Company: National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities - National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities - Agency Wide

Location: District of Columbia, District of Columbia District of Columbia, District of Columbia

Type: Full Time

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. Through grant making, policy development, and research, we help communities and individuals thrive through broad public access to knowledge, cultural heritage, and lifelong learning. This position is that of General Counsel for (IMLS). The Incumbent renders legal advice and assistance to the Director of IMLS and on behalf of the Institute.

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Conditions of Employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
May be required to successfully complete a trial (probationary) period.
If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
Documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.
Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply).
This position requires completion of public financial disclosure report.
If not already a member of the SES, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by a Qualifications Review Board of the Office of Personnel Management before appointment to this position.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES), applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level and managerial capability directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Technical Qualifications (MTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). Typically, experience of this nature is gained at or above the GS-15 grade level or its equivalent in Federal service.

Your narrative statements should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification. Structure your statements in terms of the action taken, the context or environment in which the action was taken, and the outcome or results from such actions. You should write each statement with the vacancy in mind as all qualifications are directly related to the position being filled. Be sure to include appropriate training and awards when addressing your qualifications. Please limit your narrative statements to two pages per factor.

For further information and tips on writing effective narrative statements, see the Office of Personnel Management (OPM's) publication "A Guide to SES Qualifications", available on the OPM website at: http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2010.pdf .

Failure to provide separate narrative statements which describe fully and concisely how your experience meets the competencies described in the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) will eliminate you from consideration.

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs):
MTQs are designed to assess your experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Each MTQ narrative response must: (1) not exceed two pages per narrative statement; (2) include specific examples of your experience, education, and/or accomplishments; and (3) address specific challenges, contexts, actions, and results. Each must be addressed separately in your Supplemental Narrative Statement. Each MTQ must not exceed 2 pages. You are required to respond to all mandatory technical qualifications. Failure to do so will result in an incomplete application and you will be rated as 'ineligible.

Applicants must reflect superior technical qualifications demonstrated through leadership and management in the following MTQs:

Demonstrated success in managing a legal office responsible for interpretation of the agency's enabling legislation, conflicts of interest and ethics, constitutional issues, First Amendment issues, appropriations law, civil rights law, administrative law, contracts law, laws relating to Federal grant programs, and other matters.
Possesses an expert level of analytical skills and abilities to assess the effects of legislative, regulatory, and compliance programs on agency strategies, policies, and operations, especially as it relates to programmatic-related decisions and external communications.
Ability to lucidly analyze legal problems (and their underlying policy considerations), to develop viable and creative options that allow program officials to achieve their program objectives, and to clearly communicate options by explaining facts, concepts, policies, and legal requirements in clear, straightforward language.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs):
In addition to the Mandatory Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the SES under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five executive core qualifications. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential, not technical expertise. The ECQs measure whether an individual has the broad executive skills needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions.

Your narrative must address each ECQ separately and should contain one or two examples per ECQ describing your experiences and accomplishments/results. The narrative should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken and the results of your actions. Applicants should not enter "Refer to Resume" to describe your experiences. Applications directing the reviewer to search within the application or to see the resume are considered incomplete and may not receive further consideration. The narrative must not exceed 10 pages.

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, Certificate of Completion of SESCDP) of your eligibility for appointment to the SES.

The following five ECQs provide the focus for certification of executive core qualifications for initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service:

ECQ 1: Leading Change: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

Leadership Competencies: Creativity & Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision

ECQ 2: Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, Team Building

ECQ 3: Results Driven: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organization goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility

ECQ 4: Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Technology Management

ECQ 5: Building Coalitions: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating

Additional information on ECQs is available at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/ . Applicants are strongly encouraged to follow the Challenge, Context, Action and Results model outlined in the guide. It is recommended that you draft your ECQs in a Word document and then upload into the system. If you do not submit a separate statement addressing the ECQs and MTQs, you will not receive consideration for the position.

The candidate selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by a Qualifications Review Board of the Office of Personnel Management before appointment to this position and will be required to serve a one-year trial (probationary) period in this position.

Education

Salary range has been updated. Vacancy announcement is extended to June 13th due to changes with the salary.

To qualify for this position of General Counsel, the incumbent must:

Possess at least the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (if selected official copies of your transcripts will be requested prior to entry on duty); AND
Applicants must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. State, a U.S. Commonwealth, or a U.S. territory.

Additional information

If not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by a Qualifications Review Board of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) before appointment to this position and will be required to serve a one-year trial (probationary) period in this position. The actual salary will be set by determining the appropriate SES level for the person selected. For more information regarding the SES, go to www.opm.gov/ses.

STANDAREDS OF CONDUCT/FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE:
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) inspires public confidence in our work by maintaining high ethical principles. IMLS employees are subject to Federal government-wide regulations and statutes as well as agency-specific regulations described at the IMLS Ethics website. We encourage you to review this information.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE:
This position requires the incumbent to complete a public financial disclosure report as a condition of employment.

FINANCIAL SUITABILITY:
It is the policy of the government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has experienced financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination.

SELECTIVE SERVICE:
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
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VETERAN'S PREFERENCE:
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to SES appointments; however, the Institute of Museum and Library Service considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor consideration in the SES hiring process. If you are eligible for veterans' preference in hiring, you are encouraged to include that information in your application along with the supporting documentation, e.g., SF-15, DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other supporting documentation.

CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CTAP):
The CTAP is not applicable for candidates seeking SES appointment authority.

BARGAINING UNIT STATUS:
This position is NOT covered by the bargaining unit.

HIRING INCENTIVES:

Eligible for Student Loan Repayment Program
Eligible for Tuition Assistance Program
This position is telework eligible

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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.