Incumbent furnishes expert legal advice in support of mission accomplishment including planning and execution of military construction programs; host nation construction; work in support of non-traditional customers and customers outside of DOD, including the Government of Japan; and national defense.
Summary
About the Position:
Incumbent furnishes expert legal advice in support of mission accomplishment including planning and execution of military construction programs; host nation construction; work in support of non-traditional customers and customers outside of DOD, including the Government of Japan; and national defense.
Yes—Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs may be paid if the selecting official determines the relocation is in the best interests of the government. (See "Additional Information" below).
Serves as first-line supervisor and leader of the District legal services, exercising personnel management responsibilities for assigned District Office of Counsel personnel.
Furnishes legal, policy and business advice and services on all matters concerning activities of the District.
Prepare advice, recommendations, and legal documents in host nation matters involving facilities relocations, real estate, labor relations, and other matters unique to Japan.
Acts as liaison to establish relations and accept responsibility for the performance of work under memoranda of understanding/agreements with various U.S. agencies and non-U.S. activities
Serves as District Counsel, Japan District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
Two year trial/probationary period may be required.
This position requires you to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
Applicants must comply with the Exceptional Family Member Program requirements as outlined in the DoD Instruction 1315.19 at http://tp://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/131519p.pdf.
This position has been designated as Emergency-Essential. In the event of a crisis situation or wartime, the incumbent must continue to perform the duties and requirements of the position.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
This position requires the completion of a pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination thereafter to ensure the continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position.
This position requires approximately 15% of your duty to be performed in Temporary Duty Away (TDY) from your place of work status (Travel Conditions).
Pursuant to EO 14043, all Federal employees, regardless of duty location or work arrangement, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by November 22, 2021, or before entrance on duty if after November 22, subject to exceptions as required by law.
If selected, the agency will provide information regarding what documentation is needed and how to request any legally required exceptions from this requirement.
Proof of vaccination will be required. To ensure compliance with this mandate, review the vaccination requirements, to include timelines for receiving required doses, at the following: https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/
Qualifications
Who May Apply: US Citizens
In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experieance requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration:
Bar membership: Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Education: An applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD).
Experience: Applicant must have three or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Graduation from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class or an advanced law degree such as a Master of Laws (LLM) may substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience.
NOTE: ALL APPLICANTS MUST ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES EITHER IN THE RESUME OR IN NARRATIVE FORM:
1. Technical Knowledge
A.Knowledge, skills and abilities regarding applicability of federal laws, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to procurement, protests and contract administration, claims, appeals and litigation of design/engineering, construction, services and supply contracts for the building, operation and maintenance of military and host nation projects, or similar programs and projects.
B. Knowledge, skills and abilities in the following substantive areas of Federal law and practice: environmental law, International Law relating to Status of Forces Agreements and relationships with a host nation, administrative law, standards of conduct/ethics, and civilian personnel and employment law.
C. Ability and experience serving as counsel in litigation and trials in matters before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, GAO, MSPB, EEOC, or comparable tribunals, including large, complex and controversial matters.
2. Communication Skills and other indicia of ability
A. Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, clear convincing legal advice and opinions on a wide variety of matters of interest to the Division Commander, senior staff and operating officials and other people with diverse backgrounds.
B. Ability to work effectively with senior management officials in both Government and/or the private sector.
C. Credentials as indicated in the resume and other application materials (e.g., awards, evidence of support for diversity and EEO, performance ratings, educational achievements).
3. Leadership
A. Ability to lead and manage complex legal issues, including reviewing the work of legal subject matter experts.
B. Ability to lead and manage a legal office, including administrative actions, recruitment, and management of staff.
Time in Grade Requirements: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government you must have completed 1 year at the next lower level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade as the position being filled.
Separated Military Members: Resumes will be accepted from members of the Armed Forces who indicate in their applications that they are available for appointment within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. Military members may be appointed while on terminal/transitional leave, before the effective date of their military retirement/separation.
Military Retirees: Within the DoD (Department of Defense), including non-appropriated fund positions, the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following the retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326 or 5 U.S.C. 5305.
Education
For this job, you may qualify if your education meets the definitions below:
An applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD).Official law school transcripts must be submitted prior to accepting the position. These transcripts must show successful completion of a full 3-year course of study in an school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) leading to a professional law degree ( LLB or JD) that included a major field of study or specific course requirements
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
This is a Career Program (CP) 56 - Legal position.
Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
You may claim military spouse preference.
U.S. citizens overseas under ordinarily resident status are not eligible for appointment under the Status of Forces Agreement.
Locality pay does not apply in the overseas area.
On this overseas accompanied tour, medical and DoDDS special education services may not be available in the immediate location of this position.
In the overseas areas, access for civilian employees and their families to military medical and dental treatment facilities is on a space-available and reimbursable basis only. Medical care may be provided by host nation providers. The availability and level of care at host nation medical facilities will vary by location.
Movement overseas may require you to initiate a change in your health benefits plan to ensure coverage.
Pay retention may be offered to selected applicants for positions at overseas locations. Pay retention will not be offered as an incentive for employees moving between overseas positions.
Selectees initially recruited from the United States may receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, home leave, etc. (Subject to approval)
Selectees recruited outside the U.S. will have their eligibility for foreign area benefits determined at the time of hire.
