive or national security position. If selected, this position requires the completion of the SF-86.
- Suitability Determination: If selected, you will be subject to a background investigation to establish your suitability for federal employment. The background investigation may include, among other aspects, a review of your credit and legal history.
- New appointees to the Excepted Service must serve a two-year trial period.
- If selected for this vacancy, you will be required to file the OGE Form 450 (Confidential Financial Disclosure Report).
- The full performance grade level for this position is GS-15.
- If you are a male applicant, born after 12/31/59, you are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act. The Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
- Must provide proof of active bar membership.
- Unofficial transcripts are required at the time of application.
- This position is not covered by a Union Agreement.
- Applicants must complete online questionnaire.
- Recruitment incentive: If selected for the position, the agency will offer a recruitment incentive of $5,000 to a newly appointed employee. The selectee must sign a service agreement for employment with the agency for two years.
Qualifications
To qualify for the GS-15, you should have four (4) or more years of post-J.D. legal experience, at least one (1) of which were specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level or higher; and hold an active bar membership.
Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility comparable to the GS-14 or comparable pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and includes all of the following:
- Significant knowledge of federal employment Law, including federal employee relations (Title V) and EEO (Title VII).
- Significant knowledge of federal labor law and procedures.
- Ability to handle all aspects of representing an Agency in federal litigation (administrative and/or court proceedings), including experience serving as lead attorney (or equivalent) in administrative or judicial hearings.
- Significant experience with litigation, including handling witness preparation, depositions, and discovery; preparing affidavits; developing trial strategies; conducting direct and cross examination; and aspects of motion practice.
- Significant experience advising or representing an agency in collective bargaining and all matters related to federal labor relations.
- Proven ability to manage complex legal tasks, including litigation, independently or with minimal supervision.
- Ability to relate well to clients and work collaboratively in a fast paced legal environment. - A customer-service oriented approach to legal practice.
- Ability to think outside of the box on legal questions. Ability and willingness to lead legal tasks and take on new tasks and responsibilities -
- Experience with advising on FOIA matters, including those relating to litigation.
- Experience with federal ethics law and regulations.
Education
Attorney positions do have an education requirement. Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with an LL.B. or J.D. For positions with an education requirement, you MUST submit a copy of your unofficial 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. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.
Applicant cannot substitute education for experience at the GS-15levels, although educational achievement may be considered when rating applicants, as with any attorney position.
Additional information
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by closing date of the announcement to be considered.
The recruitment incentive is only available to newly appointed employees to the federal government or previous employees who have had a break in federal service for at least 90 days. Selectee must sign a two-year service agreement with the agency.
1. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency. For Military Selective Service Act requirement information, please visit Selective Service
2. Your application to this vacancy announcement will only allow consideration for this announcement. We cannot electronically or manually move your application to corresponding announcements, if applicable.
3. Additional vacancies not reflected in the announcement that occur after the opening date of the vacancy announcement for position(s) identical (same grade, series and title) to the original vacancy may be filled from the selection certificate during the validity of the certificate.
4. Budgetary conditions may delay or otherwise affect filling this vacancy. However, all interested candidates should apply now.
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.
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.
Once your application package has been received, a review of your qualifications will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements and competencies required for this position.
Competencies:
- Legal, Government and Jurisprudence
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you are among the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. After reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination will be made. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.
Fair Chance Act: Under the
Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to
HROperations@usagm.gov, subject line: Fair Chance Act.
Required Documents
The following documents are required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date for your application package to be complete. Encrypted or ineligible documents may result in loss of consideration.
- 2 page Resume: Include contact information, education, and detailed work experience (including work schedules, employment dates, and position titles). The agency will not accept a resume longer than 2 pages.
- Transcripts: This position has an individual occupational requirement and/or allows for substitution of education for experience. If you meet this requirement based on education, you MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application. If selected for the position, you will also be required to submit official transcripts before your start date. *For foreign education, you must submit an equivalency evaluation from a member organization of Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE) or National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). The evaluation must include all criteria found on the OPM website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4.
- Proof of active Bar Membership
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.