Summary This position is in Region 3, Office of Regional Counsel, Water & General Law Branch. About Region 3: Region 3 This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis. Responsibilities You will: Provide legal advice and policy recommendations concerning Regional programs, operations and activities. Coordinate and direct the work of one or more attorneys and law clerks. Draft and review Agency determinations, regulations, notices and other documents to be published in the Federal Register, including Agency approvals of state pollution control plans and authorities adopted pursuant to federal statutes. Research and resolve legal questions which arise under regulations, lawsuits, enforcement actions, executive orders and other administrative actions involving major federal statutes that impact Agency's programs, including but not limited to Clean Water Act. Manage defensive litigation resulting from the Region's activities, under various statutes, preparing relevant litigation documents and appearing before courts. One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position. Grow your career for the good of our planet The environmental challenges we face today are urgent. At the Environmental Protection Agency, we need professionals like you to join our team dedicated to safe, clean, and healthy communities. Our agency is built upon a commitment to protect human health and the environment. The work we do here changes the world. That's why there has never been a more crucial moment to be one of the scientists, engineers, community leaders, IT specialists, communicators, administrative professionals, technicians, problem solvers, and innovators united in our mission to protect our land, air, water, and people. Join us. Be EPA. Discover how you can apply your skills to make an impact. Explore careers and learn more about EPA at epa.gov/careers. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen. You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section. EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings. 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. 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). If you have not yet passed the bar exam, offer of employment will be contingent upon admission to the bar and licensure/authorization to practice as an attorney. REAL ID requirements became effective on 05/07/25. If you are selected for this position and plan to use your driver's license or identification card during the onboarding process (i.e., for employment eligibility verification or to obtain your EPA identification card), the document must be a REAL ID-compliant state-issued driver's license or identification card that includes the REAL ID-compliant star marking, or must be an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL). You will receive information about alternative acceptable documents (e.g., passport) prior to onboarding. For more information about REAL ID, see Dept. of Homeland Security and REAL ID FAQs. 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. #LI-Onsite If you are selected, you must complete (or have already completed) a 1-year supervisory or managerial probationary period. Upon acceptance of an initial appointment to a supervisory or managerial position with the EPA, you agree to complete all elements of the EPA Successful Leaders Program. This development program is designed to enhance leadership competencies and meet the agency's goal of providing new leaders with the tools needed for success. 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 managing and coordinating enforcement and/or defensive litigation; performing legal analysis and research on issues to formulate recommendations for senior managers; and providing legal representation in negotiations, administrative proceedings, civil actions, and/ or judicial proceedings. 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. 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. NOTE: Bar membership and licensure are not required at the time of application, but you must be admitted to the bar and obtain your license before entry on duty. For information about accreditation requirements, visit Accreditation. Additional Information About the Office of Regional Counsel, Region 3: EPA's Mid-Atlantic (Region 3) implements and enforces federal environmental laws in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and 7 federally recognized tribes. If you have questions about this position, contact Allison Gardner at gardner.allison@epa.gov or 215-287-4551. The Office of Regional Counsel (ORC) represents the region in a wide variety of legal matters, including civil and administrative cases, regulatory and permit actions, government contracts, and employment matters. Often working with the Justice Department, EPA headquarters, and state environmental agency lawyers, this office assists in the enforcement of federal air, water, hazardous waste, toxics and pesticides laws throughout the region. The office also manages the Freedom of Information (FOIA) response process. Criminal enforcement counsel assists U.S. Attorneys' offices in prosecuting environmental crimes. Except in special circumstances, those new to the federal government will be hired at the starting salary (step 1) of the applicable grade range listed in the Overview section. EPA participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: E-Verify. 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.
