Attorney Advisor

Summary

This position is for 2 staff attorneys in FTA's Of

fi ce of Chief Counsel, Litigation and Regional Operations Division, and functions, speci fi cally, as the Regional Counsel in Region 5 or 9. You will provide a wide range of legal services involving all functional areas assigned to the Of fi ce of Chief Counsel, including research and counseling on all legal requirements pertaining to the regional of fi ce's administration of FTA's grant and loan programs, and the agency's related authorities.

Duties

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As an Attorney Advisor , you will:

• Serve as counsel to the agency and as a member of the Chief Counsel's staff. Serve as a legal resource, respond to questions posed by FTA Regional staff and others within and outside the Federal Government and prepare necessary documentation to support the agency's position on matters for which the incumbent has primary responsibility. Advise on questions of law or administrative policy involved in the operation of FTA and in its contacts with industry, private and professional associations, State and local governments, and the public.
• Provide litigation support in cases involving the Agency, as needed, which may include compiling the administrative record; performing legal research; reviewing/editing litigation papers; and working with attorneys from FTA, DOT, the Justice Department, and other Federal agencies on case strategy and legal positions.
• Evaluate pending grant applications for legal sufficiency, ascertaining whether the Regional Administrator has an adequate basis upon which to make the findings and determinations that are a prerequisite to grant approval. Following the execution of grant agreements by FTA's grant recipients, the candidate assists in ensuring proper execution of the projects.
• Provide legal advice relating to public safety and security of transit agencies in FTA Region 5 or 9, including compliance oversight and enforcement.
• Draft legal opinions and perform legal services concerning the negotiation, drafting, execution, and administration of Federal grants, and cooperative agreements regarding various agency programs. Timely review of draft environmental documents under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to ensure supporting documentation is adequate for an administrative record. Ensure that agency decisions are supported by adequate administrative records and supporting legal rationale, including compliance with environmental and historic preservation requirements.

The ideal candidate is one with experience in general law, including the following areas: government contracts, administrative, grants agreements, real property, Federal ethics, and/or environmental law.

Requirements

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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.
• PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT:  Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection, and a service agreement may be required.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contract-issued travel cared will be issued and must be retained for official business only.

Qualifications

To qualify, your experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following:

GRADE 13 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and either three years of professional attorney experience OR one year of professional attorney experience and a second professional law degree (LL.M) which requires one full year of graduate study.

GRADE 14 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least five (5) years of professional attorney experience.

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:

Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines - Knowledge of principles, laws, regulations, policies, practices, and guidelines (for example, Executive Orders, Code of Federal Regulations, OMB circulars) of transportation and fiscal law, 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.

Administrative Law - Knowledge of state and Federal administrative laws, including procedures, regulations, guidelines, and precedents related to case preparation and settlements.

Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

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:

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

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your 2-year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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. Code9202(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.

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.

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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.