OGC, with Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, is led by the General Counsel and the Deputy General Counsel who provide legal services and advice to the Commissioner and members of SSA's executive staff. OGC also has two offices in Headquarters, the Office of Program Law, and the Office of General Law, each headed by an Associate General Counsel, that provide a full complement of legal services to the agency. OGC also has an Office of Privacy and Disclosure, headed by an Executive Director. In addition, OGC has offices in ten major U.S. cities.

Each office is headed by a Regional Chief Counsel and is responsible for providing legal services and support to the Regional Commissioner and SSA components within the region. OGC has regional offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle.

The Regional Chief Counsel is the principal regional-based OGC official responsible for providing executive leadership and coordination of the full range of legal services for all programs and responsibilities in the Atlanta region, encompassing the states of: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

OGC attorneys, under the direction of the Regional Chief Counsel, provide legal services and advice in matters concerning the policies, operations, and administration of the various programs administered by SSA. They also provide legal services to SSA with respect to business management activities and administrative operations, including procurement, contracts, patents, copyrights, personnel, budget, appropriations, employment, compensation, travel, and non-benefit claims by and against SSA.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Candidates must have had responsible professional experience at a senior level (equivalent to the GS-15 in either the General Schedule (GS) or a comparable pay plan).

Qualifications

The application process used to recruit for this position is the RESUME BASED method. Although applicants cannot address the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) separately, evidence of each must be clearly demonstrated in the five (5) page resume and throughout the rest of the application package.

Candidates must have had responsible professional experience at a senior level (equivalent to the GS-15 in either the General Schedule (GS) or a comparable pay plan).

MANDATORY EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): The ECQs describe the leadership skills needed to succeed in the Senior Executive Service (SES). Your resume and application must demonstrate and address the ECQs and include examples that are clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities; address the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, or services managed; program accomplishments; describe policy initiatives undertaken; define level of contacts; convey the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and identify the results of actions taken. The five ECQs are as follows:

(1) Leading Change - Ability to develop and implement an organizational vision with integrates key national and program goals, priorities, values, and other factors. Inherent to it is the ability to balance change and continuity--to continually strive to improve customer service and program performance within the basic Government framework, to create a work environment that encourages creative thinking, and to maintain focus, intensity and persistence, even under adversity. Includes the ability to formulate effective program strategies consistent with the overall goals of the organization.

(2) Leading People - Ability to design and implement strategies which maximize employee potential and foster high ethical standards in meeting the organization's vision, mission and goals. Includes leveraging diversity and other differences, promoting developmental opportunities for staff, fostering commitment and team spirit, and constructively resolving conflicts.

(3) Results Driven - Stresses accountability and continuous improvement. It includes the ability to make timely and effective decisions and produce results through strategic planning and the implementation and evaluation of program and policies. Includes the ability to address and balance complex and diverse program requirements within available resources in response to major changing needs in the diverse field of social insurance/welfare reform and the interdisciplinary impact on social insurance programs.

(4) Business Acumen - Ability to acquire and administer human, financial, material, and information resources in a manner which instills public trust and accomplishes the organization's mission, and to use new technology to enhance decision making. Includes demonstrated ability in recruiting and selecting staff, allocating resources, and/or managing budgetary processes.

(5) Building Coalitions - Ability to explain, advocate and express facts and ideas in a convincing manner, and negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally. It also involves the ability to develop an expansive professional network with other organizations, and to identify the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Includes ability to interact constructively with Federal officials, representatives of professional organizations and the public sector.

MANDATORY PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): A supplemental narrative must be submitted separately addressing each Mandatory Professional/Technical Qualification (MTQ) below. No more than one (1) page per MTQ is allowed; additional information will not be considered.

(1) Membership in the bar of the court of a State, Territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (You MUST include a copy of current/active Bar Membership)

(2) Significant experience in the practice of law, either in the area of administrative or court litigation, or other administrative law, but must demonstrate mastery over a complex area of law as evidenced by continuous progression through the candidate's career into positions advising on more significant and difficult legal issues in one or more legal specialties relevant to the position.

(3) Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with high-level officials of public or private entities orally and in writing.


DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS (DQs):
(1) Demonstrated experience and accomplishments leading organizational change and management of personnel, particularly in a time of impending organizational change.

(2) Professional development, career progress, or awards/recognition that would indicate high potential for success in this position.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

As part of the Resume Based recruitment method, applicants must submit a five (5) page resume and a separate narrative addressing each MTQ (maximum of one (1) page per MTQ). Pages submitted in excess of the limits described above will not be considered. Do not list a Social Security Number or Date of Birth on any attachment.

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your accomplishments and experience. Your application will be rated and ranked by an SES Rating Panel, comprised of at least three SES members, using only the information submitted within the application package. Applicants who do not demonstrate sufficient possession of the ECQs and MTQs will be deemed ineligible for further consideration. Applicants determined to be Highly Qualified may undergo an interview and a reference check. If you are the recommended selectee, you may be asked to submit a written narrative statement addressing each of the ECQs, which must be certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board prior to appointment, unless you are a current SES executive or have successfully participated in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program.