Summary The position serves as a Deputy Counsel to the Inspector General in the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Counsel (OC). The position provides an opportunity for a seasoned attorney to function in a generalist environment with a focus on managing USDA OIG's records management program and governing the processing of requests for disclosure of OIG information and records. The position requires supervision of OC staff and involvement in OC management. Responsibilities Acts with full authority of the Counsel in his/her absence, as designated, and functions as principal adviser to the Counsel on all program support issues. Directs the development and implementation of OIG policies and procedures governing OIG's Records Management Program and the processing of requests for disclosure of OIG information and records. Exercises first-level supervisory personnel management responsibilities. Renders expert legal and policy advice to OIG personnel in connection with areas of supervision relating to audits, reviews, and investigations of potential criminal, civil, and administrative violations. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a US Citizen or US National. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their trial period. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period depending on your appointment @type, unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and 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 probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. You will be required to complete an OGE-450, Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interests. Relocation expenses are NOT authorized. Qualifications You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following: Position requires the possession of the first professional law degree (J.D.) - AND - Applicants must currently be a member in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Proof of such membership and good standing must be submitted with your application materials. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement. To be considered qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience as described below. You must have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service or private sector that demonstrates all of the following: analyzing novel or complex legal issues regarding the processing of requests for disclosure of Office of Inspector General information and records pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act; providing legal and policy guidance on records lifecycle management in accordance with the Federal Records Act, NARA regulations, Office of Inspector General policy and procedures; and planning, organizing, and leading staff in supporting legal review and recommendations in all of the above areas. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education To meet minimum eligibility requirements for this position, applicants must possess at least a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school. You are required to submit a copy of your law degree transcripts prior to the close of this vacancy announcement. You must submit an unofficial transcripts that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to General Schedule Qualification Policies for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient, however if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education. Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the closing of this announcement will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Additional Information An active Bar membership is required. Excepted Service Position: This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. Veterans Information: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and supporting documentation required for the specific @type of preference claimed. (SF-15, which lists the @types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov). If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee may submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use. Relocation expenses will not be paid. This is not a bargaining unit designated position.
