This is a Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.
This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office (NOAA), Office of the Undersecretary (UNSEC), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), with 1 vacancy to be filled in the Northwest Regional Office in Seattle, WA OR the Southwest Regional Office in Long Beach, CA.
Summary
This is a Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.
This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office (NOAA), Office of the Undersecretary (UNSEC), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), with 1 vacancy to be filled in the Northwest Regional Office in Seattle, WA OR the Southwest Regional Office in Long Beach, CA.
An exciting opportunity is now available to be part of a team of attorneys with the NOAA General Counsel's Northwest Regional Office in Seattle, WA and Southwest Regional Office in Long Beach, CA. These offices are responsible for advising NOAA regarding ocean fishery conservation and management as well as the protection of threatened and endangered fish, marine mammals and other species, off the Pacific Coast. NOAA is a premier environmental agency located within the Department of Commerce and employs over 12,000 individuals nationwide. The agency's mission is to conserve and manage coastal and marine resources and to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment to meet the Nation's economic, social and environmental needs. For more information see www.noaa.gov. The NOAA Office of the General Counsel employs approximately 110 attorneys nationwide who provide legal advice to the NOAA Under Secretary and the agency's constituent line offices. For more information, see www.gc.noaa.gov.
The attorney selected will be expected to provide legal advice to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on protected resources actions such as those developed pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and related federal administrative laws; as well as occasional issues under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and other conservation statutes. In particular, the attorney will prioritize legal advice to NMFS relating to actions the United States Forest Service proposes to undertake in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, especially consultations under section 7 of the ESA and essential fish habitat consultations under the MSA. In addition, the attorney will provide legal advice on listing determinations, critical habitat designations, consultations, permits, habitat conservation plans, and other NMFS actions under the ESA and all supporting environmental analyses related to these actions, as well as occasional advice on fishery-related matters under the MSA and marine mammal related matters under the MMPA. The attorney will also provide advice regarding related statutes, including the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), National Historical Preservation Act, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The attorney will coordinate with other lawyers, policy makers, and technical staff within NOAA and interact with other Federal agencies (e.g., Department of the Interior and Department of Justice), applicants, industry groups, public interest organizations, and tribal nations. The scope of the attorney's duties will include the geographic locations overseen by both the Northwest Regional Office and the Southwest Regional Office, and the attorney may be located in either Seattle, WA or Long Beach, CA. Depending on the location, the attorney will report to either the Northwest Regional Counsel or Southwest Regional Counsel.
Applicants must have a J.D. from an accredited law school, and be an active member of a state bar OR the bar of the District of Columbia.
This position has a positive education requirement: transcripts and proof of Bar membership MUST be provided with your application package to receive further consideration.
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Submission of a Confidential Financial Disclosure SF-450 may be required
Key Requirements:
Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
Position is in the Excepted Service
Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
Must be an active member of the bar.
Selectee may be subject to serving a 2-year trial period.
More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
If selected for this position, you may be required to file one or more financial statements and/or a procurement integrity certification of compliance upon reporting and annually, some of which may be subject to public disclosure.
Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.
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. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
Qualifications
Basic Qualification Requirements
Applicants must be law school graduates with LL.B. or J.D. degrees AND applicants 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.
NOAA seeks attorneys with a comprehensive knowledge of Federal environmental statutes and conservation laws, as well as laws and regulations related to the implementation and oversight of large-scale natural resource restoration projects. Applicants must have a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and to identify and resolve complex legal issues. Applicants also must demonstrate the ability to manage large projects independently, assimilate large amounts of materials quickly, balance a large and diverse workload, and work effectively in a team with other attorneys and support staff.Significant academic achievement in law school (such as top 20% class ranking, graduation with honors, judicial clerking experience, or participation in moot court or law review) or experience practicing environmental law will be favorably considered.
To qualify at the GS-12 level:
One year of professional legal experience after admission to the bar at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-11 level conducting legal research on matters pertaining to administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice;
OR
LL.M (Master of Laws) with a specialization in administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice.
To qualify at the GS-13 level:
Two years of professional legal experience after admission to the bar; at least one year of which was at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-12 level in the Federal service conducting legal research, drafting and reviewing discovery, memos, pleadings and motions pertaining to administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice;
OR
One year of professional legal experience conducting legal research, drafting and reviewing discovery, memos, pleadings and motions pertaining to administrative, environmental, marine, cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice; after receiving an LL.M (Master of Laws) with a specialization in a related area of the law.
To qualify at the GS-14 level:
At this level qualified candidates must demonstrate significant experience in the field of administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice; at least one year of which was at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-13 level in the Federal service that included:
Experience representing an organization and assuring its compliance with administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice; and, Experience advising organizations on the application of laws and regulations related to the protection and management of ocean and coastal resources, cultural heritage, or the environment.
To qualify at the GS-15 level:
At this level qualified candidates must demonstrate significant experience in the field of administrative, environmental, marine, and/or cultural heritage law, one full year of which was at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-14 level in the Federal service that included, in a lead capacity:
Experience representing an organization and assuring its compliance with administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practices;
Experience advising organizations on the application of laws and regulations related to the protection and management of ocean and coastal resources, cultural heritage, or the environment; and
Experience participating in business, operational and strategic decisions, including regulatory and compliance matters as they relate to administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage legal matters.
Education
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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above 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: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation
Additional information
Other Information:
Salary Ranges: Long Beach, CA: $95,905.00-$183,500.00 per year Seattle, WA: $92,123.00 to $183,500.00 per year
Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
Relocation or moving expenses will not be authorized.
