Attorney Adviser (Detail Opportunity) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. OGC-2026-0004 Department Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Salary $121,785.00 to $197,200.00 Grade 13 to 15
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 5/30/2026 Close Date 6/17/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This position is located in the Regulatory Affairs Division (RAD), Program Law and Policy Department (PLPD), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).

RAD’s mission is to provide legal advice on matters involving PBGC regulations, other guidance, and compliance assistance programs; develop and draft regulatory and other guidance; and obtain required approvals for guidance and reporting and disclosure requirements. 

This job is open to

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Clarification from the agency

This DETAIL opportunity is open to current federal employees. Detail is not to exceed one year, but may be extended.

Duties

The Attorney-Adviser serves at the senior expert level within the Regulatory Affairs Divsion and provides authoritative legal analysis, advice, and interpretation on ERISA, PBGC regulations, and other applicable federal statutes and requirements. The position advises PBGC officials on complex regulatory, policy, operational, and compliance matters affecting PBGC’s mission.

Major duties include drafting and reviewing complex regulatory and legal documents, including proposed and final rules, policy statements, notices, technical updates, information collections, and regulatory agenda materials. The incumbent responds to public comments and internal or external inquiries on PBGC regulatory matters; reviews complex regulatory proposals from other agencies, Congress, and stakeholders; and ensures compliance with federal rulemaking requirements, including the Administrative Procedure Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, Regulatory Flexibility Act, applicable Executive Orders (including Executive Order 14192), and Federal Register drafting requirements.

The position also supports regulatory clearance processes with PBGC, ERISA agencies, and the Office of Management and Budget; assists with the ROCIS: RISC/OIRA Combined Information System, and the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) filings and submissions; and contributes to Federal Register updates, disaster relief announcements, and regulatory reports to Congress, GAO, and SBA.

Key Responsibilties:

1) Provide authoritative analysis and interpretation of ERISA, PBGC regulations, and other applicable statutes, regulations, and legal requirements.

2) Advise PBGC officials and departments on complex regulatory, policy, operational, and compliance assistance matters.

3) Draft complex regulatory and legal documents, including proposed and final rules, policy statements, notices, technical updates, information collections, and regulatory agenda materials.

4) Review and respond to public comments, internal and external inquiries, and regulatory proposals from Executive Branch agencies, Congress, and other stakeholders.

5) Ensure compliance with federal rulemaking requirements, Federal Register drafting standards, and applicable clearance processes.

6) Support ROCIS and FDMS filings and submissions, Federal Register updates, disaster relief announcements, and regulatory reports.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • You may undergo a personnel security background investigation
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by closing date of this announcement.

Education

A J.D. degree from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

In addition to the education requirement, you must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State, a Territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home

WRITING SAMPLE MAY BE REQUESTED.

Additional information

PBGC encourages qualified applicants with disabilities to apply. If you are requiring reasonable accommodations, please contact PBGC’s Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator, Denorse Prince, at (202) 229-4026 or prince.denorse@pbgc.gov. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

If you believe that you have been subjected to discrimination, you may contact the PBGC Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (OEEO):

OEEO Main Office Phone: 202-229-4363

Email: EEO@PBGC.gov

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.

Visit Federal Employee Benefits for information on the major benefits offered.

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.

You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualfications above.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

RESUME: You must submit a resume. Your resume must include your name and contact information and should clearly show your possession of the specialized experience and KSAs so that we can determine your qualifications for this position. Your resume should be specific to the position you are applying for, relating your skills and experience to those noted in the job posting.

Please limit your resume to two pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed by Human Resources and the hiring manager to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

PLEASE DO NOT include photographs, hypertext/hyperlinks, or other inappropriate material or content. This information will not be used to make eligibility or qualification determinations.

COVER LETTER (OPTIONAL): Your cover letter should state your interest in this position and the strengths that you feel will make you an asset to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.  We will not use your cover letter to determine your qualifications; however, your cover letter will go to the Selecting Official along with your resume if you are referred.  
  
