Attorney Advisor (Grants/Procurement)

Summary This position is an Attorney Advisor in the General Law Division of the Office of Chief Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The Attorney Advisor is responsible for rendering legal services and furnishing legal advice on difficult and complex aspects of all areas of responsibility of the division. Such legal services and advice can influence changes in agency policy. Learn more about this agency Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. This is an Excepted Service position. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:  SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service. TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period. ETHICS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 2635, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 263. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding. TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework.  The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. Qualifications To qualify, your experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following: GRADE 14 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least 1 year of professional attorney experience. Experience providing legal advice on acquisitions and procurements, including reviewing solicitation packages, statements of work, contract specifications, and other documents for legal sufficiency. Experience performing extensive legal research into the statutes, legal opinions, policies, regulations, guidance, case law, and historical PHMSA and Departmental practice, on matters for which the division is responsible, including those involving complex or high-profile issues of law or policy. Experience providing legal advice to federal grants and financial assistance programs, counsel on source selections, provides oral and written advice on pre-award procurement issues such as adequacy of solicitations, sole source awards, mistake in bids, agency protests, and bid protests filed before Government Accountability Office (GAO). GRADE 15 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least 1 years of professional attorney experience. Experience providing legal advice on acquisitions and procurements, including reviewing and approving solicitation packages, statements of work, contract specifications, and other documents for legal sufficiency. Experience performing extensive legal research into the statutes, legal opinions, policies, regulations, guidance, case law, and historical PHMSA and Departmental practice, on matters for which the division is responsible, including those involving complex or high-profile issues of law or policy or issues of first impression. Experience providing legal advice to federal grants and financial assistance programs, counsel on source selections, provides expert oral and written advice on pre-award procurement issues such as adequacy of solicitations, sole source awards, mistake in bids, agency protests, and bid protests filed before Government Accountability Office (GAO). KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Administrative Law - Knowledge of state and Federal administrative laws, including procedures, regulations, guidelines, and precedents related to case preparation and settlements. Contracting/Procurement - Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques, or requirements (for example, Federal Acquisitions Regulations) for contracting or procurement, and contract negotiation and administration. Financial Assistance Mechanisms - Knowledge of the differences between acquisition and financial assistance purposes and requirements; knowledge of Federal assistance instruments, techniques, and procedures for grants (for example, block, mandatory, discretionary) and agreements (for example, cooperative, interagency). Grants Management Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines - Knowledge of principles, laws, regulations, policies, practices, and guidelines (for example, Executive Orders, Code of Federal Regulations, OMB circulars) of grant or agreement programs, including their order of precedence. Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process. 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. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link:  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: 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 have a professional law degree, and 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.   Additional information PLEASE NOTE:  TELEWORK: Managers may exercise discretion to allow a limited amount of regular or task-based telework for this position. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, [email protected]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Read more Benefits 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 window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our 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.