Summary The position, located in the General Law Division of the Office of Chief Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), provides legal advice and support to PHMSA on general law matters affecting the policies and programs of PHMSA. Provides legal advice and counsel on a variety of matters: ethics, FOIA, employment, labor relations, procurement, financial assistance (grants), privacy, tort claims, and appropriations law. Responsibilities As a Deputy Assistant Chief Counsel for General Law, you will: Responsible for providing legal advice and support on complex or high-profile legal and policy issues requiring a high degree of creativity and competence to identify and resolve. Supervise or perform the research of statutes, legal opinions, policies, regulations, guidance, case law, and historical PHMSA and Departmental practice, on matters for which the Division is responsible, including those involving complex or high-profile issues of law or policy. Serve as a supervisor for the Division and is recognized within PHMSA as an expert on matters for which the Division is responsible, including the areas of ethics, FOIA, employment, labor relations, procurement, financial assistance (grants), privacy, tort claims, and appropriations law. Liaises with stakeholders within PHMSA, the Department, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other pertinent stakeholders, on matters for which the Division is responsible. The Ideal Candidate: This position is perfect for someone looking to be a supervisor in a busy legal office. The incumbent is responsible for managing the activities and work product of the staff attorneys and other personnel within the General Law Division, and in so doing exercises strong program and project management skills (to include the creation and management of action plans, milestone tracking, and identification of need for supplemental resources) in ensuring the timely development and delivery of legally sound, high-quality work product. The incumbent, as a supervisory attorney, performs those duties in a manner demonstrating independence, initiative, creativity, precision, accountability, knowledge of the legal subject matters for which the General Law Division is responsible, as well as superior judgment and strategic thinking. Requirements Conditions of Employment This is an Excepted Service position. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the 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. POSITION SENSITIVITY AND RISK: Varies by position and will be based on the position to which appointed. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required. SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed). FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter. TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination. If approved for occasional telework, you will be required to report to the office on a regular basis. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor, and if applicable, approval of additional officials. Qualifications To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the Grade 15, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-14, it must include: Experience conducting briefings for and providing legal advice and assistance to executives and senior managers in carrying out their respective responsibilities. Experience managing attorneys or leading teams or projects in a legal office within Federal or state government, or the private sector (e.g., a law firm). Experience in General Law legal practice areas (e.g., ethics, FOIA, employment, labor relations, procurement, financial assistance (grants), privacy, tort claims, and appropriations law) requiring skills--independence, initiative, creativity, precision, accountability, judgment, and strategic thinking-- analogous to those involved in the delivery of high-quality legal advice and review of regulations, guidance, and other legal materials. Experience coordinating legal issues and professional application of legal principles, precedents, and rulings. 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: Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, considering 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. Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process. Problem Solving - Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations. For all types of consideration, 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 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.