Summary

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), seeks an exceptional executive to serve as Counsel to the Inspector General. The incumbent provides strategic legal counsel to the Inspector General and senior leadership, leads the Counsel Division, oversees complex legal matters, and ensures effective legal support for the OIG's mission to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.

Duties

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The Counsel to the Inspector General will be responsible for:

• Serving as the principal legal advisor to the Inspector General and executive leadership by providing authoritative legal counsel on matters involving the Inspector General Act, Federal appropriations law, administrative law, criminal law, civil litigation, employment law, employee relations, equal employment opportunity, ethics, procurement, information law, and other legal matters affecting the Office of Inspector General.
• Providing executive leadership for the Counsel Division by establishing strategic priorities, directing legal operations, managing organizational performance, overseeing workforce planning, and ensuring the effective delivery of legal services that support the OIG's mission and long-term strategic objectives.
• Advising the Inspector General and executive leadership on enterprise legal risk, organizational governance, internal controls, and significant legal issues affecting OIG operations. Anticipates emerging legal and operational risks and develops strategies that protect the independence, credibility, and effectiveness of the Office of Inspector General.
• Directing the legal review of proposed legislation, regulations, executive orders, policies, and government-wide initiatives affecting the Inspector General community and the Small Business Administration.
• Providing executive oversight of legal support for criminal, civil, and administrative investigations conducted by the OIG. Advises investigative personnel on complex legal matters involving search warrants, subpoenas, electronic surveillance, digital evidence, informants, whistleblower protections, data privacy, and emerging investigative technologies while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and constitutional requirements.
• Providing executive oversight of all legal matters involving human capital management, employment law, and employee relations affecting the Office of Inspector General. Advises executive leadership on complex personnel matters, including disciplinary and adverse actions, performance-based actions, EEO matters, reasonable accommodations, disability and leave laws, executive employment issues, whistleblower protections, prohibited personnel practices, and compliance with Federal employment statutes and regulations. Coordinates, as appropriate, with oversight agencies to protect the legal interests of the OIG while ensuring fair and equitable treatment of employees.
• Representing the Office of Inspector General in high-level interactions with the Department of Justice, Congress, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Personnel Management, Federal law enforcement agencies, and other governmental organizations on matters of significant legal or strategic importance.
• Providing executive oversight of the OIG's administration of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act, ethics program, records management, information governance, and related legal compliance programs. Ensure policies and practices promote transparency, accountability, protection of sensitive information, and compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• You must successfully complete a Top-Secret security clearance. Candidates who do not complete the required security clearance paperwork by the pre-determined due date, could be disqualified.
• If you are selected, you must complete a one-year SES probationary period, if not previously completed.
• 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.
• File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.

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 show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the 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 should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

• TQ 1 - Experience providing legal counsel in the areas of Federal criminal, civil and administrative law.
• TQ 2 - Experience in reviewing proposed legislation, regulations, and policies to determine their impact on the economy and efficiency of Agency programs and operations.
• TQ 3 - Demonstrated experience providing legal advice and guidance on complex employment law and employee relations matters, including performance management, disciplinary and adverse actions, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), reasonable accommodation, leave and disability laws, whistleblower protections, and Merit Systems Principles. Experience interpreting and applying Federal employment statutes, regulations, case law, and advising management on legally sound solutions that balance organizational objectives with employee rights.
• TQ 4 - Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying the Privacy Act and other Federal laws, regulations, and policies governing the collection, use, protection, disclosure, and sharing of sensitive information. Experience providing legal advice on complex privacy issues, reviewing, and negotiating data sharing agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs), Computer Matching Agreements, or similar interagency agreements to ensure legal compliance while supporting organizational objectives.

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.

There are five ECQs:

• ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a 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.
• ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
• ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
• ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the 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.
• ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Current and active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and eligible to practice law.

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.

IF YOU DO NOT POSSESS THE TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED INELIGIBLE FOR THIS POSITION.

All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

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

Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

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.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.