Clarification from the agency

Current EPA employees.

You will:

• Serve as a supervisory attorney and provide administrative and substantive oversight to attorneys and other staff within the assigned section. Direct, coordinate, and oversee work through subordinates. Advise staff on policies, procedures, and directives of higher-level management.
• Resolve highly legal complex questions which arise under laws, regulations, lawsuits, enforcement actions, executive orders and other administrative actions involving major Federal statues affecting the Agency's programs.
• Draft or assist in the preparation of major legal correspondence, briefing packages, notices (including notices of violation), information requests, subpoenas, administrative orders, litigation referrals, and other counseling or enforcement documents and review those documents for legal sufficiency and consistency with Agency positions, policy, and guidance.
• Represent the Region in its dealings with outside parties, including negotiation or dispute resolution of agreements, consent orders, consent decrees, memoranda of understanding or other matters in order to avoid protracted and expensive litigation and facilitate the expeditious administration of Agency programs.

Conditions of employment

#LI-DNI

You must self-certify annually and in writing that you hold an active bar membership.

If you are selected, you may be required to complete a trial period (two years if you are not a preference eligible; one year if you are a preference eligible).

This position is designated as High Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date.

If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter.

Qualifications

NOTE: You must meet qualification requirements, including any requirements described in the Education section, by the closing date of this announcement.

In addition to the educational requirements, you must meet the minimum grade-specific qualifications as described below:

To qualify for the GS-15 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level defined as To qualify for the GS-15 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level defined as experience working on highly complex environmental law cases, including settlement negotiations, litigation, and policy decisions; reviewing and editing position papers, settlement documents, pleadings, briefs, and other decisional documents related to environmental law; providing legal advice to agency managers; and supervising and providing legal advice and guidance about environmental issues to other attorneys.

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.

*If you have part-time work experience, read this: Part-Time Experience.

How you will be evaluated

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

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Applications will be evaluated against the basic qualifications, and then may be subject to additional assessments (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, job knowledge test, case scenario analysis, scientific data assessment, structured interview, etc.).

EPA considers veterans' preference as a positive factor. Applicants who have veterans' preference are encouraged to include their information in their cover letters or resumes and attach supporting documentation to substantiate their preference.

Excepted service positions are not covered by regular civil service hiring procedures.

ALL APPLICANTS

• Cover letter expressing your interest in the position and explaining how your qualifications meet the requirements of the position.
• Resume clearly stating your experience related to this position as described in the Duties section and Qualifications and Education sections--include specific dates (MM/DD/YY - MM/DD/YY) so we can determine that you have the required amount of experience (if applicable). In describing your experience, you need to be clear and specific (we may not make assumptions regarding your experience). Resume must not exceed 2 pages. If you do not submit a resume that is 2 pages or less, you will be ineligible for further consideration. See How to Apply section for more information.
• Notification(s) of Personnel Action (SF-50) that includes Position Title, Grade or Level, and Duty Station and proves the following:

1. ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY - SF-50(s) must prove you meet the criteria in the Clarification from the agency section.
2. TIME-IN-GRADE - If you are applying for a higher grade, SF-50(s) must prove you havecompleted 52 weeks at the next lower grade (next lower grade is identified in the Qualifications section). Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotion to the higher grade, within-grade increase for the next lower grade, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job at the next lower grade.

• Copy of active bar membership/license.
• Proof of education (see requirements in the Education section):

1. Law school transcripts - unofficial or official transcripts or a list of courses that includes school(s) attended, school address, course title, grades earned, completion dates, department, and quarter or semester hours earned. NOTE: Official educational transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if you are selected, you must provide official transcripts before you start work with EPA. IF EDUCATION WAS COMPLETED AT A FOREIGN INSTITUTION: You must submit an equivalency evaluation with your application as described here: Accreditation. - OR -
2. Documentation of apprentice experience equivalent to possession of a J.D. or LL.M. degree.

• Name, address, and telephone number of three references, including a current or former employer.

• DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service) or other official document/statement from the Armed Forces showing separation, discharge, or release from active duty; document must show separation is under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge) and that the release or discharge was due to sole survivorship

• DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service) or other official document/statement from the Armed Forces showing separation, discharge, or release from active duty; document must show separation is under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge)

• DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service); document must show separation is under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge); and
• VA letter stating overall/combined disability rating (percentage); and
• SF-15 (use current version: SF-15 Form)--see page 2 for documents that can be submitted in lieu of the DD-214 and VA letter

• SF-15 (use current version: SF-15 Form); and
• Other required documentation indicated on the SF-15

• Certification from the Armed Forces (Statement of Service) documenting active duty dates, expected discharge/release date, campaign medals/badges, and character of service (a certification is any written document from the Armed Forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged/released from active duty service in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge) within 120 days after you submit the certification)

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