The Associate Solicitor has primary responsibility for managing the Division of Water Resources, which includes the Branch of Water and Power and the Branch of Indian Water Rights. Management of the Division includes working with the Solicitor and the Deputy Solicitor in formulating policies of the Solicitor's Office with respect to organization, budget, personnel, and legal activities. Additional responsibilities include:

• Providing legal advice and service to the Secretary and his or her staff, the Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, the Solicitor, other offices, bureaus, and agencies for the management of water resources litigation in the interest of the Department.
• Ensures that Departmental and bureau initiatives to address water crises and conflicts are supported through the delivery of sound and timely legal advice and counsel.
• Ensures that important institutional interests of all bureaus are vigorously represented and coordinated.
• Supports and defends Departmental and bureau efforts to enhance sustainable, renewable hydropower generation at Federal facilities. Advises on the integration of Departmental activities with programs of other departments and agencies of Federal, State, and local governments.
• Suggests and develops proposed legislation for recommendation to Congress.
• Coordinates and communicates with Members of Congress about Departmental programs, and assists other Departmental officials in testifying on matters within the Division's areas of responsibility.
• Works closely with the Justice Department in representing the Department as counsel in litigation brought by the Department or against the Department in areas falling within the Division's responsibility. This representation involves advising the Solicitor and the Department of Justice on legal strategy and substantive presentations. The litigation responsibilities also include participating in settlement negotiations and meetings with other government agencies and others on the subject.

Conditions of employment

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens
• More requirements are listed within the Qualifications and Evaluations Tab.

*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

1. Knowledge of water law, Tribal water rights and trust responsibilities, and Reclamation Law.
2. Ability to manage a geographically dispersed legal program; to provide responsive client legal services; and to coordinate litigation and administrative proceedings involving water rights and operations of federal water facilities.
3. Ability to provide professional legal advice and counsel to high-level officials.
4. Knowledge of legal issues, laws, and legislation impacting the Department’s interests, programs, and goals in the area of water and power, Indian water rights, and Federal facilities compliance.

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.
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