Deputy General Counsel
About This Position
This position is part of the Council of Inspectors General Integrity Efficiency. The incumbent serves as a senior attorney for CIGIE, providing legal counsel, services, and policy advice throughout the agency.
Qualifications
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
You must meet all the following qualification requirements: You must possess a J.D./LL.B. Law Degree from an accredited college or university. (You must submit a copy of your transcripts.) AND You must be an active member in good standing of the Bar of a state, a territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (You must submit proof of Bar Membership to verify your standing. For the GS-14: You must possess at least 3 years post J.D.
Legal Experience in the following: Providing legal advice, guidance, and support to a government agency in connection with the conduct of administrative, civil, or criminal investigations; Conducting, directing, or providing strategic support on behalf of a government agency in an administrative, civil, or criminal investigation (strategic support means engaging in decision-making regarding investigative techniques and approaches to be applied in the course of an investigation); Providing legal advice, guidance, and support to a government agency in connection with requests for documents and other information from external individuals, including from the public (e.g., the Freedom of Information Act), the subjects of or witnesses in investigations (e.g., the Privacy Act), other government agencies, elected officials (e.g., Members of Congress), or the press; and Other legal experience relevant to the job duties above. For the GS-15: You must possess at least 5 years post J.D. Legal experience in the following: Demonstrating mastery of legal theory, principles, methods, practices, and techniques that enable the incumbent to function as a senior expert and authority in providing advice and policy determinations in matters surrounding the planning, discussion, and coordination of the activities related to agency work; Thorough knowledge of the legal aspects of agency work and the work of agency OIG members, as well as agency programs and operations, and of the laws, regulations, and other directives affecting these programs; Comprehensive knowledge of laws, policies, regulations, and precedents applicable to the administration of Ethics in Government Act, FOIA, and Privacy Act programs; Knowledge in general administrative and other areas of law, to include the IG Act, Federal Records Act, Congressional requests, interagency agreements, procurement, whistleblower protections, and equal employment opportunity; and experience in exercising exceptionally wide latitude in accomplishing objectives, including identifying problems, defining tasks, setting milestones, coordinating different viewpoints, producing finished products, and obtaining necessary data from agency officials, as well as from agency members and external sources.
All experience must be clearly described in your resume to receive credit. Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
You can only submit one resume; Only the resume submitted under the "Resume" "Document Type" will be used to determine your qualifications and for rating purposes. 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.
Major Duties
Provides legal advice and counsel to CIGIE leadership and staff across a wide range of legal subject areas, including those pertaining to ethics, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Inspector General Act of 1978 (IG Act), Federal employment, contracts, appropriations, information access, and privacy. May represent the office in administrative litigation, such as hearings before the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Conducts legal research on difficult problems of law by examining Federal statutes, Executive Orders, court decisions, legislative hearings and committee reports, and analysis of factual, technical, and legal issues.
The ability to conduct original legal research and writing is essential as is the ability to communicate orally and in writing with both attorneys and non-attorneys on various matters. Examines and evaluates legislative proposals for CIGIE. Prepares or reviews proposed new, and amendments to existing, policies, and regulations.
Determines impact of legislation and regulations on scope of CIGIE operations and authority. Prepares or reviews congressional testimony and other responses to congressional requests for information. Handles any CIGIE involvement in legal proceedings resulting from requests for documents or testimony.
Provides overall management of CIGIE's FOIA and Privacy Act programs. Serves as or manages CIGIE's FOIA Public Liaison. Serves as CIGIE's Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official (ADAEO), the primary deputy to the DAEO in the administration of the CIGIE's ethics program.
Conditions of Employment
US Citizenship is required. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation. Direct Deposit of pay is required. Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.
Education
This position has a positive education requirement.
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims of possession of a law degree (J.D.
OR
LL.B.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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. For further information, visit: www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications Transcripts and proof of Bar membership MUST be provided with your application package to receive further consideration.
Must have an active Bar membership in good standing. If selected, must maintain active Bar membership in good standing while employed as an attorney.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Once the application process is complete, your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), and any applicable assessment required for this position. Cheating on the online assessment may result in your removal from consideration. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.You will be evaluated for this job based on: Technical Assessment Questionnaire - Questionnaire that measures applicants' technical expertise Questionnaire designed to measure components of knowledge that the applicant will be required to display on the job and are administered as part of the application process.
Additional Information
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. Veterans Preference: It is not a requirement to apply Veterans Preference in filling this Excepted Service position. However, the agency will follow the principles of Veterans Preference to the extent administratively feasible.
Applicants eligible for Veterans Preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation to their submissions (e.g., DD-214 Form, SF-15, or other substantiating documents). This assignment may be made permanent without further competition. Telework Suitability: The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.
Stipulations of Employment: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: Your performance and conduct; The needs and interests of the agency; Whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment may be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
This position is subject to a negative drug test prior to entrance on duty, and random drug testing while you occupy the position. If selected, the position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure report requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment. Work Schedule: This position allows for a flexible work schedule.
Miscellaneous: Council of Inspectors General Integrity Efficiency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.
If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.
How to Apply
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 and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
You may preview the Application Questionnaire at: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12971260 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. Read the Eligibility questions carefully. The questions address if you are eligible to apply to this vacancy announcement.
Your responses will affect your consideration for the position.
You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully.
You will only be considered under the options you have selected. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility questions, you will not be considered for this position. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://login.usajobs.gov/Account/Login).
There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this link: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/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.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: 1.
Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment mm/yy, and duties performed. Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
- Other supporting documents: College transcript(s)-J.D./LL.B. Law Degree transcripts from an accredited college or university. Certificate of Bar membership: proof that you are a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Cover Letter (optional) If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If applicable, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. Failure to provide this documentation may result in a non-preference determination.
For more information on veterans' preference (see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-employment-initiative/vet-guide/). Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.