Chief Counsel to the Inspector General Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. 25-IG-12666065-ES-BP Department Department of Energy - Agency Wide
Salary $150,160.00 to $225,700.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/15/2025 Close Date 1/29/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

Are you ready to make an impact? Consider a career with the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General.

DOE OIG is seeking a highly qualified individual to fill its Chief Counsel position. Bring your extensive legal experience and join our professional team of auditors, criminal investigators, inspectors, and data scientists focused on strengthening the integrity, economy and efficiency of the DOE's programs and operations including deterring and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse.

Duties

As the Chief Counsel to the Inspector General, you will:

  • Serve as the principal advisor on all legal matters relating to questions of law, legislation, and policies involving the operations of the OIG.
  • Represent the OIG in legal matters, supervise other counsel within the OIG, and advise OIG Senior Executives and staff.
  • Advise the Inspector General on matters of national importance and matters of national security.
  • Represent the OIG to the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of General Counsel and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
  • Direct research that involves extremely sensitive and complex matters relating to Departmental operations.
  • Research complex legal issues which may typically involve sensitive and complex matters relating to the OIG.
  • Conduct complex or difficult legal analyses relating to the drafting, interpretation, or application of federal statutes, rules, contracts, orders, decisions, opinions, guidance, or other legal instruments.
  • Accept assignment of cases or problems that can have the effect of substantially broadening or restricting activities of DOE or OIG auditors, inspectors, investigators, and/or managers.
  • Make legal and policy recommendations based upon research, analysis, and the evaluation of expert information.
  • Exercise excellent judgement and discretion, strong critical thinking skills, legal analysis, and writing skills, and the ability to formulate effective, original, and practical solutions to complex problems.
  • Use legal training, practical experience and knowledge of OIG and Department personnel and activities to advise the IG on matters affecting the mission of the OIG and the efficiency of the Department.
  • Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, determines work priorities, and prepares work schedules for completion of work.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
  • Successful completion of a background and security investigation.
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.
  • Drug testing required. The selectee must test negative prior to appointment and will be subject to random testing. Failure to pass subsequent tests could result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the Federal service.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: An individual's initial SES career appointment becomes final only after the individual successfully completes a one-year probationary period.
  • PUBLIC FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT (OGE 278): If you are selected for this position, will be required to file this report prior to entry on duty in accordance with the Ethics of Government Act of 1978.
  • You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
  • Must have an active BAR membership and be in good standing. If selected, must maintain an active BAR membership in good standing while employed as an attorney with DOE OIG.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess all of the Executive Core Qualifications and Professional/Technical Qualifications listed at the GS-15 level or a higher grade level equivalency. These qualifications would typically be acquired through education, senior level experience, and training which reflect progressive development and achievement in leading and managing a comprehensive program in a complex organization.

Applicants are required to submit a narrative statement for each of the five mandatory Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). Please ensure you submit a complete and detailed answer for each mandatory qualification.

Eligibility for this position will be based upon a clear showing that the applicant has experience of the scope and quality sufficient to effectively carry out assignments of the position. Do not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer. Applications directing the reviewer to search within the application or to "See Resume" are considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Failure to submit a narrative statement or address all of the mandatory ECQs and/or MTQs, (if required) is also considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Applicants currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by OPM are not required to address the ECQs but must address all MTQs. If you are a non-SES employee or Non-Career SES employee, you must address each ECQ and MTQ. Failure to do so will result in the disqualification of your application.

Your application must demonstrate that you possess these qualifications. Please provide examples that are clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken, and level of contacts. All qualified candidates will be evaluated on the relevance of their experience, education, training, self-development, honors, awards, and outside activities.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential, not technical expertise. They measure whether an individual has the broad executive skills needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions. All applicants must submit a written narrative to address the ECQs. Your narrative must address each ECQ separately and should contain one or two examples per ECQ describing your experiences and accomplishments/results. The narrative should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken and the results of your actions. Applicants should not enter "Refer to Resume" to describe your experiences. Applications directing the reviewer to search within the application or to see the resume are considered incomplete and may not receive further consideration. The narrative must not exceed 10 pages.

There are five ECQs:

ECQ 1: LEADING CHANGE: Ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals and establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

ECQ 2: LEADING PEOPLE: Ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals and provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

ECQ 3: RESULTS DRIVEN: Ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations and make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

ECQ 4: BUSINESS ACUMEN: Ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

ECQ 5: BUILDING COALITIONS: Ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is required by law to review the executive core qualifications of each new career appointee to the Senior Executive Service (SES) prior to appointment.

Failure to submit a narrative statement addressing each of the ECQs may cause your application to be deemed incomplete and not be considered. For additional information on ECQs, please review the detailed information provided by OPM at the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/.

