Federal

Supervisory Attorney-Adviser

Environmental Protection Agency ยท Other Agencies and Independent Organizations
๐Ÿ“ Chicago, Illinois GS-15 $165,386 - $197,200/yr
Posted: May 22, 2026 Deadline: May 28, 2026 (Closes in 6 days)

About This Position

This position is in Region 5, Office of Regional Counsel, Multi-Media Branch I, Section 4 About: Region 5. This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.

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.

Major Duties

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.

One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position.

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.

Education

You must: (1) possess a J.D.

OR

LL.M. degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university or equivalent apprentice experience as allowed per state law; and (2) be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and (3) be an active member of the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction in good standing. For information about accreditation requirements, visit Accreditation.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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.

Additional Information

This position is excluded from provisions of the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). Selection under this appointment authority does not confer civil service competitive status. If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.

This position is not in the bargaining unit.

How to Apply

You are strongly encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application for this position. To begin the application process, click the Apply button to the top right on this screen, follow the prompts to log-in/register, submit all required documents, and complete the questionnaire. To be considered, you must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the day the announcement closes.

All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJOBS document portfolio feature (see How to Upload Documents). Resume Requirements: Only resumes up to a total of 2 pages will be accepted. If you correctly submit a 2-page (or less) resume and also submit a longer resume, we will only review the 2-page resume.

If the only resume you submit exceeds 2 pages, you will be removed from consideration for this position. See OPM 2-Page Resume Guidance for information on maximizing the content of your resume.

Resume must be legible so we can review for eligibility, minimum qualifications, and any other position requirements listed in this announcement. See USAJOBS Resume Info for additional guidance and information about the recommended formatting (e.g., file type, font size/type, margins). If you cannot apply online, you must contact the Human Resources Office listed below for assistance no later than two business days prior to the closing date of this announcement.

You must provide complete application materials by the day the announcement closes. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION EPA welcomes applications from persons with disabilities. Through the reasonable accommodation process, we provide persons with disabilities an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment that persons without disabilities enjoy.

A reasonable accommodation is any change in the work environment or in the way things are customarily done. An accommodation removes workplace barriers and enables an applicant with a disability to have an equal opportunity to participate in the application process, be considered for a position, and, if hired, perform the essential functions of their job. The EPA National Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators will provide assistance to you, the Human Resources Office, and/or the hiring official as needed.

For more information, refer to EPA's Reasonable Accommodation website. Below is more detailed information about how to request a reasonable accommodation during the application, selection, and hiring process: If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process (submitting the application or completing the application process), contact the Human Resources Office listed below no later than two business days prior to the closing date of this announcement, and the Human Resources Office will work directly with you. If you are referred to the hiring official for consideration and need an accommodation during the selection process, including the interview, notify the person who contacted you from the hiring official's office.

If you do not hear back within three days about your reasonable accommodation request for the selection process, please notify EPA's National Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators via email at [email protected]. If you are selected and need an accommodation during the hiring process up to orientation, notify the HR Specialist who made the job offer to you. Please

note: Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Required Documents

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: ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY - SF-50(s) must prove you meet the criteria in the Clarification from the agency section.

TIME-IN-GRADE - If you are applying for a higher grade, SF-50(s) must prove you have completed 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): 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 - 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. APPLICANTS CLAIMING VETERANS' PREFERENCE To be eligible for veterans' preference, you must claim preference in your USAJOBS account; you must also submit proof of eligibility as indicated below.

Separated veterans claiming 0-point preference: 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 Separated veterans claiming 5-point preference: 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) Separated veterans claiming 10-point preference based on compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more: 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 Other separated veterans claiming 10-point preference OR spouses, widows/widowers, or mothers claiming 10-point derived preference: SF-15 (use current version: SF-15 Form); and Other required documentation indicated on the SF-15 Active duty service members: 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)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Supervisory Attorney-Adviser position at Environmental Protection Agency?
The salary range for this position is $165,386 - $197,200/yr. This is a GS-15 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Supervisory Attorney-Adviser job located?
This position is located in Chicago, Illinois. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
You must: (1) possess a J.D. or LL.M. degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university or equivalent apprentice experience as allowed per state law; and (2) be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and (3) be an active member of the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction in good standing. For information about accreditation requirements, visit Accreditation.
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is May 28, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.