Attorney Advisor

Clarification from the agency

Open to the Public-All US Citizens

Assists in the development of Commission policies relating to the conduct of competitive bidding as a methodology for awarding licenses for wireless, satellite and other telecommunications services and for repurposing spectrum to more efficient uses. Participates in support of Division efforts on Commission rulemaking proceedings and other proceedings relating to auctionable services, with a view toward developing consistent and effective regulatory framework designed to enhance and preserve competitiveness of the auctions. Responsible for research and resolution of legal issues relating to auctions and auctionable services, and for providing advice and counsel to Associate Division Chief, Deputy Division Chief, Division Chief and the Office Chief on matters relating to auctions and auctionable services. Assists in the development and implementation of policies, programs, rules and procedures concerning the use of market-based mechanisms, including competitive bidding, to effectuate regulatory objectives, such as to distribute universal service support and for repurposing spectrum to more efficient uses.

Works closely with Associate Division Chief, Deputy Division Chief, and Division Chief. Assigned projects establish new policy, alter long-standing policy, and/or established legal precedent. Proceedings ordinarily attract national interest and participation by many industry segments and consumer groups, and usually involve, at least indirectly, large financial interests. These proceedings are complex and controversial, and are frequently the subject of challenge in the courts. Assignments ordinarily result in the production of legally, factually, and technically complex documents such as orders, options papers, and legal memoranda concerning sensitive policy issues. These matters frequently must be completed within short time frames.

Assigned to projects involving competitive bidding issues in coordination with other staff attorneys and professionals, including economists, engineers and analysts.

Conditions of employment

• Bar Membership Documentation Required Upon Selection.
• Education-Transcripts Required Upon Selection.
• US Citizenship.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Financial disclosure statement may be required upon assuming the position.
• Current FCC employees must provide SF-50 verifying grade & status
• SF-50 Documenting One Year of Time in Grade Required.
• Resume must not exceed two pages and must meet resume format criteria.

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions.  Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.

SF-50 Required: ALL FCC EMPLOYEES AND CURRENT FEDERAL 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

Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

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.

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. 

NOTE-If you do not provide a transcript at the time of application, a transcript will be required to be provided at the time of selection.

AND

B. Specialized Experience

GS-12: Applicants must possess at least 1 year of  experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service. For this position, professional experience includes:

1. Conducting in-depth legal research.
2. Analyzing complex factual, technical and legal issues; drafting complex legal documents; and
3. Providing input to managers regarding the legal issues.

GS-13: Applicants must possess at least two years of professional law experience and at least one year must be equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes:

1. Analyzing complex legal issues affecting federal regulatory matters and questions of law and fact;
2. Conducting in-depth, complex legal research on authorities and precedents on points of law;
3. Reviewing position papers on controversial and complex issues, policy statements and guidance, rulemaking proceedings, public notices, briefing materials, data requests, and memoranda or reports outlining the facts and legal issues; and
4. Writing detailed and complex documents to include briefs, issue papers and reports summaries with recommendations or conclusions.

GS-14: Applicants must possess at least three years of professional law experience and at least one year must be equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes:

1. Analyzing complex legal issues affecting federal regulatory matters and questions of law and fact and rendering opinions on such matters;
2. Directing and conducting in-depth, complex legal research on authorities and precedents on points of law;
3. Reviewing position papers on controversial and complex issues, policy statements and guidance, rulemaking proceedings, public notices, briefing materials, data requests, and memoranda or reports outlining the facts and legal issues; and
4. Writing and reviewing complex documents to include briefs, issue papers and reports summaries with recommendations or conclusions.

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.

SME REVIEW

Subject matter experts will review your application to determine if the submitted resume demonstrates the required specialized experience and the following required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's):

GS-12 COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge of research strategies and techniques sufficient to research legal issues where no clearly applicable precedents are available or it is arguable which precedents apply.
• Understanding of statutory and regulatory construction and interpretation, as well the ability to apply relevant case law.
• Knowledge of procedural rules and regulations such as the Communications Act, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or appellate procedures sufficient to meet all requirements inherent in the type of issue with which the incumbent is dealing.

GS-13 COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge of research strategies and techniques sufficient to research legal issues where no clearly applicable precedents are available or it is arguable which precedents apply.
• Understanding of statutory and regulatory construction and interpretation, as well the ability to apply relevant case law.
• Knowledge of procedural rules and regulations such as the Communications Act, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or appellate procedures sufficient to meet all requirements inherent in the type of issue with which the incumbent is dealing.
• Understanding of legal notices and comment procedures.

GS-14 COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge of research strategies and techniques sufficient to research legal issues where no clearly applicable precedents are available or it is arguable which precedents apply.
• Knowledge of statutes and regulations authorizing agency action as well as in-depth knowledge of the relevant case law.
• Knowledge of procedural rules and regulations such as the Communications Act, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or appellate procedures sufficient to meet all requirements inherent in the type of issue with which the incumbent is dealing.
• Advanced ability to analyze highly complex and controversial legal and policy issues with an eye towards defending Commission decisions that are the subject of challenge in the courts. 
• Ability to evaluate divergent points of view and relate economic and business considerations to the legal issues, and to present findings and recommendations in a clear and concise fashion.
• Understanding of legal notices and comment procedures.

If you are deemed to be qualified by the Subject Matter Experts, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for hiring consideration. Alternatively, if your application is not deemed as qualified by the Subject Matter Experts, your application will not be referred to the hiring manager for hiring consideration.

How you will be evaluated

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

Optional Four Essay Questions

At the time of application, applicants have the option of answering the following four short, free-response essay questions.

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Applicants will be required to certify that they are using their own words, and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question.

All 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 submit a supporting resume will be rated ineligible. 

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., SF-50, transcripts, bar membership); and
4.  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 

Merit Hiring Plan Resume Requirements

In compliance with Executive Order 14170, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service resumes must not be longer than two pages in length. The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement.

Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below:

Contact Information

Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number.

Relevant Work Experience

• Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
• Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 –08/2022)
• The number of hours you worked per week

Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement.

Resumes must be formatted as outlined above. If the two page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration.

The FCC is providing the following applicant resume resources: 

• Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit
• USAjobs-How to Write a Federal Resume

Your application MUST be received by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement. 

You must submit a resume at the time of application.  Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for the vacancy.  Current Federal employees must also submit a copy of an SF-50 documenting one year of time in grade.  If an SF-50 is not submitted to verify time in grade, the applicant will be rated as ineligible.

This position may require the submission of supplemental documents before selection.

• Law academic transcripts (unofficial is acceptable).
• Proof of current, active bar membership.
• Writing sample demonstrating the ability to analyze complex legal and/or policy issues.
• Professional references.

Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload supporting application documentation. If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. 

Supplemental Documents Required:

• Current Federal employees should submit a copy of an SF-50 documenting one year of time in grade.  If an SF-50 is not submitted to verify time in grade, the application will be rated as ineligible.
• Transcripts
• Bar Membership

If transcripts and proof of bar membership are not provided at the time of application, this documentation must be provided at the time of selection.

Veterans must submit a legible Member 4 copy of the DD-214 which reflects the manner of discharge.  Please refer to OPM's VetGuide for further information about veterans' preference via the following link: VetGuide

Next steps