The DOJ OIG is seeking an experienced, highly motivated Senior Counsel to serve as the primary liaison for Congressional relations and lead the OIG's Whistleblower program. The ideal candidate has significant experience providing legal and policy recommendations to high level officials on a variety of issues, including whistleblower items; interacting with members of Congress; reviewing a variety of reports; and serving as an OIG liaison/representative to internal and external stakeholders.
Summary
The DOJ OIG is seeking an experienced, highly motivated Senior Counsel to serve as the primary liaison for Congressional relations and lead the OIG's Whistleblower program. The ideal candidate has significant experience providing legal and policy recommendations to high level officials on a variety of issues, including whistleblower items; interacting with members of Congress; reviewing a variety of reports; and serving as an OIG liaison/representative to internal and external stakeholders.
The Senior Counsel to the Inspector General (IG) uses a demonstrated understanding of or familiarity of the workings of the DOJ to serve as a senior legal and policy advisor to the IG and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) on a variety of issues. In this capacity, the Senior Counsel to the IG:
- Provides legal and policy recommendations based upon research, analysis, and the evaluation of expert information to advise the IG on matters affecting the mission of the OIG and efficiency of the DOJ.
- Oversees, reviews, and edits OIG reports and correspondence, including OIG audits, inspections, investigations, special reviews, semiannual reports, Congressional reports, and other reports.
- Serves as primary liaison for Congressional relations for the OIG. Plans, directs, and executes the OIG's congressional relations program to include high level communications with members of Congress, Congressional staff, internal and external stakeholders, DOJ OIG's main oversight committees, excluding appropriations committees, and the public.
- Coordinates and leads the OIG's Whistleblower program. Provides reports to the IG and DIG on whistleblower topics and issues. Provides expert guidance and advice to OIG personnel who are engaged with whistleblowers or handling investigations of alleged whistleblower retaliation.
- Actively participates in the CIGIE Whistleblower group and serves as the DOJ OIG liaison to the House and Senate Whistleblower caucuses as well as other Whistleblower stakeholders.
You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
You must be registered for the Selective Service, if applicable.
You must successfully pass and are subject to random drug screenings.
You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
You may be subject to a probationary period.
You must successfully complete a background investigation.
Annual financial disclosure statement, SF-278 may be required.
You must submit the Mandatory Technical Qualifications narratives to be considered for the position.
Qualifications
Qualification requirements for this position include:
- A J.D. from an accredited law school.
- A current member in good standing of the bar of any state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
- At least 5 years post-J.D. legal experience.All requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
In addition, the following items must be submitted for your application to be considered.
- A current resume demonstrating relevant experience (cover letter optional).
- Documentation showing you are currently a bar member. To receive full consideration you MUST provide proof of bar membership. Applications submitted without proof of bar membership will not receive consideration.
MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): Please be sure to address each of the following MTQs. MTQ statements must provide specific examples that address relevant experience, accomplishments and evidence that you possess demonstrated superior technical and senior professional qualifications. Limit to one page per MTQ. Incomplete applications will be ineligible for further consideration.
MTQ #1: Demonstrated experience in providing expert advice to agency or organization leadership on congressional relations and conveying to congressional stakeholders the priorities of the agency's or organization's mission; communicating effectively and credibly with congressional staff on behalf of an agency or organization; responding to congressional inquiries; and preparing draft congressional testimony, correspondence, and briefing materials.
MTQ #2: Demonstrated knowledge of whistleblower laws and regulations; advanced interpersonal skills with demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to communications with non-governmental organizations, whistleblowers, and whistleblowers' counsel about whistleblower issues; demonstrated ability to lead a program supporting and promoting whistleblower rights and protections; the ability to represent an organization in formal and informal interactions with high-level internal and external stakeholders; and demonstrated senior level oral and written communication skills.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP). The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced or surplus employee eligible for ICTAP/CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and (for scored examining) score 85 or better on established ranking criteria OR (for category rating criteria) rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP/CTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP/CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.
Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under the VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Schedule A: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities and is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department. DOJ also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, 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. Additional information is found at: www.sss.gov.
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.
Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ OIG's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement.If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Mandatory Technical Qualifications narratives. If it is determined you meet minimum qualification requirements, your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.
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.
Resume showing relevant experience. Your resume showing relevant experience and dates the experience was obtained. 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, and 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 cover letter is optional).
SF-50 (most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase, or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action if you are applying as a current or former Federal Employee) that shows you have acquired competitive status, and the highest grade or promotion potential you held. Current Federal employees employed by the DOJ OIG are not required to submit the SF-50 unless you are applying for a higher grade, and your experience was gained at a Federal agency other than the OIG. Then, you must provide the SF-50 which verifies the length of time you have been in your highest grade and supports your claim for time in grade.
Responses to Mandatory Technical Qualifications, limited to one page per competency.
Membership in good standing of a bar in any state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
CTAP/ICTAP documentation (if applicable)
Schedule A documentation (if applicable)
An unofficial college transcript (Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.) (Use if education is being credited for the purpose of meeting minimum qualification requirements.)
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 complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on July 27, 2020 to receive consideration.
* To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. To preview your application: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10863059
* Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
* It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
* To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
* To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Front Office
950 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your rating and or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Resume showing relevant experience. Your resume showing relevant experience and dates the experience was obtained. 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, and 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 cover letter is optional).
SF-50 (most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase, or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action if you are applying as a current or former Federal Employee) that shows you have acquired competitive status, and the highest grade or promotion potential you held. Current Federal employees employed by the DOJ OIG are not required to submit the SF-50 unless you are applying for a higher grade, and your experience was gained at a Federal agency other than the OIG. Then, you must provide the SF-50 which verifies the length of time you have been in your highest grade and supports your claim for time in grade.
Responses to Mandatory Technical Qualifications, limited to one page per competency.
Membership in good standing of a bar in any state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
CTAP/ICTAP documentation (if applicable)
Schedule A documentation (if applicable)
An unofficial college transcript (Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.) (Use if education is being credited for the purpose of meeting minimum qualification requirements.)
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 complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on July 27, 2020 to receive consideration.
* To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. To preview your application: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10863059
* Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
* It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
* To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
* To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Front Office
950 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your rating and or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.