Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Legal Counsel Division (LCD).

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Supervisory Attorney Advisor for Privacy and Information Law providing leadership on all aspects of information law, including litigation before the U.S. District Courts and Courts of Appeal.

Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Duties

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As a Supervisory Attorney-Advisor (General), GS-0905-15, your typical work assignments may include:

• Supervising staff information law attorneys and managing high-volume workflow. Priorities frequently shift, requiring regular readjustment of assignments.
• Overseeing the conduct of civil litigation relating to information law matters involving DHS Headquarters offices, advising on litigation strategy, and helping identify potential litigation risks. With respect to matters in litigation, responsibilities include coordinating with attorneys within DHS and at the Department of Justice on all phases of the litigation, and providing the General Counsel, other senior DHS executives and attorneys, and Department of Justice attorneys with oral and written advice on issues relating to the litigation.
• Providing advice and assistance to the Privacy Officer and other DHS leadership and staff on all aspects of information law, including matters involving the Privacy Act of 1975, the E-Government Act of 2002, the Freedom of Information Act, and other laws governing the agency's collection, maintenance, safeguarding, and disclosure of information, including contributing to the formulation of DHS-wide policies on information disclosure and privacy issues.
• Performing detailed legal research, and drafting, reviewing, and editing thorough and well-reasoned legal briefs, pleadings, memoranda, and correspondence. Issues encountered will include issues in the areas of information law, as well as questions of constitutional, statutory, regulatory, and procedural law.
• Representing the Office of the General Counsel at conferences and meetings with representatives of other Executive Departments and agencies regarding information disclosure and privacy issues.
• Other tasks as necessary to carry out the mission of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of the General Counsel.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
• You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
• You must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
• This is a Testing Designated Position (TPD) and subject to random drug testing.
• You may be required to complete a one-year supervisory probationary period.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

GS-15:

1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND
2. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization.

Specialized Experience:

The skills and experience listed immediately below are of particular importance to the position, and applicants should provide specific detailed information in these areas, where applicable, as part of their application.

You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal government.

For this position, specialized experience includes experience in the Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, and E-Government Act, and in litigation relating to these laws. Applicants must have specialized experience in private industry, public service, or non-profit which provided the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position (*see duties section above).

LCD's work focuses on information law matters involving DHS and its components, both within the agency and other agencies across the government.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Education

Applicants must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

Additional information

This position is being filled at the full performance level.

You will be required to complete an OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Form.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for Top Secret/SCI clearance as a condition of placement in this Special-Sensitive position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

This is a permanent appointment in the excepted service and will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment are required to serve a two (2) year trial period, unless already completed. Upon successful completion of the required trial period, this position will be permanent. This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.

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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.