Attorney Advisor Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. ATTY-WTB-2024-003 Department Federal Communications Commission
Salary $139,395.00 to $191,900.00 Grade 14 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 6/28/2024 Close Date 7/17/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Washington, DC


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

This position is in the Competition and Infrastructure Policy Division (CIPD). Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) located in Washington, D.C.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Current FCC Employees Only

Duties

  • The incumbent serves as an Attorney Advisor and subject matter expert to provide legal advice to the Division Chief, Deputy Chiefs, Associate Chiefs, and Assistant Chiefs on legal matters in one or more of the following areas: Spectrum Policy, Competition Policy, and Infrastructure Policy. Responsible for proper interpretation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended; provide legal support for the implementation and compliance of the Broadband DATA Act; provides expert advice on matters affecting spectrum policy and evaluates current and potential policy issues; and initiates original research and investigative analysis. Assist with policy guidance and work on rulemakings and other cases involving complex and controversial issues affecting wireless telecommunications policy issues listed above. Keep abreast of major legal developments affecting wireless communications, mapping, and spectrum policy issues and activities through a review of court and Commission decisions, professional publications and trade press, and by researching legislation, decisions, opinions, and regulations. Based on such review, maintains a broad perspective on Division functions.
  • Assist with development of plans for the accomplishment of programs and, in coordination with the Division Chiefs, Deputy Chief, Associate Chiefs, and Assistant Chiefs in establishing goals and objectives for programs and activities. As delegated, determines the scope and extent of programs to be undertaken and proportion of total resources to be devoted to individual program activities. Applies a broad knowledge of communications law and a good knowledge of technical and economic considerations.
  • Coordinates with Division Chief on initiatives with other offices within the Commission, such as WCB, OEA, IB, MB, and OET, as well as representatives from the telecommunications industry. Incumbent participates at conferences and meetings and when requested, may act as head of the Division delegation to those meetings, devising and implementing strategy for participating in such conferences and meetings. Meetings are used as forums to discuss pending matters, negotiate resolutions to problems, and convey and interpret Bureau and Commission policy. Makes formal presentations and speeches to a variety of groups with diverse backgrounds on the future of the industry and Agency policy. Assists with Bureau decisions and action on such matters by briefing the Division Chief, Deputy Chiefs, Associate Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs on policy or action alternatives on those matters for which action authority has not been delegated.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • FCC Employees Only
  • Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
  • Bar Membership documentation required upon selection
  • Transcripts required upon selection
  • Financial Disclosure may be required
  • Current FCC employees must provide SF-50 verifying grade & status.
  • Writing sample will be required at time of interview.

To be considered for this position, applicants must:

Currently be employed in the Federal Communications Commission in positions serving under career, career conditional, or excepted service (Schedule A appointments under authority 213.3102(d)-Attorneys) appointments.

SF-50 Required: ALL FCC EMPLOYEES MUST provide a legible Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade.  If an SF-50 is not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible. To request a copy of your SF-50 please send an email to PersonnelRecordsRequest@fcc.gov

Qualifications

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

In order to be deemed as "BEST QUALIFIED" candidates must meet both the educational requirements and the specialized experience requirements outlined below.

A. Education

You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions.

Education requirements include: a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M.

If transcripts are not submitted at the time of application, a copy of the transcript must be submitted at the time of selection.

AND

B. Specialized Experience

Specialized Experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.  Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience in or equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.

GS-14

In addition to meeting the educational requirements, you must possess at least three years of professional law experience and at least one year of that experience must be specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal Service.

Specialized experience includes the following:

1) Experience conducting legal research and preparing legal documents;
2) Experience developing research strategies for complex legal issues;
3) Experience writing complex documents such as briefs, issue papers, orders, rule making items, and report summaries with analyses and recommendations;
4) Experience making oral presentations, communicating legal research results, and defending legal positions; and
5) Experience providing legal guidance to attorneys and other professionals.

GS-15

In addition to meeting the educational requirements, you must possess at least four years of professional law experience and at least one year of that experience must be specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal Service.

Specialized experience includes the following:

1) Experience overseeing and/or leading others in analyzing complex issues affecting federal regulatory matters and questions of law and fact and rendering opinions on such issues;
2) Experience directing and conducting in-depth, complex legal research on authorities and precedents on points of law;
3) Experience reviewing and analyzing pleadings and other position papers on controversial and complex issues;
4) Experience writing and directing others in writing detailed and complex documents including briefs, issue papers, reports, policy statements, and summaries with recommendations or conclusions;
5) Experience providing legal guidance to attorneys and other professionals; and
6) Experience drafting and/or reviewing legislation which impacts telecommunications policies.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Refer to information outlined under the "Qualifications" subheading.

Additional information

EEO Policy Statement

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement

Veterans Information

Legal and Regulatory Guidance

*NOTE-This position is in the bargaining unit.  The exclusive representative is NTEU Chapter 209. 

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.

The FCC offers a wide range of employee benefits, including:

Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Dental & Vision Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Long-Term Care Insurance
Holidays and Leave
Retirement
Thrift Savings Plan
Transit Benefit
Alternative Work Schedule
Telecommuting

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.

Candidates will be considered without regard to political or religious affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, non disqualifying physical or mental handicap, age, or any other non merit factor. THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

All applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position. Applicants who do not respond to the application questions and/or do not submit a supporting resume will be rated ineligible.

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions. There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:

1. the core questions

2. supplemental documentation (e.g., DD-214, SF-50, SF-15, transcripts); and

3. your resume.

Applicants will be rated ineligible, if they do not respond to job specific questions provide supplemental documents and submit resume. For more information, please click on Rating Process

You will be evaluated for this position on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs):

  1. Skill in communicating in writing to develop complex legal documents (You will be required to perform a writing sample at the interview).
  2. Ability to analyze legal and policy issues.
  3. Knowledge of legal policy research techniques.
  4. Ability to explain complex or controversial information to diverse audiences.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

ALL SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS MUST BE UPLOADED BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. If applying online poses a hardship, you may contact either the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement or you may contact the Monster Government Solutions help desk (prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement) via e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or you may reach them directly at 866-656-6831. The Monster Help Desk is available Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST.

SF-50 Required: ALL FCC EMPLOYEES MUST provide a legible Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade.  If an SF-50 is not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible. To request a copy of your SF-50 please send an email to PersonnelRecordsRequest@fcc.gov

You will be required to perform a writing sample at the interview.

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

To apply to this announcement go to the website: https://fcc.usajobs.gov

Your application, including resume, all supplemental documents, registration information and answers to job specific questions must be received no later than midnight U.S. Eastern time of the closing date. For more information on applying federal jobs, please check this webpage https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Main_Page.

If applying online poses a hardship, you may contact either the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement or you may contact the Monster Government Solutions help desk (prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement) via e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or you may reach them directly at 866-656-6831. The Monster Help Desk is available Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST.

Qualified applicants may be further reviewed and rated by Subject Matter Experts.

Agency contact information

Lavenya Williams
Address
Federal Communications Commission
45 L Street NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20554
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications to determine your ranking.  The best-qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.  You will be notified of the outcome.


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