Summary

The Deputy Chief Counsel serves as the principal deputy to the Chief Counsel of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The candidate is the second-ranking official in the Office of the Chief Counsel and provides executive leadership for the office in support of the Chief Counsel.

Duties

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The Deputy Chief Counsel is responsible for providing executive leadership in the delivery of legal services, legal policy, and strategic counsel to the Chief Counsel, the Administrator, the Deputy Administrator, and other senior FTA leadership. The candidate provides authoritative legal advice and oversees the delivery of legal services to all FTA program offices, including Budget and Policy, Administration, Communications and Congressional Affairs, Safety Oversight, Program Management, Research, Demonstration and Innovation, Planning and Environment, Program Oversight, and the Regional Offices. The candidate directs a staff of approximately 28 attorneys located in FTA Headquarters and the ten Regional Offices and is responsible for the strategic leadership, management and oversight of the Office of the Chief Counsel's operations, workforce, and financial resources.

Under the direction of the Chief Counsel, the Deputy Chief Counsel acts in a supervisory and coordinating capacity over the divisions within the Office of the Chief Counsel. Provides executive guidance on complex legal matters, assigns and oversees legal work, advises on legal approaches involving unusual or significant issues, resolves differences in legal interpretation, coordinates matters requiring collaboration across divisions, and reviews significant legal products requiring referral to the Chief Counsel. The Deputy Chief Counsel:

• Provides authoritative legal advice concerning all aspects of FTA programs and operations, including grants administration, procurement, environmental compliance, public transportation safety, and all other statutory and regulatory responsibilities of the Administration.
• Advises the Chief Counsel on legislative and regulatory matters, including the development of legislative proposals, review of pending legislation, preparation of congressional testimony, responses to congressional inquiries, and development of regulations implementing transportation laws.
• Directs legal research and the preparation of legal opinions involving the interpretation and application of statutes, regulations, executive orders, and departmental policies affecting FTA operations and programs.
• Oversees the maintenance of legal precedent files and legal reference resources.
• Provides executive oversight of litigation-related activities by coordinating with the Department of Transportation Office of General Counsel and U.S. Department of Justice in matters involving litigation affecting FTA.
• Advises senior leadership regarding suspension, debarment, enforcement, and compliance matters involving FTA programs pursuant to applicable statutes and regulations.
• Oversees legal services associated with grants, contracts, procurement, contractor claims, grantee appeals, Federal Tort Claims Act matters, contract disputes, and other legal proceedings affecting FTA programs.
  Provides legal guidance to support the administration of FTA financial assistance and procurement activities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• Provide all required documents by closing date.
• A Top Secret clearance is required.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-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 the 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 period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Complete a one-year SES probationary period (unless already completed).
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency
• 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. (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx)
• SECURITY CLEARANCE: You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• WRITING SAMPLE: A writing sample may be required.
• PRESENTATION: Applicants may be asked to prepare and present a presentation, provide a
  presentation on a scenario-based situation or a similar activity as a part of the applicant evaluation
  process.
• DRUG TEST: This is a drug testing position. You will be required to complete a drug test upon entry of this position and are subjected to at random drug testing.

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 (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) 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.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

TQ 1. Demonstrated executive-level experience providing strategic legal counsel to senior executives on highly complex, sensitive, and high-impact legal and policy matters involving the interpretation and application of statutes, regulations, and policies. Demonstrated ability to lead an organization, establish strategic priorities, manage organizational resources, and exercise sound executive judgment in support of agency mission objectives.

TQ 2. Demonstrated executive-level experience representing an organization before senior Federal officials, Congress, the Department of Justice, courts, State and local governments, and other external stakeholders on complex legal, legislative, regulatory, or policy matters. Demonstrated ability to negotiate, influence, and build consensus while resolving issues with significant legal, operational, and organizational impact.

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.

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

If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Please Note: All applicants must have graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, must possess a J.D or LL. B (law degree), and must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar. PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

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 possess a professional law degree or have completed a structured, multi-year apprenticeship under the supervision of a practicing attorney or judge.

Additionally, candidates 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.

Proof of your law degree/completion of a structured, multi-year apprenticeship under the supervision of a practicing attorney or judge, and being a members in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia are required.

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.

Tiering: The Department/Agency structures its SES positions into categories (i.e. tiers) to determine the pay range for each position. The categories are based on the position scope, breadth, functions, and placement within the structure of organizational levels across the Department/Agency.