Summary This position is located at the Department of Transportation (DOT) Headquarters in Washington, O.C., as the principal legal advisor to the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, New York. The position is considered a senior level position of the Academy Superintendent's leadership team and will serve as a supervisory attorney. This position is established as a supervisory attorney-advisor, serving as the Chief Counsel of the Academy. Responsibilities As a Supervisory Attorney Advisor, you will: The employee provides a wide variety of legal services, the main one of which is conducting the necessary legal research and providing expert legal advice and counsel on the full range of legal and policy-related matters affecting USMMA operations and policy objectives. The employee will be considered a generalist and should be familiar with areas of law that impact an installation including but not limited to government contracts and procurement, employee labor relations (EEOC, MSPB, misconduct, etc.), general and administrative law, fiscal and appropriations law, ethics, information law (PA and FOIA), congressional inquiries and responses, installation jurisdiction, housing, federal advisory committees, and environmental law. Addressing legal and related policy issues as primary counsel on matters affecting USMMA; also provides legal advice to the Superintendent and staff of the USM MA on legal and related policy matters. Representing the USMMA on legal matters affecting the USMMA at inter and ultra-agency and departmental meetings, conferences and other events, coordinating legal support for the USM MA from other attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel. Advising the USM MA policy and program formation and implementation and providing legal advice and counsel incident to agency initiatives, issuances, directives, and correspondence. Serving as the appointed Designated Agency Ethics Official, providing advice to USM MA staff and personnel on ethics, including pertinent standards of conduct, conflicts of interests, and post-government employment matters. Providing legal advice incident to inspections, investigations and related reports concerning the USM MA. Providing legal advice to the USMMA on legislative and regulatory proposals affecting USMMA programs and operations. Acting as assistant counsel to Department of Justice attorneys in proceedings before the federal courts and providing liti.gation support on matters involving the USM MA. Also serves as the agency representative on cases and hearings before the EEOC and MSPB on related employment relations cases. Providing written and oral counsel, opinions and decisions on legal aspects of DOT and USMMA activities. The ideal candidate is a senior attorney with broad expertise in federal law, including government contracts, labor and employment (EEOC/MSPB}, administrative and fiscal law, ethics, and information law (FOIA/Privacy Act). Demonstrated experience serving as a principal advisor to senior leadership on policy, programs, and operations is required. The candidate effectively manages high-visibility matters, including congressional inquiries, investigations, and interagency coordination, and advises on legislative and regulatory proposals. Experience providing ethics guidance and litigation support with OOJ, including matters before EEOC and MSPB, is essential. Proven leadership, sound judgment, and strong written and oral communication skills are critical. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. This is an Excepted Service position. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service. TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period. ETHICS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 2635, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 263. PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required. Qualifications To qualify, your experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following: GRADE 15 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least 4 years of professional attorney experience. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 1. Technical - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the job experience to perform one's job: works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to administrative and aviation law, and the provisions of the rules, regulations, acts and statutes under which the Department functions; advises others on technical issues. 2. Communication - expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information {for example, technical sensitive controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. 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. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. Additional Information As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year probationary 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 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 2-year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