LAW SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT(S) (REQUIRED): You must submit transcripts to verify that you meet the educational requirement for this position.  Information on the specific education requirement can be found under Education in the vacancy announcement. Your transcripts should include course titles, school name/location, date completed, grades, and number of credits earned. Applicants who obtained their qualifying education outside of the U.S. and its territories must provide proof that their degrees have been validated as equivalent to a degree conferred by a college or university in the U.S. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted with your application; however, you must bring official transcripts with your first day if you are hired. Please see the Education section of this announcement for additional information.

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.

PROOF OF BAR MEMBERSHIP (REQUIRED): This position requires you to be an active member of the bar (of any jurisdiction) and in good standing. You must submit proof of your membership to verify that you meet this requirement.  In the event that you do not have a valid certificate of bar membership or good standing available at the time of application, please submit other evidence of bar membership (e.g., proof of payment of bar dues, a printout from a website indicating active bar membership) with your application; however, you must bring an official, valid certificate with you on your first day if you are hired.

WRITING SAMPLE MAY BE REQUESTED.

Failure to submit the required documents will result in an incomplete application.

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

In order to be considered, submit all of the required information (including your supplemental documentation) before midnight EST on the closing date.

If you are not able to apply online or require reasonable accommodations, contact Denay Austin on (202) 229-6532or at austin.denay@pbgc.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Please complete all the steps in the online application process at USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov). You may make updates to your information at any time prior to midnight EST on the closing date of this announcement.

  • Register with USAJOBS, which will store your information and resume. You will only need to complete this step once.
  • Locate and review the vacancy announcement on USAJOBS. Click the “Apply” link and then select a resume to submit with your application. If you do not have a resume to select, or you want to upload a new one, click “Add Resume” and upload your resume. You can also click “Edit” to edit an already-uploaded resume. Once you have selected a resume, click “Save and Continue.”
  • Add or remove your supporting documents.
  • Once you have attached your resume and supporting documents, review your application package to ensure that they have been attached, then check the box next to “I acknowledge that I have reviewed my resume and document(s).” Then Click “Save and Continue.”
  • Complete the “Include Personal Information” page and click “Save and Continue,”
  • On the “Continue Application with Agency” page, read the terms and certify by checking the box if you agree. Then click “Continue to Agency Site.” This will take you to the application for the position.
  • Click “Apply to this Vacancy.”
  • Complete or review the eligibility questions, which determine the types of positions you are eligible for.
  • Specify which series, grade(s), and location(s) you wish to be considered for.
  • Complete the online vacancy questions, then click "Finish". You will continue to the Vacancy Documents page.
  • Review your attached documents from USAJobs. If there are other documents that you need to attach, upload those here as well.
  • You will then see a summary of your application, including the documents that you submitted. You are strongly encouraged to save or print a copy of this page as proof of submission and receipt of your application and documents.
  • To finish, click "Submit Application."

Agency contact information

Denay Austin
Phone
202-229-6532
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
austin.denay@pbgc.gov
Address
PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION
Human Resources Department
445 12th Street SW
Washington, District of Columbia 20024
United States

Next steps

You will receive confirmation that we have received your resume. Save this and any other receipts you receive via email or fax. We will inform you of the status of your application via the email address you provided in your registration.   

You may check the status of your applications by clicking on the My USAJOBS tab at the USAJOBS website.

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Are you looking for challenging, compelling, and important work? The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) seeks to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce to apply their talents and skills in accounting, auditing, business, finance, law, actuarial science, and information technology. PBGC has a distinguished and vital mission to protect the retirement income of over 31 million Americans in single employer and multiemployer pension plans.

PBGC ranked number two among small agencies for “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government for 2024." PBGC cultivates a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility, and fairness, so all employees can contribute their full potential to accomplish PBGC's important mission!

Agency contact information

Denay Austin
Phone
202-229-6532
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
austin.denay@pbgc.gov
Address
PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION
Human Resources Department
445 12th Street SW
Washington, District of Columbia 20024
United States