Overnight travel is frequently required.
NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
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.
Applicants will be evaluated based on the Qualifications described above. Please be advised that NOAA Attorney positions are in the Excepted Service. As such, these positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures.
There is no numerical rating system through which to apply veterans preference; however, the NOAA Office of General Counsel considers veterans preference eligibility as a positive factor in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume, and to attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD214 Form or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the qualifications for the position. Selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointment to the civil service. Current civil service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the civil service and require a new probationary period.
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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
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 submit a complete application package by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit documentation may result in not receiving consideration for this position.
Current & Former Federal Employees--If you are a current or former Federal employee, please submit the following by the closing date of this announcement:
a copy of a recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting tenure, position title, occupational series, grade level, step and salary; and
your most recent performance appraisal (if you do not have your most recent performance appraisal, please submit an explanation as to why it is unavailable)
All Applicants-A resume, unofficial transcript, list of 3 references, and a 1-2 page cover letter are required. The cover letter should describe your interest in and qualifications for this position, specifically addressing your interest in working for the Alaska Section of NOAA's Office of General Counsel. It is best to include these materials in a single Portable Document Format (pdf) file.-A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please see this guidance: What to include in your resume
At a minimum, your resume must indicate your citizenship; if you are registered for Selective Service (if you are a male born after 12/31/59); job title(s) (include job series and grade, if federal);provide information regarding the state in which your active Bar membership is held; duties description; education; starting and ending dates (month and year; and hours worked per week. Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your questions to the vacancy announcement questionnaire.
Veteran's documentation: If you are requesting consideration as a Veterans you must submit a copy of your DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service or other valid proof of eligibility (i.e., statement of service that shows service dates AND character of service) and/or any other required supporting documents (VA Letter). http://www.opm.gov/staffingPortal/Vetguide.asp#VeteransEmploymentAct1998.
Active Duty Service Members: You must submit a statement of discharge/certification of release or an official written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions no later than 120 days from the date the announcement closes. Enlisted Record Briefs and military identification do NOT qualify as official documentation. If the appropriate information is not submitted to confirm the discharge status, dates of service, etc., you will not be considered for this job opportunity under Veteran Preference procedures. To gain access to your DD-214 online please visit http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
Education. This position requires proof of higher education, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in lost consideration.
Proof of current, active membership in good standing in the bar of a State, District of Columbia, territory of the United States, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Employees must maintain active bar membership while employed as an attorney with NOAA.
Required documents may be: (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments.
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.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
For instructions on submitting your application in an alternate format, please contact the Agency Contact listed in this vacancy announcement.
NOAA Office of Human Capital Services (OHCS)
1315 East West Hwy
SSMC4
Silver Spring, MD 20910
US
Next steps
This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Attorney Advisor, GS-0905-12/13/14/15 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, same grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement).
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website and clicking on "Track Your Online Application." The four points of notification are:
Application Received
Application being assess for qualification;
Referred or Not Referred; and
Selected or Not Selected.
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.)
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete application package by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit documentation may result in not receiving consideration for this position.
Current & Former Federal Employees--If you are a current or former Federal employee, please submit the following by the closing date of this announcement:
a copy of a recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting tenure, position title, occupational series, grade level, step and salary; and
your most recent performance appraisal (if you do not have your most recent performance appraisal, please submit an explanation as to why it is unavailable)
All Applicants-A resume, unofficial transcript, list of 3 references, and a 1-2 page cover letter are required. The cover letter should describe your interest in and qualifications for this position, specifically addressing your interest in working for the Alaska Section of NOAA's Office of General Counsel. It is best to include these materials in a single Portable Document Format (pdf) file.-A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please see this guidance: What to include in your resume
At a minimum, your resume must indicate your citizenship; if you are registered for Selective Service (if you are a male born after 12/31/59); job title(s) (include job series and grade, if federal);provide information regarding the state in which your active Bar membership is held; duties description; education; starting and ending dates (month and year; and hours worked per week. Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your questions to the vacancy announcement questionnaire.
Veteran's documentation: If you are requesting consideration as a Veterans you must submit a copy of your DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service or other valid proof of eligibility (i.e., statement of service that shows service dates AND character of service) and/or any other required supporting documents (VA Letter). http://www.opm.gov/staffingPortal/Vetguide.asp#VeteransEmploymentAct1998.
Active Duty Service Members: You must submit a statement of discharge/certification of release or an official written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions no later than 120 days from the date the announcement closes. Enlisted Record Briefs and military identification do NOT qualify as official documentation. If the appropriate information is not submitted to confirm the discharge status, dates of service, etc., you will not be considered for this job opportunity under Veteran Preference procedures. To gain access to your DD-214 online please visit http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
Education. This position requires proof of higher education, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in lost consideration.
Proof of current, active membership in good standing in the bar of a State, District of Columbia, territory of the United States, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Employees must maintain active bar membership while employed as an attorney with NOAA.
Required documents may be: (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments.
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.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
For instructions on submitting your application in an alternate format, please contact the Agency Contact listed in this vacancy announcement.
NOAA Office of Human Capital Services (OHCS)
1315 East West Hwy
SSMC4
Silver Spring, MD 20910
US
Next steps
This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Attorney Advisor, GS-0905-12/13/14/15 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, same grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement).
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website and clicking on "Track Your Online Application." The four points of notification are:
Application Received
Application being assess for qualification;
Referred or Not Referred; and
Selected or Not Selected.
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.)
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
