Summary

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) at the ODNI provides legal advice and counsel to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and other ODNI officials on a wide range of legal issues to include intelligence and national security law; procurement and acquisition law; personnel law; government ethics, fiscal law; general administrative law; legislative support; government information practices (Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act); and intellectual property law.

Duties

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Provide expert, authoritative advice and counsel to the ODNI General Counsel and senior leadership and staff on often complex, difficult, and novel legal issues (1) that affect the responsibilities of the DNI and ODNI as they relate to statutes, Presidential directives, Executive Orders, and other related laws and policies, including the DNI's statutory responsibility to ensure compliance with the Constitution and laws of the United States by elements of the IC; and (2) that relate to all aspects of intelligence law and federal agency law, to include collection, analysis, covert action, foreign relations, intelligence and information sharing, security and protection of sources and methods, intelligence policy and legislation, and other related areas of intelligence and national security law, intelligence community policies and legislation, administrative law, personnel law, government ethics, government information practices, acquisition and procurement law, and federal appropriations law.

Render legal opinions and associated oral advice on a wide range of issues, often in areas where few or no legal precedents exist, and ensure legal requirements are implemented across the IC.

Provide expert legal advice to support the DNI's responsibilities regarding counterintelligence, security, counterterrorism, counternarcotics, and ODNI intelligence oversight activities.

Research and analyze a wide variety of laws, regulations, legislation, and policies; and draft or review new legislation (to include the annual Intelligence Authorization Act), Executive Orders, policies, congressional testimony, and related policy guidance.

Supervise and manage a team of attorneys and staff, including assisting with the supervision of other managers and the management of the OGC, including the development of the OGC budget, the approval of leave and training requests, the distribution of portfolios and assignments, the HR process, and other general office management issues.

Perform personnel management responsibilities with a focus on building a high performance workforce; promote team building and a collaborative work environment; ensure goals and performance objectives are understood; assess performance and provide timely feedback, recognition, and remediation.

Establish and maintain effective relations with the legal and (at times) policy offices of other Executive agencies and organizations, including the National Security Council; other IC elements; the Department of Justice National Security Division, as well as with the Congressional Intelligence Oversight Committees, with a particular focus on ensuring a comprehensive legal approach to major system acquisition law and policy; budget planning, programming and execution issues; research and technology; and the related fields of intellectual property law and government ethics.

Establish and manage liaison relationships with external partners to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to intelligence and national security law topics.

Represent the General Counsel and the ODNI on a variety of intra- and inter-agency committees and working groups.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Must be a current permanent ODNI employee OR must be a current permanent Federal employee with supervisory approval to apply to the Joint Duty Assignment (JDA). JDA applicants must be currently at the grade level specified in the advertisement. No temporary promotion opportunities will be granted for this position. The program does not apply to members of the Military service or contractors.

Joint Duty applicants may be considered for this position as a reimbursable detailee, if endorsed by the employing agency. Joint Duty applicants must have a current TS/SCI clearance with polygraph or have the ability to obtain one. The ODNI does not conduct polygraphs or provide security clearances for detailees.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS

All applicants will be assessed for executive competency against the five mandatory Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). If your two-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs you will not receive further consideration for the position. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review current information regarding ECQs. For information regarding ECQs, please visit the Executive Core Qualifications page on the OPM website.

FREE RESPONSE ESSAY QUESTIONS

All applicants must answer the following four short, free response essay questions. The responses cannot exceed 200 words per question. By submitting your responses to the following questions, you certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]).

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Qualifications

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs)

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Intelligence Community Senior Officer Core Qualification (ICSOCQ) listed below in your resume. RESUMES MUST NOT EXCEED TWO (2) PAGES. Resumes over the two (2)-page limit will not be reviewed and will be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, educations, and accomplishments applicable to the qualifications. If your resume does not demonstrate evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

All applicants will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. For more information regarding ECQs, please visit the Executive Core Qualifications page on the OPM website.

ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and 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.

ISCOCQ: Leading the Intelligence Enterprise

This core qualification involves the ability to integrate resources, information, interests, and activities effectively in support of the Intelligence Community's mission and to lead and leverage cross-organizational collaborative networks to achieve significant mission results. Inherent to this senior officer qualification is a deep understanding of the intelligence enterprise and a shared commitment to the IC's core values.

Mandatory Requirements:

Superior knowledge of the legal issues of counterterrorism affecting the IC with specialized experience following in at least 3 of the following areas: (1) National Intelligence Program budget development and execution; (2) general acquisition and procurement law and policy, to include major system acquisitions, source selections, and contract disputes; (3) research and development programs; (4) review of proposed legislation; (5) Congressional oversight and other Congressional liaison matters (6) administrative law, government ethics, and personnel law; or (7) government information practices and related litigation, to include the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. In-depth knowledge of the mission and legal issues affecting the IC.

Superior ability to think creatively to solve complex and novel legal issues.

Superior ability to establish and manage professional networking relationships both internal and external to the OGC and the ODNI and to gain consensus among disparate organizations on legal and national security issues of common concern.

Superior research abilities and written and oral communication skills, as evidenced by a demonstrated ability to deliver sound legal advice to senior government officials.

A reputation for integrity, objectivity, initiative and fairness.

Superior ability to integrate and synthesize voluminous and disparate information and comments into concise statements of agency policy, positions, or concerns.

Experience effectively managing attorneys and legal staff, which includes the ability to recruit, develop, train, and retain exceptional legal talent and effective support personnel; and experience assisting with the management of a legal office, to include planning and executing an office budget.

The ability to maintain effective working relationships within the OGC and between the OGC and other offices.

Education

Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited ABA law school and Proof of Bar Status in good standing in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia or a U.S. Territory or Commonwealth.

Additional information

JOB INTERVIEW TRAVEL

Candidates from outside the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA) may be selected for a telephone, teleconference, or in-person interview.

SALARY DETERMINATION

A current Federal Government employee, selected for this position, will be assigned to the position at their current grade and salary.

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.