The General Counsel of the FCC, as Chief Legal Advisor for the Commission, is responsible for advising and consulting with the five Commissioners and the Chiefs of its operating Bureaus and Offices in all matters involving the interpretation and application of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, the Telecommunications Act of 1966, Communications Satellite Act of 1962, the Commission’s rules and regulations, the Administrative Procedures Act, various international treaties to which the United States is a party signatory, as well as other pertinent enacted or proposed legislation affecting the jurisdiction and responsibilities of the Federal Communications Commission as an independent regulatory agency.

The General Counsel serves as the head of OGC, which consists of the Immediate Office of the General counsel, including three Deputy Counsels; and two Divisions as well as a specialized team, each headed by an Associate or Assistant General Counsel: Litigation Division, Administrative Law Division, and a team specializing in handling fraud, bankruptcy, and transaction matters. In addition, the General Counsel is responsible, subject to Commission approval, for the establishment of recruitment policies and standards for legal personnel and for coordinating the hiring of attorneys throughout the Commission.

The General Counsel is the Commission’s legal representative in all matters of litigation in the courts of the United States, defending its orders and decisions and enforcing its directives and proper compliance with its rules and regulations. Further, the General Counsel, with the assistance of key members of his/her staff, is responsible for representing the Commission and coordinating the activities of its various Bureaus and Offices in connection with other departments and agencies of the Federal Government, with interdepartmental and industry advisory groups, and with bas associations.
The General Counsel influences the development of, and is a principal spokesman for, Commission policy in managing and providing leadership over functions assigned to OGC. He/she represents and speaks for the Chairman and the Commissioners via interface and continual dialogue with high-level officials of other government agencies and private industry, members of the public, etc.

Conditions of employment

• Bar Membership in Good Standing Required
• Education-Transcripts Required
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance
• Must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.

Note: Those applicants currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service appointment, who are eligible for reinstatement into the Senior Executive Service, or who have successfully completed a Senior Executive Service Candidate development Program approved by OPM, need not submit a narrative statement covering each of the Executive Core Qualifications However those applicants must address the Mandatory Technical Competencies.

Qualifications

Applicants must provide detailed evidence of possession of each of the Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Competencies listed below to assist reviewing officials in determining the best qualified candidates to be referred to the selecting official. FAILURE TO MEET OR ADDRESS ANY ONE OF THE MANDATORY TECHNICAL OR EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATION (ECQ) STANDARDS WILL ELIMINATE A CANDIDATE FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION. For more information on ECQs, refer to the OPM Guide to Senior Executive Service (SES) Executive Core Qualifications available on-line at: OPM SES ECQ Guide.

MANDATORY TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES: All candidates must submit a narrative statement addressing each of the following Technical Competencies.

1. Experience that demonstrates an ability to analyze legal and policy implications of a wide range of communications, statutory, administrative, and constitutional law issues.

2. Experience that demonstrates knowledge of U.S. District Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, and U.S. Supreme Court practice.

3. Experience that demonstrates an ability to draft and edit complex pleadings, including briefs, and argue cases before Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeal.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS:

1 - Leading Change: 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.

ECQ 2 - Leading People: 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.

ECQ 3 - Results Driven: Ability to meet organizational 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.

ECQ 4 - Business Acumen: Ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

ECQ 5 - Building Coalitions/Communication: 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. A panel may be convened to determine "best qualified" candidates. The rating and ranking will be based upon consideration of the degree to which you meet the Executive Core Qualifications, and Mandatory Technical Competencies. Interviews and qualifications inquiries may be required.
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