The Regional Solicitor represents and acts for the Solicitor as the chief legal officer for the Department of the Interior for legal matters covered in the Pacific Southwest Region. Responsibilities include:
Reviews completed work of attorneys for effectiveness and success of actions taken; determines work load; reviews and determines fiscal and personnel requirements for a legal and administrative staff; determines the impact of new programs and projects; and, reviews budgetary demands involved in the Regional operations as well as participating in the same activities for the Office of the Solicitor nationwide.
Appears as Department Counsel in contract negotiations, administrative hearings and proceedings; reviews and prepares documents, contracts, grants, leases, and wills; develops legal theories, tactics, and procedures; prepares for and assists in the trial of matters litigated and appealed in Federal Courts; furnishes technical and policy guidance in the solution of complex legal issues; performs exhaustive research; furnishes legal advice, opinions, decisions and new and novel legal procedures, instruments, and documents required to facilitate and provide the most effective operation, administration and enforcement of various Departmental programs and activities.
The Regional Solicitor represents the Solicitor, Secretary or other Departmental officials in meetings, negotiations and conferences with Governors and key officials of state and local governments, Members of Congress and their staffs, State and Federal Judges, distinguished private attorneys, and high officials of other Federal agencies and the Department.
*A background investigation is required for this position. It is not a prerequisite to apply, however, the selectee must possess the ability to obtain and maintain a public trust level background investigation as a condition of placement in this Moderate Risk designated position. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
*An individual entering this position on an initial career SES appointment must have their ECQs certified by an Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Review Board prior to appointment and will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
* Within 30 days after selection, incumbent of this position will be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report (SF-278) and supplemental form, Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interest (DI-278).
*Every Federal employee is subject to comply with Ethics rules. Serious candidates for this position must be cleared of conflicts that would prevent them from performing the duties of the position.
*OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.
*Must be an active member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.
*DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
*You must meet all requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
*If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, upon selection, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
Qualifications
As a basic requirement, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive level leadership and legal office management directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Executive Core Qualifications(ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with State or local government, the private sector, or nongovernmental organizations. To meet the minimum qualifications, you must meet the education requirement and clearly show that you possess the ECQs and TQs. Failure to meet or address each mandatory ECQ or TQ will disqualify an applicant.
Please provide a written narrative describing your experience that has equipped you for this position. Your examples should be clear and concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope, and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives, and level of contacts. Be specific in describing results achieved for each of the factors. EACH ECQ and TQ MUST BE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY. Narrative statements for the ECQs must not exceed 10 pages. Narrative Statements for the TQs must not exceed two pages each. The narrative addressing ECQs should follow the format provided at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/. Applicants who refer to their resume as a response will not receive consideration.
If you are a current or reinstatement eligible Career SES member or graduate of an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and your ECQs have been previously certified by OPM’s Qualification Review Board (QRB), you are not required to address the ECQs. However, you MUST provide separate narrative responses addressing all mandatory TQs. Current and reinstatement eligible SES members should include a copy of your SF-50 (notification of personnel action) with your application documenting your career appointment to the SES. SES CDP graduates should include a copy of your OPM certificate.
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) -Mandatory:
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 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. 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.
These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the ECQ: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Written Communication, Continual Learning, Public Service Motivation.
Technical Qualifications:
Expert knowledge of and competency in the application of the full range of laws and regulations related to most of these areas: land and water resources; Indian and territorial affairs; fish and wildlife; parks; energy; minerals; mining; grazing; natural resource damage assessment and restoration; procurement; patents; grants; contracts; tort claims; environmental impact; equal employment opportunity; personnel; freedom of information; and, litigation.
Demonstrated executive level ability to manage a legal program with diverse activities, including experience developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing policies, procedures, and operations.
Demonstrated executive level ability to coordinate and oversee both litigation and administrative proceedings.
Education
You must be a graduate with LL.B or J.D. degree and must be an active member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar. Proof of bar certification will be required prior to appointment. Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/foreign.html
Additional information
Additonal Information: *Time in grade restrictions and Veterans Preference does not apply in consideration of candidates for the Senior Executive Service. *Under Executive Order 11935, only U.S. citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. *Competitive status is not required. *Under 5 U.S.C. 3131, the SES provides flexible assignment rules to accomplish the agency mission. *To learn more about the Senior Executive Service: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/ *Career employees are eligible for bonuses in addition to base pay increases based on performance. *Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. *The duties of this position are suitable for telework with supervisor approval.
