General Counsel

Clarification from the agency

Any U.S. Citizen who meets the five executive core qualifications. Includes Senior Executive Service positions and Status Candidates

If selected, the incumbent serves as General Counsel of the IMLS. The incumbent will serve as the Counselor to the Director and Senior Policy Advisor. The incumbent renders advice to the Director, Chief of Staff, Chief Operating Officer, Deputies of the Offices of Museum and Library Services, and the management and staff of the IMLS. Typical work assignments will include but are not limited to the following:

• Represents the IMLS by presenting, to various audiences, the legal position of the agency;
• Renders legal opinions on behalf of the IMLS including interpretation of the IMLS' enabling legislation, conflicts of interests and ethics questions, constitutional issues, First Amendment issues, appropriations law, civil rights law, administrative law, contracts law, and other matters;
• Serves as the principal legal advisor to the Director, the National Museum and Library Services Board (NMLSB), and other IMLS officials;
• Serves as the Secretary of the presidentially appointed board; - Coordinating agency responsibilities under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA);
• Supervising subordinate attorney(s) and support staff within the Office of General Counsel;
• Serves as Designated Agency Ethics Official.
• Oversees office provision of ethics and Hatch Act guidance and training to agency staff, NMLSB members, and other stakeholders.
• Conducts or participates in discussions with Congressional Committee staff, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials, and other federal officials of private organizations, grantees, etc., concerning legal questions involved in projects or productions sponsored by the IMLS;
• Engages on legislation that best promotes the interests of museums and libraries and the IMLS.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship Required.
• This position requires a background investigation.
• Relocation expenses will not be authorized.
• This employer participates in the E-Verify Program.
• You will be subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
• This is a career position in the SES. Unless you are already a member of the SES with career status or have successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program certified by OPM.
• Executive qualifications must be approved by OPM before appointment. If selected and you do not already have OPM QRB certification, you must complete a structured ECQ interview with OPM before being appointed to the position.
• You must meet the qualification requirements of this position no later than the closing date of the job opportunity announcement.
• You must 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, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• You must file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.

Qualifications

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).

Your responses to the below MTQs must be incorporated into your two (2) page resume. It is recommended that the corresponding MTQs are annotated in parenthesis. Separate MTQ narratives will not be accepted or considered.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications below:

TQ1: Demonstrated experience overseeing complex shared services or enterprise business operations, including implementing operational improvements and managing organizational performance.

TQ2: Demonstrated experience managing strategic planning, financial stewardship, organizational governance, and resource management in a complex organization.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs:

ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or MTQs.

How you will be evaluated

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

The Office of Human Resources will review all applications to determine if applicants meet the mandatory professional/technical qualifications of this position and the SES ECQs. Those who meet the qualifications will be referred to a panel of SES members for rating and ranking to determine the "best qualified" candidates. The panel may conduct interviews with the top candidates and then make a recommendation to the selecting official about the top candidates that he/she should interview.

Once a selection is made, the selectee's application will be forwarded to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for approval by an OPM independent Qualifications Review Board, unless the selectee is a current SES executive or has successfully participated in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume which must include the following information: announcement number and job title for which you are applying; beginning and ending dates (mo/yr) for paid or non-paid work experience; and average number of hours worked per week. Within the resume format, narrative statements addressing the MTQs are mandatory for consideration for this position.
• Separate narrative statements addressing the five ECQs are mandatory for consideration for this position. Each ECQ factor is limited to one and half pages.

Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10035309.

A complete application includes items described below. 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).Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants.

1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience. A minimum of 10-point font is required. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs. PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER.

2. VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy.

3. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable:

• CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEMBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
• SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification.
• CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee.

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