The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent component of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the United States Agency for Global Media. This position is located in the Office of General Counsel (OGC) within the Office of Inspector General (OIG), responsible for providing legal services to OIG and its members to aid them in fulfilling their statutory duties of promoting economy and efficiency and preventing and detecting fraud, waste and abuse in the programs and operations.
Summary
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent component of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the United States Agency for Global Media. This position is located in the Office of General Counsel (OGC) within the Office of Inspector General (OIG), responsible for providing legal services to OIG and its members to aid them in fulfilling their statutory duties of promoting economy and efficiency and preventing and detecting fraud, waste and abuse in the programs and operations.
Status Candidates Noncompetitive Reinstatement Eligible Veterans "You are encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application package. Your application may not get full consideration if you do not follow the instructions as outlined." "More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade and unit occur."
The incumbent reports to the General Counsel and provides consultation on policy and legal requirements relative to the operations and/or organization of the OIG, Congressional relations and on investigative, audit, and inspection matters of concern to the Department.
Perform legal analysis and research, conduct necessary conferences and consultations and provide litigation support and advice and counsel to the senior leadership and other staff of INV and OIG on the full spectrum of federal, civil and criminal fraud and law enforcement related issues, such as routine investigative activities (e.g. document review, interviews), specialized investigative activities (e.g. subpoenas, civil investigative demands, grand jury procedures, consensual monitoring and surveillance) and law enforcement operations (e.g. search and arrest warrants, undercover and confidential source operations); conduct legal sufficiency review of INV products; handle litigation related to the work of INV or other OIG program, operations or components; work with Department of Justice, Department of State and other government attorneys regarding litigation or investigations involving criminal, civil, and administrative violations and other matters; prepare briefs, memoranda, and opinions related to criminal, civil, and administrative investigations and law enforcement operations; assist in the development of policies and procedures governing INV programs and operations. The work may also include, reviewing proposals to utilize sensitive investigative techniques. Such work may include, among other areas, Contract Fraud, Grant Fraud, Senior Official Criminal Misconduct, Public Corruption and Large-scale Financial and Programmatic Crimes, performing such other duties as assigned by the General Counsel in support of other OIG offices and operations and the office of General Counsel.
Statement of Employment & Financial Interest required prior to appointment.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
U.S. Citizenship is required.
Relocation expenses will NOT be paid.
Copy of license to practice law.
Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.
Time-In-Grade Requirements:Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5CFR 300, Subpart F.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet the required qualification requirements and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. Education may only be substituted in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: -A broad knowledge of a wide range of criminal investigative experience, including, but not limited to, public corruption, fraud, or financial crimes; experience in a Rackets or Appeals Unit. Skills in investigative report writing and prior editing or proofreading experience. Experience in legal, to include litigation, investigative, advisory, or law enforcement. Demonstrated experience providing legal support for highly diverse programmatic activities such as records, appeals and handling FOIA, or other activities that generate legal issues requiring analysis by an attorney with a general law background. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-15 position. In addition, applicant's experience must also demonstrate that the candidate possesses the following qualities:
OIG experience or other federal government oversight operations, policies and procedures, especially with respect to procurement, contracting, capital construction or grants, and applicable federal law, regulations and guidance related to procurement; substantial legal experience, to include litigation, investigative, advisory, or law enforcement experience, preferably with a prosecutor’s office, law enforcement or regulatory agency, in state or the federal government, or comparable legal experience; substantial investigative report writing and prior editing or proofreading experience; prior False Claims Act; Qui Tam, PFCRA and/or other litigation experience; experience in crafting clear, well-written reports for public/external issuance, containing findings of fact and recommendations for remedial action or improvements; strong legal research and analytical skills, with prior public policy experience; experience in corporate or governmental compliance; experience in responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, such as serving as an Appeals Officer, Records Access Officer, and/or handling FOIA-related litigation; and experience in drafting subpoenas, and handling litigation to enforce subpoena compliance.
Education
See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements, if applicable.
Additional information
"More than one selection may be made from this announcement if
additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade and
unit occur."
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER - Your Social Security Number is
requested under the authority of Executive Order 9397 to uniquely
identify your records from those of other applicants who may have
the same name. As allowed by law or Presidential directive, your
Social Security Number is used to seek information about you from
employers, schools, banks, and others who may know you. Failure to
provide your Social Security Number on your application materials
will result in your application not being processed.
