Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Deputy General Counsel

Office of the Director of National Intelligence
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This is an opportunity for a SNIS Executive Tier 1 staff reserve position in the ODNI. Staff reserve appointments are time-limited appointments made for a period of up to 3 years, with a possible extension up to 1 + 1 additional years.

  • An internal or external candidate to fill a SNIS Executive Tier 1 cadre position.
  • A Federal Government employee to serve on a two-year reimbursable detail assignment in the ODNI. The detail assignment may be extended an additional year if all parties agree.

Overview

Help
Job closed
Open & closing dates
10/20/2021 to 11/04/2021
Salary
$132,552 to - $183,300 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
McLean, VA
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
17839-DE-11271678-22-AA
Control number
617953000

Duties

Help

Component Mission

The General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) provides advice and counsel to the DNI and ODNI officials on a wide range of legal issues. The duties of the DNI and the ODNI are laid out in the National Security Act, as amended, Executive Order 12333, as amended, and other applicable laws. In accordance with these authorities, the DNI serves as the head of the Intelligence Community (IC); acts as the principal adviser to the President, to the National Security Council, and to other senior government officials for intelligence matters related to national security; and oversees and directs the implementation of the National Intelligence Program (NIP) and the execution of the NIP budget. The Director leads a unified, coordinated, and effective intelligence effort and oversees the 17 elements of the IC. The DNI is also charged with ensuring compliance with the Constitution and laws of the United States by elements of the IC


Major Duties and Responsibilities (MDRs)

Provide expert, authoritative advice and counsel to the ODNI General Counsel and senior leadership and staff on often complex, difficult, and novel legal issues (1) that affect the responsibilities of the DNI and ODNI as they relate to statutes, Presidential directives, Executive Orders, and other related laws and policies, including the DNI's statutory responsibility to ensure compliance with the Constitution and laws of the United States by elements of the IC; and (2) that relate to all aspects of intelligence law and federal agency law, to include collection, analysis, covert action, foreign relations, intelligence and information sharing, security and protection of sources and methods, intelligence policy and legislation, and other related areas of intelligence and national security law, intelligence community policies and legislation, administrative law, personnel law, government ethics, government information practices, acquisition and procurement law, and federal appropriations law.

Render legal opinions and associated oral advice on a wide range of issues, often in areas where few or no legal precedents exist, and ensure legal requirements are implemented across the IC.
Provide expert legal advice to support the DNI's responsibilities to develop and determine the National Intelligence Program (NIP) budget and ensure the effective execution of the annual budget for intelligence and intelligence-related activities.

Research and analyze a wide variety of laws, regulations, legislation, and policies; and draft or review new legislation (to include the annual Intelligence Authorization Act), Executive Orders, policies, congressional testimony, and related policy guidance.

Supervise and manage a team of attorneys and staff, including assisting with the supervision of other managers and the management of the OGC, including the development of the OGC budget, the approval of leave and training requests, the distribution of portfolios and assignments, the HR process, and other general office management issues.

Establish and maintain effective relations with the legal and (at times) policy offices of other Executive agencies and organizations, including the National Security Council; other IC elements; the Department of Justice National Security Division, as well as with the Congressional Intelligence Oversight Committees, with a particular focus on ensuring a comprehensive legal approach to major system acquisition law and policy; budget planning, programming and execution issues; research and technology; and the related fields of intellectual property law and government ethics.

Establish and manage liaison relationships with external partners to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to intelligence and national security law topics.

Represent the General Counsel and the ODNI on a variety of intra- and inter-agency committees and working groups.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

Mandatory and Educational Requirements

In-depth knowledge of the legal issues affecting the IC with specialized experience following in at least 3 of the following areas: (1) National Intelligence Program budget development and execution; (2) general acquisition and procurement law and policy, to include major system acquisitions, source selections, and contract disputes; (3) research and development programs; (4) review of proposed legislation; (5) Congressional oversight and other Congressional liaison matters (6) administrative law, government ethics, and personnel law; or (7) government information practices and related litigation, to include the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. In-depth knowledge of the mission and legal issues affecting the IC.