A sample 5-page executive level resume and ECQ narratives can be viewed at this link http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf

Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs): A supplemental narrative must be submitted separately addressing each MTQ listed below. No more than one (1) page per MTQ is allowed; additional informational information will not be considered. MTQs must provide specific examples that address relevant experience and accomplishments. Applicants must reflect superior technical qualifications demonstrated through leadership and management in the following MTQs:
  • Demonstrated experience analyzing complex legal issues, including issues arising under statutes, rules, and contractual provisions and case law, and providing independent legal advice to senior-level officials.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing professional resources of an office or group to address problems and prepare complex legal documents.
  • Demonstrated experience in coordinating with other internal and external offices and representing the organization to key individuals.
Failure to submit a narrative statement addressing each of the MTQs may cause your application to be deemed incomplete and not be considered.

Education

Applicants must possess a JD degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (or have an LLM (Master of Laws) degree or other graduate law degree in addition to a JD).

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information.

You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.

Additional information

  • The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
  • This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE-OIG.
  • If not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by a Qualifications Review Board of the Office of Personnel Management before appointment to this position, and will be required to serve a one-year probationary period in this position. The actual salary will be set by determining the appropriate SES level for the person selected. For more information regarding the SES, go to www.opm.gov/ses.
  • For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov
  • For Reasonable Accommodation information or assistance, please email reasonableaccommodationoig@hq.doe.gov or call (202)586-4393.711 for TTY-Based Telecommunications Relay Service | Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov)

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.

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 rated and ranked using only the information submitted for consideration.

Applicants who do not demonstrate sufficient possession of the Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) factors and document demonstrated experience, training, and/or education in support of the technical qualifications by answering all of the questions for this vacancy announcement, will be ineligible for further consideration.

Applicants will be evaluated on their narrative responses to the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and all of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). The narrative must demonstrate the necessary level of skills, specialized knowledge, and technical competence that would indicate success at this level and must include clear and concise examples that emphasize the applicant's level of responsibilities, scope, and complexity.

Veteran's Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive service (SES).

Please refer to the reference guide indicated in the Qualifications section to ensure the proper procedures for submission are followed. For detailed guidance on ECQs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications at SES RECRUITMENT/ECQ.

Required Documents

Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. If you fail to submit required documentation before the announcement closes, you will be rated "ineligible."

You must submit:

1. ALL APPLICANTS - A 5-page executive level resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire. Ensure that you address the ECQs and MTQs, attached as supplemental narrative documentation.
  • Your resume should list all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of the each employer.
  • For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
  • For paid work experience, please indicate your starting salary for each position and the highest salary you earned (if different).
  • Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
  • A sample 5-page executive level resume and ECQ narratives can be viewed at this link http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf
Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require one specific format. You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.

2. ALL APPLICANTS - ECQ Narrative (no more than 10 pages, 2 pages per ECQ, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins).
3. ALL APPLICANTS - MTQ Narrative (no more than one page per MTQ, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins).
4. Current or former career SES members must provide a SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
5. Applicants who have successfully completed an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program must submit a copy of their certification.
6. Current or former Federal Civilian employees, must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) documenting show the following: 1) Full position title; 2) appointment type; 3) occupational series; 4) pay plan, grade, and step; 5) tenure code; 6) service computation date (SCD).
7. This position has a positive education requirement, you must submit a copy of your transcripts or a separate course listing showing the college name, course title, department, hours earned (quarter or semester), and grade. If you have completed any part of your education outside of the US, you must submit the evaluation of your foreign education that has been prepared by an accredited organization.

HOW TO SUBMIT ALL SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS: The documentation identified above must be attached to your application using one of the following actions: 1). "Upload" to upload documents directly from your computer 2). "USAJOBS" to upload documents stored in your "USAJOBS" accounts. Please review and follow the instructions listed to successfully submit your documents.

Pages submitted in excess of the limits described above will not be considered. Substituting pages for other required documents in the application is not acceptable (e.g., submitting only a four-page resume but adding an additional page to address an MTQ).
Do not use borders, provide photos or list a Social Security Number or date of birth on any attachment.

Please review: Tips for preparing SES applications. We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions.

If you are selected for this position, you may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your responses.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. Faxed or e-mailed applications and/or resumes will not be accepted. Requests for extensions will not be granted.

All statements made in this application are subject to investigation and any false or dishonest answer to any question may be grounds for disqualification and loss of consideration. If your resume does not support the responses in your application questionnaire, or if you fail to submit required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.

The application process is as follows:

  1. You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/.
  2. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
  3. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
  4. You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/

If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.

Agency contact information

Betty Poole
Address
Office of the Inspector General
1000 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20585
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You may check your application status any time after the announcement closes. USAJOBS has added an alert setting to the system to drive status updates notification for applicants. We recommend that you update your USAJOBS profile to receive these status updates via email after the announcement closes. We will continue to update your status on-line as changes are made. Applicants who meet the mandatory MTQs will be evaluated by a panel of senior executives. Failure to meet all qualifications automatically disqualifies an applicant. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. Persons tentatively selected for appointment to SES positions must have their ECQs approved by OPM. Eligibility for this position will be based upon a clear showing that the applicant has experience of the scope and quality sufficient to effectively carry out assignments of the position.


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


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