BUYOUT - If you previously left federal employment and
received a separation incentive (buyout) and you are selected for
this position, you may be required to repay the full amount of the
buyout to the agency that paid you.
PRIVACY ACT - Your application contains information
subject to the Privacy Act (p.L. 93-579.5 USC 552a). This
information is used to determine qualifications for employment
and is authorized under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, Sections 3302 and
3361.
FALSE STATEMENT - If you make false statements in any part
of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after
you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or
other disciplinary action.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION - This agency provides reasonable
accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a
reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring
process, please notify the Office of Employee Relations, Work/Life
Programs, at (202) 261-8180. The decision on granting reasonable
accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.
To be eligible for Federal employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify at the time of appointment that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under Selective Service law.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The Department of State is
an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates will receive consideration
without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
marital status, age, political affiliation, union or non-union
affiliation, sexual orientation, disability, or any other non-
merit factors.
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.
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of State considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor in the hiring process.
For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the qualifications for this position, specifically, the education and specialized experience requirements. Applicants will not be rated or ranked. All applicants that are verified to meet the required qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.
Your resume will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required; and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), and other characteristics that are relevant to the duties of this position as defined below:
- Knowledge of law of evidence involving criminal, civil, and administrative investigations and law enforcement operations.
- Knowledge of requirements for administrative hearings, civil and criminal prosecution.
- Comprehensive Knowledge of the mission, policies, programs and activities of the Department of State and the Office of Inspector General.
- Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships and communicate with high level officials.
- Ability to respond to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, such as serving as an Appeals Officer, Records Access Officer, and/or handling FOIA-related litigation.
Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. 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). Your resume should include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week. For assistance with creating a resume, please click here.
Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements and submit any supporting documentation by the closing date of this announcement. Your application package must contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic/specialized experience requirements as stated in this job opportunity announcement for each grade level(s) for which you are applying.
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.
All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system "Gateway to State" by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
1. Resume – your resume or any other written format you choose should contain the required information as specified in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section. Insufficient information will result in an ineligible rating.
2. Writing Sample – you must submit a writing sample (less than 10 pages) with your application.
3. A completed online questionnaire through the Department's automated system "Gateway to State".
4. Transcripts – you must submit a copy of your college transcript(s) from an accredited law school with your application. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment.
5. Proof of bar membership – you must submit proof of bar membership from any state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with your application.
6. If you are qualifying based on other criteria listed under the Qualification Section of this announcement, you MUST submit the required supporting documentation (certificates, certifications, etc.) with your application. 7. References – you must submit three professional references with your application.
8. Veterans Preference – There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of State considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor in the hiring process. If claiming veteran's preference, you must indicate the type of veteran's preference you are claiming on your resume.
For 5-point veteran's preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 is preferable) which must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. If you are currently on active duty, you must provide a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service dates, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted for consideration for this vacancy announcement. If the appropriate information is not submitted to confirm your current or expected discharge status, dates of service, etc., you will not receive credit for the claimed active duty military service.
For 10-point veteran's preference, in addition to the DD-214 or certification, you must also submit a current version of the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference), dated October 2013, and any documentation required by this form to support your claim. Previous editions of the SF-15 will not be accepted. If we cannot verify your 10-point preference status, you will receive 5-point preference if veterans' preference requirements have been met. For further information regarding Veterans, click here.
For Sole Survivorship preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4 is preferable) or another form of official documentation which shows your discharge or release from active duty occurred on or after August 29, 2008 and was based on a sole survivorship discharge.
To gain access to your DD214 online, please visit: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html
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.
To start your application, click Apply and we’ll walk you through the process where you’ll attach a resume and any required documents.
During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. We’ll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won’t lose any changes.
Please carefully read all the instructions before you apply. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process.
STEP 1: Select the "Apply On-line" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.
STEP 2: Submit a detailed resume or any other written format you choose documenting your job-related qualifications, experience, and education (if applicable). Cover letter is optional. If you submit a cover letter, you must also submit a resume. Please see the How You Will Be Evaluated section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume.
STEP 3: Answer the job-specific self-assessment questions on-line through the U.S. Department of State’s Gateway to State automated application system. The questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications and experience for this position.
STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement, to the Department’s Gateway to State automated application system prior to the closing date of this announcement. For instructions on how to view the status of your supporting documentation, please click here.
Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at mgshelp@monster.com or by calling (866) 656-6830 or (703) 269-4944 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET
ALTERNATE APPLICATION PROCEDURES
NOTE: If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package by fax. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET at least 2 working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. Paper applications and information sent by mail WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
U.S. Department of State
1700 N Moore St
SA-39, rm 1400
Attn: OIG
Rosslyn, Virginia 22209
United States
Next steps
After all application packages have been received, we will review your resume to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. After we review and evaluate all applications, the most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration for possible interviews in approximately two weeks after the announcement closes. After a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability review and/or security background investigation, which generally takes an average of at least two to six months.
You will be notified up to four times during the hiring process:
1. Upon receipt of your application. 2. Upon minimum qualification determinations. 3. After the certificate is issued. 4. After final selection is made.
For instructions on how to view the status of your application, please click here.
Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system "Gateway to State" by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
1. Resume – your resume or any other written format you choose should contain the required information as specified in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section. Insufficient information will result in an ineligible rating.
2. Writing Sample – you must submit a writing sample (less than 10 pages) with your application.
3. A completed online questionnaire through the Department's automated system "Gateway to State".
4. Transcripts – you must submit a copy of your college transcript(s) from an accredited law school with your application. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment.
5. Proof of bar membership – you must submit proof of bar membership from any state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with your application.
6. If you are qualifying based on other criteria listed under the Qualification Section of this announcement, you MUST submit the required supporting documentation (certificates, certifications, etc.) with your application. 7. References – you must submit three professional references with your application.
8. Veterans Preference – There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of State considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor in the hiring process. If claiming veteran's preference, you must indicate the type of veteran's preference you are claiming on your resume.
For 5-point veteran's preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 is preferable) which must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. If you are currently on active duty, you must provide a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service dates, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted for consideration for this vacancy announcement. If the appropriate information is not submitted to confirm your current or expected discharge status, dates of service, etc., you will not receive credit for the claimed active duty military service.
For 10-point veteran's preference, in addition to the DD-214 or certification, you must also submit a current version of the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference), dated October 2013, and any documentation required by this form to support your claim. Previous editions of the SF-15 will not be accepted. If we cannot verify your 10-point preference status, you will receive 5-point preference if veterans' preference requirements have been met. For further information regarding Veterans, click here.
For Sole Survivorship preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4 is preferable) or another form of official documentation which shows your discharge or release from active duty occurred on or after August 29, 2008 and was based on a sole survivorship discharge.
To gain access to your DD214 online, please visit: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html
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.
To start your application, click Apply and we’ll walk you through the process where you’ll attach a resume and any required documents.
During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. We’ll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won’t lose any changes.
Please carefully read all the instructions before you apply. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process.
STEP 1: Select the "Apply On-line" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.
STEP 2: Submit a detailed resume or any other written format you choose documenting your job-related qualifications, experience, and education (if applicable). Cover letter is optional. If you submit a cover letter, you must also submit a resume. Please see the How You Will Be Evaluated section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume.
STEP 3: Answer the job-specific self-assessment questions on-line through the U.S. Department of State’s Gateway to State automated application system. The questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications and experience for this position.
STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement, to the Department’s Gateway to State automated application system prior to the closing date of this announcement. For instructions on how to view the status of your supporting documentation, please click here.
Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at mgshelp@monster.com or by calling (866) 656-6830 or (703) 269-4944 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET
ALTERNATE APPLICATION PROCEDURES
NOTE: If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package by fax. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET at least 2 working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. Paper applications and information sent by mail WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
U.S. Department of State
1700 N Moore St
SA-39, rm 1400
Attn: OIG
Rosslyn, Virginia 22209
United States
Next steps
After all application packages have been received, we will review your resume to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. After we review and evaluate all applications, the most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration for possible interviews in approximately two weeks after the announcement closes. After a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability review and/or security background investigation, which generally takes an average of at least two to six months.
You will be notified up to four times during the hiring process:
1. Upon receipt of your application. 2. Upon minimum qualification determinations. 3. After the certificate is issued. 4. After final selection is made.
For instructions on how to view the status of your application, please click here.
Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