Demonstrated ability to think creatively to solve complex and novel legal issues.

Demonstrated ability to establish and manage professional networking relationships both internal and external to the OGC and the ODNI and to gain consensus among disparate organizations on legal and national security issues of common concern.

Superior research abilities and written and oral communication skills, as evidenced by a demonstrated ability to deliver sound legal advice to senior government officials.

Demonstrated ability to integrate and synthesize voluminous and disparate information and comments into concise statements of agency policy, positions, or concerns.

A reputation for integrity, objectivity, initiative and fairness.

Experience effectively managing attorneys and legal staff, which includes the ability to recruit, develop, train, and retain exceptional legal talent and effective support personnel; and experience assisting with the management of a legal office, to include planning and executing an office budget.

The ability to maintain effective working relationships within the OGC and between the OGC and other offices.


Qualifications

Who May Apply

Senior Service (SNIS, SES, SIS, DISES, DISL) and highly qualified GS-15 candidates may apply.
Former members of the Peace Corps may be considered for ODNI employment only if five full years have elapsed since separation from the Peace Corps.

  • For a cadre assignment:
    • Current Internal ODNI cadre. (Current Senior Service employees at the same grade and highly qualified GS-15s may apply.)
    • Current ODNI Staff Reserve Employees. (A staff reserve employee who currently occupies this position may not apply.)
    • Current Federal Government employees. (Current Senior Service employees at the same grade and highly qualified GS-15s may apply.)
    • Candidates outside the Federal Government.
  • For a detailee assignment:
    • Current Federal Government employees. (Current Senior Service employees at the same grade and highly qualified GS-15s may apply.)
Salary Determination
  • The ODNI uses a rank-in-person system in which rank is attached to the individual. A selected ODNI candidate or other Federal Government candidate will be assigned to the position at the employee's current grade and salary.
  • For a selected non-Federal Government candidate, salary will be established within the salary range listed above, based on education and experience.
  • A current Federal Government employee, selected for a detail, will be assigned to the position at his or her current grade and salary.
Component Mission

The General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) provides advice and counsel to the DNI and ODNI officials on a wide range of legal issues. The duties of the DNI and the ODNI are laid out in the National Security Act, as amended, Executive Order 12333, as amended, and other applicable laws. In accordance with these authorities, the DNI serves as the head of the Intelligence Community (IC); acts as the principal adviser to the President, to the National Security Council, and to other senior government officials for intelligence matters related to national security; and oversees and directs the implementation of the National Intelligence Program (NIP) and the execution of the NIP budget. The Director leads a unified, coordinated, and effective intelligence effort and oversees the 17 elements of the IC. The DNI is also charged with ensuring compliance with the Constitution and laws of the United States by elements of the IC.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

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. Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, and Vision.

2. 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. Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, and Technical Credibility.

3. 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. Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, and Team Building.

4. 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. Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, and Influencing/Negotiating.

5. Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, and Technology Management.

Education

Graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, and an active member in good standing of a Bar of one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia or a U.S. Territory or Commonwealth.

Additional information

The ODNI is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable employment laws and regulations.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: The ODNI provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified applicants with disabilities. IF YOU NEED A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Intelligence Community Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Office Representative by classified email at DNI_Reasonable_Accommodation_WMA@cia.ic.gov and DNI_Diversity_WMA@cia.ic.gov, by unclassified email at DNI_DRA@dni.gov, by telephone at 703-275-3799 or by FAX at 703-275-1217 . Your request for reasonable accommodation will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO THE EEOD EMAIL ADDRESS. THIS EMAIL IS FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS ONLY. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION VIA THE EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED IN THE 'HOW TO APPLY' SECTION ABOVE.


Job Interview Travel: Candidates from outside the Washington, D.C., area may be selected for a telephone, teleconference, or in-person interview. If selected for an in-person interview, any travel or lodging will be at the applicant's personal expense.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the position description and required KSAs and ECQs then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. The description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the work performed. The best qualified applicants will be further evaluated through an interview process.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.