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General Attorney, GS-0905-15 NF

National Science Foundation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Position located in the Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, National Science Foundation. NSF Headquarters is located in Alexandria, VA. The OIG is an independent organization with law enforcement authority under the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended. The OIG conducts investigations relating to NSF programs, grants, contracts and operations pursuant to Federal statutes and NSF regulations.

The duty location will be determined based on the candidate selected.  

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/03/2020 to 08/07/2020
Salary
$142,701 to - $170,800 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
Alexandria, VA
FEW vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Up to 25%
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
15 - Note: The salary will be based on the duty station to which the employee is assigned. The range for Alexandria VA is $142,701 - $170,800. If a different duty station is selected by management, the salary may be adjusted for the locality.
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OIG-2020-0014
Control number
575266200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to all current NSF employees.

Duties

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The incumbent undertakes a variety of special projects consistent with, and in support of, OIG's mission, vision and strategic plan. The incumbent will perform legal analyses and primarily assist in the conduct of special projects multidisciplinary reviews, outreach and other investigative and analytical efforts consistent with, and in furtherance of, same.  Also, the incumbent serves as the attorney or case lead for specific investigations. As the Senior Investigative Attorney you will:

  • Provide analysis of factual and legal issues arising in particular investigations and special projects involving scientific, civil and criminal issues and/or allegations of misconduct in science and engineering; explain the application of legal principles and precedents; provide ongoing recommendations;advises whether to recommend that Federal, state, or local prosecutors take legal action, or that NSF make a finding or debar or suspend a person or entity; ensures that the reports and memoranda provide an accurate, thorough, and fair basis for action.
  • Set priorities and goals, establishes deadlines, and ensures timely completion of work assignments; recommend and issue needed changes in work priorities and operations.
  • Work in teams with the Investigative Scientists and Special Agents to conduct administrative, civil and criminal investigations involving research misconduct and fraud. 
  • Work to encourage proactive activities and may be assigned to proactive reviews.
  • Present at conferences, symposia, and to grantees to justify, defend, or negotiate regarding Investigations' programs, and to gain compliance with established policies, regulations, and contracts.
  • Provide assistance to the Counsel to the Inspector General on issues that arise and other projects and issues that may arise.

Competencies

Legal analysis of Criminal Law

Conduct Audits and Investigations

Criminal Investigations

Teamwork and Communication

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. citizen
  • Background investigation.
  • Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.

It is NSF policy that NSF personnel employed at or IPAs detailed to NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign government talent recruitment programs.  Failure to comply with this NSF policy could result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment and referral to the Office of Inspector General. Foreign Talent Definitions

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

You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date.

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent.

You must answer all job-related questions in the NSF eRecruit questionnaire.

All online applicants must provide a valid email address.  If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Qualifications

All candidates must meet the following basic requirement:
* Graduated from an accredited law school with an LL.B., J.D. or equivalent;
* Be an active member in good standing of the bar in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia;
* Have at least five years of legal experience in the area of federal criminal and civil law; and
* Have demonstrated experience in conducting investigations in an Inspector General Office.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement described above candidates must have the following specialized experience: one year of experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the federal service, that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position including experience serving as an attorney providing legal advice and assistance to an Inspector General, or an equivalent client in two or more of the following areas:
(1) conduct of audit, investigation, and management functions;
(2) legal analysis of criminal law, procedure, and investigations;
(3) legal analysis of civil fraud and investigations;
(4) legal analysis of public corporations;
(5) supervision of investigative teams composed of attorneys and/or criminal investigators conducting investigations of criminal and civil violations of federallaws;
(6) conduct of presentations to and investigations under Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including preparation of evidence for trials;
(7) management of and/or assistance to other investigative attorneys or investigators in planning investigations; and
(8) other matters relevant to an Inspector General's mission to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations.
 
The experience may have been gained in either the public or private sector. Years of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis.

Education

You must meet the minimum education requirements as described in “Qualifications."

Additional information

This position is in the Excepted Service (Schedule A). 

If you do not have civil service status or reinstatement eligibility, you will not obtain civil service status if selected. If you are currently in the competitive civil service, you will be required to waive competitive civil service rights if selected.

Relocation Expenses will not be paid.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):
ICTAP and CTAP provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP or CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP or 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 meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least “Very Good” on the questionnaire. 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 or CTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.
Additional information regarding ICTAP or CTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources

Veteran's Preference:
If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. For 5-point veterans' preference, please provide your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, DD-214, and the required documentation as specified on the SF-15.

NSF has determined that all of its positions are eligible for telework. Work suitable for telework depends on job duties; therefore, employees must receive approval from their supervisor for telework and have a telework agreement in place. Entering into a telework agreement is voluntary.

For additional information on the NSF eRecruit system, please visit our NSF eRecruit Applicant Guide.

This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the National Science Foundation.

The Selected Candidate(s) may be subject to a background investigation.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. All candidates who meet the basic requirements described in the Qualifications section will be considered best qualified applicants and will be sent forward to the selecting official. All application materials and interviews, if conducted, will be used in the final evaluation and selection process.
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