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.
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluted for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications. You must clearly show that you possess the experience, knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of an executive. This information will be obtained from the application package. Verification of performance, suitability, and security information will be taken into consideration when making an offer of employment. Applicants who meet all the mandatory executive and technical qualifications will be evaluated by a panel of SES members to who will determine which applicants are best qualified. The Department’s Executive Resources Board will review results and make recommendations on final selection to the appointing authority. To preview questions please click here.
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.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package which includes: 1. REQUIRED. Your resume – it must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement. Insufficient information will result in a not qualified rating. It is recommended that you include the following information: Full name, mailing address, telephone numbers, bar membership information, Educational information, information about your paid and nonpaid work experience related to this position. 2. REQUIRED. A narrative statement addressing each of the TQs and ECQs (2 examples preferred). Each ECQ and technical qualification must be addressed separately. ECQ narrative statements must not exceed 10 pages and 2 pages for each individual TQ and each individual ECQ. OR... If you are a graduate of an approved SES Candidate Development Program, you must include a copy of the OPM certification of eligibility and a narrative statement addressing only the technical qualifications. OR...If you are a current or former SES member, you must submit documentation of your SES status and a narrative statement addressing only the technical qualifications. 3. REQUIRED. If you are a current Federal employee, a copy of a recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that indicates Federal status, grade, tenure, and type of service. Please remove your social security number and date of birth. 4. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. A copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (from either the Federal or private sector). Please remove your social security number.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
The application package must be received on-line via USAJOBS before 11:59 pm Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete application, you will not be considered. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, please speak to a Servicing Human Resources Office for assistance, prior to the closing date.
Instructions for Applying Online: 1) Click the blue "Apply Online" button. 2) If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application. If you are a registered user, login in to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3) As a registered user, select a stored resume and documents to attach to the application. 4) Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. 5) Address the eligibility and narrative questions. 6) Submit required documents. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.
If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk. Note: USAJOBS is compatible with the following browser versions: Internet Explorer 9 or higher, Safari v 5 or higher, Chrome, and Firefox.
INTERIOR, Office of the Solicitor
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Room 1A513
Reston, Virginia 20192
United States
Next steps
We will conduct a qualifications evaluation of applicants who supply all requested material. Qualified applicants will be rated and ranked by a panel. Best qualified candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome after approval of the selectee by our Executive Resources Board.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package which includes: 1. REQUIRED. Your resume – it must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement. Insufficient information will result in a not qualified rating. It is recommended that you include the following information: Full name, mailing address, telephone numbers, bar membership information, Educational information, information about your paid and nonpaid work experience related to this position. 2. REQUIRED. A narrative statement addressing each of the TQs and ECQs (2 examples preferred). Each ECQ and technical qualification must be addressed separately. ECQ narrative statements must not exceed 10 pages and 2 pages for each individual TQ and each individual ECQ. OR... If you are a graduate of an approved SES Candidate Development Program, you must include a copy of the OPM certification of eligibility and a narrative statement addressing only the technical qualifications. OR...If you are a current or former SES member, you must submit documentation of your SES status and a narrative statement addressing only the technical qualifications. 3. REQUIRED. If you are a current Federal employee, a copy of a recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that indicates Federal status, grade, tenure, and type of service. Please remove your social security number and date of birth. 4. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. A copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (from either the Federal or private sector). Please remove your social security number.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
The application package must be received on-line via USAJOBS before 11:59 pm Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete application, you will not be considered. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, please speak to a Servicing Human Resources Office for assistance, prior to the closing date.
Instructions for Applying Online: 1) Click the blue "Apply Online" button. 2) If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application. If you are a registered user, login in to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3) As a registered user, select a stored resume and documents to attach to the application. 4) Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. 5) Address the eligibility and narrative questions. 6) Submit required documents. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.
If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk. Note: USAJOBS is compatible with the following browser versions: Internet Explorer 9 or higher, Safari v 5 or higher, Chrome, and Firefox.
INTERIOR, Office of the Solicitor
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Room 1A513
Reston, Virginia 20192
United States
Next steps
We will conduct a qualifications evaluation of applicants who supply all requested material. Qualified applicants will be rated and ranked by a panel. Best qualified candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome after approval of the selectee by our Executive Resources Board.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
