Summary

The incumbent serves as Supervisory Attorney for eDiscovery and supervises and manages the USDA eDiscovery team housed in the Office of the General Counsel. Works under the direct supervision of the Director of the Office of Information Affairs. Provides legal services to USDA agencies administering programs.

Duties

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• Manages and supervises all program and supervisory responsibilities for eDiscovery programs and litigation support services. Assigns projects, adjusts workloads, and provides feedback on staff performance and work products.
• Exercises strong interpersonal skills through advising, coordinating, and training both OGC and USDA non-OGC staffs on the legal and technical requirements of applicable eDiscovery and investigatory practices.
• Works with other stakeholders to implement and promote an improved, integrated approach to eDiscovery programs that encompasses best practices and technology-based tools to handle the processing of electronic evidence.
• Conduct sand/or supervises legal research and writing; draft and/or review legislation, regulations, and other documents of legal significance; as a reviewer, provides clear and accurate feedback to drafters.
• Performs all supervisory requirements with consideration to the principles of equal employment opportunity and merit promotion. Maintains high standards of professional ethics and behavior.
• Furnishes legal guidance and technical support on eDiscovery issues to attorneys and staff throughout litigation, and makes recommendations concerning the scope, feasibility, and costs associated with proposed discovery and litigation plans.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• If selected, you may be required to serve a two-year probationary or trial period as applicable to appointment type. Additional information is in Next Steps section.
• Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

For consideration, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for attorney positions:

• Successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the America Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (J.D. or equivalent degree) (Law School transcript required); AND
• Currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE Applicants should have demonstrated specialized experience in legal research, excellent writing and communication skills, eDiscovery, and a strong academic record. This experience should be clearly documented in the cover letter and resume.

At the GS-15 level: Qualifying experience for GS-15 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-14 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience in handling all aspects of eDiscovery including legal, technical, and operational considerations that apply to managing electronic evidence through civil litigation and investigations; developing and updating eDiscovery guidance based upon interpretation of rules, regulations, and case law regarding electronic discovery and information management; and possess knowledge of current state-of-the-art eDiscovery tools and services used throughout the industry.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Education: Successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the America Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (J.D. or equivalent degree) (law school transcript required).

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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.

It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the above requirements (education and bar membership). Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

You MUST submit a copy of your transcript if you want to substitute your education for experience. If you claim qualifications based on education, and do not submit a transcript, your education will not be used in making a qualification determination and you may be found "not qualified". 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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Bar Membership: Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Written Narrative: In order for your application to be considered, you must submit a written narrative not to exceed 1200 words, showing you possess the knowledges, skills, and competencies listed in this announcement.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.

As a condition of employment, this position is designated as part of Schedule Policy/Career in the excepted service. Appointment to this role does not confer competitive status; however, you may obtain competitive status after completing two years of continuous service in this position, if applicable.

Employment in this position is at-will. Individuals serving in Schedule Policy/Career positions are not eligible to file Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals for adverse actions related to performance, discipline, or other matters arising under chapters 23, 43, and 75 of title 5, United States Code.

All prohibited personnel practices remain strictly prohibited. Enforcement of these protections will occur through the agency's internal policies and procedures, rather than the Office of Special Counsel (OSC).

This is a bargaining unit designated position. This position is represented by AFGE, Local 1106.

Incentives may be authorized.

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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.

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.