Chief Counsel (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau)

Summary

Serves as Chief Legal Officer of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and Chief Executive Officer of TTB's Office of Chief Counsel within Treasury's Legal Division. Directs the Office of Chief Counsel and ensures legal matters arising from TTB's mission are handled professionally and consistently with the standards established by Treasury's Legal Division.

Duties

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As the TTB Chief Counsel, you will:

• Serve as a principal legal advisor to the Administrator of TTB (hereafter Administrator) and the Administrator's executive staff. The incumbent routinely consults with and assists the Administrator with a view to furthering the policies and programs of the Department of the Treasury and those of TTB.
• Render legal advice and counsel to the Administrator and the Administrator's executive staff. The incumbent furnishes legal opinions and memoranda and assists the Administrator in the preparation and review of publications and correspondence relating to the laws enforced and administered by TTB.

• Prepare, review, or assist in the preparation of proposed legislation, regulations, and rulings relating to the laws enforced and administered by TTB, including advising on all matters relating to TTB's regulated entities in the alcohol, tobacco, and firearms industries.
• Advise senior leadership on the interpretation and enforcement of TTB regulations on the labeling and advertising of beer, wine, and distilled spirits to protect the public and prevent consumer deception.
• Manage and supervise all employees in TTB's Office of Chief Counsel.
• Oversee coordination with the Department of Justice on all litigation matters involving the laws administered by TTB, including making recommendations to the Department of Justice regarding initiating and defending claims and other strategic litigation matters and providing assistance to the Department of Justice as necessary in the conduct of both civil and criminal litigation in the courts involving TTB or the laws TTB enforces or administers.
• Determine which court decisions involving TTB or the laws TTB enforces or administers should be appealed or further reviewed and makes recommendations to the Department of Treasury's General Counsel and the Department of Justice.
• Perform the functions prescribed for the General Counsel by Title 26, United States Code, section 7122, relating to the compromise of tax liability.
• Serve as the Deputy Ethics Official (DEO) for TTB and therefore is responsible for the management of TTB's Ethics program. As the agency DEO, the incumbent is responsible for all ethics advice, training and administration of the confidential financial disclosure program.
• Serve as a member of TTB's Strategic Leadership Team and provide advice on matters pertaining to the long-term strategic planning, vision, and management of TTB.
• Establish and maintain the appropriate standards of practice and for the professional competence, recruitment, and evaluation of the work of the employees of the Chief Counsel's office.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Must have graduated from an accredited law school.
• Must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia.
• A one-year SES probationary period is required, if not previously completed.
• An initial SES career appointment becomes final only after the individual successfully completes a 1-year probationary period.
• Must successfully complete personnel security vetting (e.g., investigation, evaluation, and adjudication).
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• Must have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
• File a Public Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• Disclosure of Political Appointments.
• Veterans' preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service.
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents:

• Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights, for those who undergo an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check for personnel vetting, which includes Rap Back,
• FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation), and
• SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov), (applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information)"

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal Government, passionate about the ideals of our American Republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must demonstrate within your resume that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) required for this position.

Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. Resumes exceeding the two-page limit will not be reviewed beyond page 2 and may result in disqualification.

Your resume should include specific examples of experience, education, and accomplishments that demonstrate the required qualifications. If your resume does not provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that you possess the required ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for this position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).

Technical Qualifications (TQs): Your resume must clearly demonstrate that you possess the technical knowledge, skills, and experience required for each TQ listed below. Provide specific examples of progressively responsible experience and accomplishments that demonstrate the scope, complexity, and level of your expertise. Your qualifications will be evaluated based solely on the information provided in your resume. Failure to demonstrate evidence of each required TQ may result in your application receiving no further consideration.

TQ1 - Demonstrated ability to supervise a professional staff engaged in providing legal advice to senior officials.

TQ2 - Demonstrated diversified legal experience dealing with highly complex legal issues, including experience with some of the relevant subject matter knowledge areas. Relevant legal authorities and subject matter areas include the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; Federal Alcohol Administration Act; Administrative Procedure Act; Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act; Federal Tort Claims Act; Trade Secrets Act; employment and personnel law; constitutional law; government ethics; and general administrative law; and other legal authorities.

TQ3 -Demonstrated knowledge of the operational and legal considerations facing regulatory agencies and other government organizations. Examples include engagement between government agencies and regulated entities; engagement with interagency partners and other external stakeholders; and management of internal agency stakeholder relationships.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

ECQ 1 - Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: Demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. Leadership Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government, Commitment to the Rule of Law, Civic-Mindedness.

ECQ 2 - Driving Efficiency: Demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. Leadership Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility, Managing Resources, Leveraging Technology.

ECQ 3 - Merit and Competence: Demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. Leadership Competencies: Technical Skill, Problem Solving, Agility and Resilience.

ECQ 4 - Leading People: Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Developing Others, Executive Judgement.

ECQ 5 - Achieving Results: Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. Leadership Competencies: Operational Mindset, Innovation, Strategic Thinking.

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

Applicants must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) at the time the degree was obtained.

In addition, applicants must be actively licensed and in good standing to practice law in a State, territory, or the District of Columbia. Proof of current bar membership may be required prior to appointment.

Preferred Qualifications: In addition to meeting the minimum education and licensure requirements, highly qualified candidates may demonstrate substantial executive-level experience providing legal and policy guidance related to Federal alcohol and tobacco regulation, excise tax administration, regulatory enforcement, administrative law, or complex civil and criminal litigation involving highly regulated industries, as well as advanced academic preparation in tax law, administrative law, regulatory law, or a related field; however, such experience and education are not required conditions of eligibility or appointment.

Additional information

Veterans' Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to

OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.