Overseas allowances may be authorized in accordance with Department of State Standardized Regulation (DSSR) and DoDI 1400.25 volume 1250.
For positions in a foreign country, that country's laws or international agreements may have a direct impact on the ability of an employee's same sex domestic partner or spouse to accompany the employee and receive certain benefits. If you believe you may be affected by these laws and agreements, you should familiarize yourself with relevant information and direct questions concerning a specific country (Foreign Duty Location) to the appropriate Army Human Resources point of contact prior to the acceptance of employment and your entrance on duty.
The initial length of this overseas tour is 36 months.
Defense National Relocation Program will not be authorized.
Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations.
Recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives may be authorized for eligible candidates.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your résumé and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your résumé and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.
Basis for Rating: Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of three quality categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified and Qualified. Veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category.
Best Qualified. Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements for the announced position.
Highly Qualified. Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements for the announced position.
Qualified. Candidates in this category meet the minimum experience requirements for the announced position.
U.S. citizens overseas under ordinarily resident status are not eligible for appointment under the Status of Forces Agreement.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.
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.
The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist (External).
As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
The following documents are required:
1. Resume: If you submit a resume with inappropriate material e.g. photos, you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume may be submitted in any format. For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
2. Official law school transcript and an official statement of relative standing in class. Photo static copies of documents are acceptable when applying but certified documents must be furnished before entering duty.
3. A Copy of Official certificate showing that you are a member in good standing of the bar and sworn and notarized statement by the candidate that his or her fitness to practice law or conduct as an attorney has never been challenged in any jurisdiction or; if either has been challenged, a sworn statement giving the facts and circumstances, and any declaration under penalty of perjury may be submitted in the following format: I declare (or certify, verify, or state) under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct?executed on (date)(signature of applicant)." (28 U.S.C.1746).
4. The statement of fitness must be dated within three months of the date that the application package is submitted. The certificate is required to be submitted by all applicants to include attorneys currently appointed to positions under the qualifying authority of The Judge Advocate General of the Army.
5. List of three professional references. References from current and former supervisors are preferred. Please provide name, title, mailing address, telephone number, and relationship for each reference. We may contact references as part of the interview process.Applicants selected for interviews will be asked to provide three letters of recommendation.
6. Examples of writing skills as demonstrated by legal briefs, memoranda, or letters. These examples should total no more than ten pages in length. Extracts of selected sections of larger documents are acceptable. Any pages after page 10 will be discarded and not considered.
7. Current federal employees or reinstatement eligible applicants must submit a copy of their latest SF 50 and most recent performance evaluation. Applicants currently serving in the military must also submit a copy of their most recent OER and/or DD 214. **NOTE: The certificate of good standing to practice law, law school transcripts, and letters of recommendation are not required from attorneys currently employed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the qualifying authority of the Chief Counsel, USACE.
8. Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
NOTICE OF VETERANS' PREFERENCE - There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicant eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g. DD Form 214, "Certificate for Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. "SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documentation, is available from the Office of Personnel Management website at www.opm.gov).
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/18/2021 to receive consideration
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11258312).
Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
FC-APF-W2SN02 US ARMY ENGINEER DIST, JAPAN
DO NOT MAIL
APO, AP 96343
US
Next steps
If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist (External).
As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
The following documents are required:
1. Resume: If you submit a resume with inappropriate material e.g. photos, you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume may be submitted in any format. For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
2. Official law school transcript and an official statement of relative standing in class. Photo static copies of documents are acceptable when applying but certified documents must be furnished before entering duty.
3. A Copy of Official certificate showing that you are a member in good standing of the bar and sworn and notarized statement by the candidate that his or her fitness to practice law or conduct as an attorney has never been challenged in any jurisdiction or; if either has been challenged, a sworn statement giving the facts and circumstances, and any declaration under penalty of perjury may be submitted in the following format: I declare (or certify, verify, or state) under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct?executed on (date)(signature of applicant)." (28 U.S.C.1746).
4. The statement of fitness must be dated within three months of the date that the application package is submitted. The certificate is required to be submitted by all applicants to include attorneys currently appointed to positions under the qualifying authority of The Judge Advocate General of the Army.
5. List of three professional references. References from current and former supervisors are preferred. Please provide name, title, mailing address, telephone number, and relationship for each reference. We may contact references as part of the interview process.Applicants selected for interviews will be asked to provide three letters of recommendation.
6. Examples of writing skills as demonstrated by legal briefs, memoranda, or letters. These examples should total no more than ten pages in length. Extracts of selected sections of larger documents are acceptable. Any pages after page 10 will be discarded and not considered.
7. Current federal employees or reinstatement eligible applicants must submit a copy of their latest SF 50 and most recent performance evaluation. Applicants currently serving in the military must also submit a copy of their most recent OER and/or DD 214. **NOTE: The certificate of good standing to practice law, law school transcripts, and letters of recommendation are not required from attorneys currently employed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the qualifying authority of the Chief Counsel, USACE.
8. Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
NOTICE OF VETERANS' PREFERENCE - There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicant eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g. DD Form 214, "Certificate for Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. "SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documentation, is available from the Office of Personnel Management website at www.opm.gov).
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/18/2021 to receive consideration
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11258312).
Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
FC-APF-W2SN02 US ARMY ENGINEER DIST, JAPAN
DO NOT MAIL
APO, AP 96343
US
Next steps
If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.