Summary
With nearly 1,700 attorneys, IRS Chief Counsel is the largest tax law firm nationwide. Our attorneys are among top tax law practitioners and some of the very best legal minds found anywhere. Together with the IRS, we serve the public by applying the tax code with fairness and integrity. After pausing hiring in 2025, we are seeking administrative professionals to support our legal work.
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IRS Office of Chief Counsel
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This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
Clarification from the agency
U.S. citizens and U.S. Nationals; no prior Federal experience is required.
Duties
The Office of Associate Chief Counsel, General Legal Services (GLS) serves as in-house counsel to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Chief Counsel, providing legal services over a broad spectrum of general government matters (excluding FOIA and the Privacy Act) including appropriations, fiscal and grant law, intellectual property, delegations of authority, records and property management, as well as government contracts, information technology, and personnel and labor law. The Ethics and General Government Branch (EGG) acts as the program coordinator and primary advisor to the Deputy Ethics Official, providing legal advice on all ethics matters, including those arising under the Ethics in Government Act; 18 U.S.C. Part I, Chapter 11; and Government-wide and Treasury standards of conduct. EGG also provides advice on a multitude of other non-tax legal issues.
As an Ethics Program Specialist you will:
- Serve as an IRS and Chief Counsel (CC) expert and team leader for the financial disclosure program and other ethics programs; implement and manage a system for compliance with the public financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act; initiate the development and implementation of policies, systems, and procedures for the functioning and maintenance of the public and confidential financial disclosure systems.
- Work closely with the IRS Human Capital Office and the Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (Finance & Management) to ensure that all ethics program elements including the public and confidential financial disclosure system, are effectively delivered, formulating policies and service delivery systems to integrate ethics rules and programmatic requirements effectively with the IRS and CC, in consultation with management officials.
- Conduct comprehensive analysis of ethics programs and systems and develop improvements to these systems and procedures; develop new guidelines as needed.
- Develop relevant and innovative ethics training programs for senior-level IRS and CC officials, including presidential appointees confirmed by the senate, Senior Executive Service members, and others required to be trained under all applicable regulations.
- Serve as coordinator for the ethics website, responsible for ensuring materials are updated as well as for developing new materials to be included on the website. Develop and maintain databases and other tracking systems for ethics records and program information, including, but not limited to, information on financial disclosure filings, training and ethics agreements.
- Analyze public financial disclosure reports filed by top-level IRS and CC officials for potential and actual conflicts of interest, ensuring reports are compliant with regulations and policies implemented by the Office of Government Ethics; draft counseling letters and/or meet with filers to advise of potential conflicts and acceptable remedies in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations.
- Review, analyze and comment on new legislation and regulations in the ethics area, and determine best methods for implementing new rules affecting financial disclosure and other ethics issues for IRS and CC.
This is not an all-inclusive list. If selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform the duties of the position and will receive training to help you grow in the position.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Refer to "Other Information"
- Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
Qualifications
In order to qualify for this position of Ethics Program Specialist, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements detailed below by the closing date of this announcement. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.
For GS-11:Specialized Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-9 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience supporting the administration of program, preferably focused on ethics or financial disclosure. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-9).
OR
Education Substitution: You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as Compliance and Corporate Law.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education: Options for qualifying based on a combination are identified in the online questions.
NOTE: If qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application package.
For GS-12: Specialized Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience applying ethics and financial disclosure regulations and procedures to support the administration of a financial disclosure program; reviewing financial disclosure reports for completeness and compliance with established guidance; tracking and monitoring disclosure activities and program requirements; assisting with analysis of ethics program operations and identifying process improvements; and providing guidance to employees or stakeholders regarding financial disclosure procedures and requirements. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).
For GS-13: Specialized Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience assisting with the development, implementation, and administration of a financial disclosure program in support of Ethics in Government Act requirements; monitoring the financial disclosure systems for effectiveness; analyzing ethics program procedures and recommending improvements; researching and interpreting applicable regulations and guidance; and assisting with the development or revision of procedures, guidance, or training materials related to ethics and financial disclosure programs. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12).
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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
Education
For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your 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.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
- We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
- Relocation expenses are not authorized.
- This is a non-bargaining unit position.
- We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.
Conditions of Employment Continued:
- Subject to a 1-year probationary period (unless already completed).
- All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period. During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated. You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period. Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service. If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated. You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations. Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency
- If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
- Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
- 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.
- Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
- Undergo an income tax verification.
- The employment of any candidate, including a current employee or a new hire, selected for this position may be conditional upon classification and/or audit of federal tax returns. This audit may include up to 2 years of returns.
- This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. For more information about individual rights, Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.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.
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.
Your application includes your resume, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a "not qualified" determination.
Rating: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Information Management, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Oral and Written Communication, Planning and Evaluating, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, Teamwork, and Technical Competence. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online USA Hire assessment.
The USA Hire assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Cheating on the USA Hire assessment may result in your removal from consideration. The USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. The highest scoring candidates based on the results of the USA Hire assessment will be invited to complete the structured interview assessment.
Structured Interview: Eligible and qualified applicants may be evaluated through a structured interview conducted by subject matter expert(s) on the position as a formal assessment and results will be used to rate and rank candidates.
Referral: This announcement uses the Rule of Many, a numerical ranking process under which eligible applicants receive a numeric score based on the assessment process for the position. Only applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference receive 5- or 10-point veterans' preference points, which are added to passing scores, as applicable. Applicants are then listed on the certificate in score order, and preference-eligible applicants are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles with the same score. Qualified preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more are listed at the top of the certificate in rating order.
This announcement uses the set number of applicants referral method under 5 CFR 332.402(b)(3). The top 10 applicants will be referred for consideration. If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview. We will not reimburse costs related to the interview such as travel to and from the interview site.
Simultaneous Listing: Candidates may be referred simultaneously on multiple certificates for which they are interested, eligible, and within reach, unless otherwise provided for good administration and identified in advance.
If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)), you must be assigned to Category B or better to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.
Required Documents
A complete application includes 1. A resume, 2. Vacancy question responses, and 3. Submission of any required documents. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
All applicants are required to submit a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.) Please limit your resume to two-pages. Applicants with resumes exceeding two-pages will be removed from consideration. To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Please view Resume Tips.
Veterans' Preference Documentation
If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing actual or expected dates of service dates of service and type of discharge. Ten-point preference eligibles must also submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15, along with the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. For more information on veterans' preference view FedsHireVets.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) DOCUMENTATION
If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents.
EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION: For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. See "Education" for more details.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date (07/14/2026) of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
- Click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
- If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
- Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
- Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
- Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
- Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
Visit the
USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at
https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click
Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12985905
To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit
https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the
Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
Next steps
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your 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/.