This executive position is in the Department of Energy's Office of the General Counsel and serves as chief legal advisor to the managers and staff at the Richland Operations Office and Office of River Protection, the position also acts as the director of RL's Office of Chief Counsel and is responsible for providing legal advice and representation in legal areas such as: Environmental Law, Procurement Law, Atomic Energy Act and Nuclear Safety and Security, Administrative Law, and Employment Law.
Summary
This executive position is in the Department of Energy's Office of the General Counsel and serves as chief legal advisor to the managers and staff at the Richland Operations Office and Office of River Protection, the position also acts as the director of RL's Office of Chief Counsel and is responsible for providing legal advice and representation in legal areas such as: Environmental Law, Procurement Law, Atomic Energy Act and Nuclear Safety and Security, Administrative Law, and Employment Law.
Provide legal advice and counsel to the Manager and staff concerning the legal authority for and the legal implementations of all activities of the Richland Operations Office (RL) and the Office of River Protection (ORP).
Provide legal advice and assistance in the selection, negotiation, award, preparation, execution, modification, and administration of contracts, grants, interagency, and cooperative agreements, consent, and compliance agreements.
Provide legal advice and counsel regrading Federal personnel law, property issues, Freedom of Information Act, and ethics restrictions for Federal employees.
Review a wide variety of complex contractual instruments including performance-based contracts, management and operating contracts, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-plus-award-fee contracts, construction contracts, cooperative agreements, grants, fixed-price contracts, automated data processing contracts, and contract modifications.
Participate in the conduct of judicial and administrative litigation by/against the Department, and lawsuits by/against its contractors the cost of which may be allowable/reimbursable under prime contracts.
Review the legal basis of all claims by/against the Department in which RL and/or ORP has an interest.
Serve as the first line supervisor to Office of Chief Counsel employees.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THIS VACANCY: This is a career position in the SES. Unless the selectee is already a member of the SES with career status or has successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program certified by OPM, executive qualifications must be approved by OPM before the appointment can be effected. If you are selected, you will be responsible for working with a DOE Executive Consultant to finalize your ECQ narrative for OPM submission.
CITIZENSHIP: You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE (HSPD-12): A selectee's appointment is contingent upon compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity.
PUBLIC FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT (OGE 278): If you are selected for this position, will be required to file this report prior to entry on duty in accordance with the Ethics of Government Act of 1978.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD: An individual's initial SES career appointment becomes final only after the individual successfully completes a one-year probationary period.
SECURITY CLEARANCE: You must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance
DRUG TESTING: As a condition of appointment to this position, you will be subject to pre-employment/pre-appointment testing for illegal drug use under the U.S. Department of Energy Employee Drug Plan. If you are selected you will be provided information regarding drug testing. Failure to undergo testing or positive findings resulting from the test will eliminate you from further consideration for this position. If selected for and appointed to this position you will be subject to random drug testing while employed.
SELECTIVE SERVICE: All males born after December 31, 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
MOBILITY: A mobility agreement may be required based on mission needs.
E-VERIFY: New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
Qualifications
Applicants are required to submit a narrative statement for each of the five mandatory Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). Please give a complete and detailed answer for each mandatory qualification.
Eligibility for this position will be based upon a clear showing that the applicant has experience of the scope and quality sufficient to effectively carry out assignments of the position. Do not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer. Applications directing the reviewer to search within the application or to "See Resume" are considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Failure to submit a narrative statement or address all of the mandatory ECQs and/or MTQs, (if required) is also considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
If you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by OPM you are not required to address the ECQs but you must address all MTQs.
If you are a non-SES employee or Non-Career SES employee, you must address each ECQ and MTQ. Failure to do so will result in the disqualification of your application.
Your application must demonstrate that you possess these qualifications. Please provide examples that are clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken, and level of contacts. All qualified candidates will be evaluated on the relevance of their experience, education, training, self-development, honors, awards, and outside activities.
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential, not technical expertise. They measure whether an individual has the broad executive skills needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions. All applicants must submit a written narrative to address the ECQs. Your narrative must address each ECQ separately and should contain one or two examples per ECQ describing your experiences and accomplishments/results. The narrative should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken and the results of your actions. Applicants should not enter "Refer to Resume" to describe your experiences. Applications directing the reviewer to search within the application or to see the resume are considered incomplete and may not receive further consideration. The narrative must not exceed 10 pages.
There are five ECQs:
ECQ 1: LEADING CHANGE: Ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals and establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
ECQ 2: LEADING PEOPLE: Ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals and provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
ECQ 3: RESULTS DRIVEN: Ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations, and make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
ECQ 4: BUSINESS ACUMEN: Ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
ECQ 5: BUILDING COALITIONS: 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.
Failure to submit a narrative statement addressing each of the ECQs may cause your application to be deemed incomplete and not be considered.
Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs): A supplemental narrative must be submitted separately addressing each MTQ listed below. No more than one (1) page per MTQ is allowed; additional informational information will not be considered. MTQs must provide specific examples that address relevant experience and accomplishments. Applicants must reflect superior technical qualifications demonstrated through leadership and management in the following MTQs:
MTQ 1: Comprehensive and professional knowledge of laws and legal principles and precedents necessary to handle complex legal issues relating to general law, civil rights law, labor law, Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, federal personnel, federal procurement, contract administration, administrative review process, finance and budget, as well as Federal, state and local regulations, practices and procedures applicable to client missions and programs.
MTQ 2: Knowledge of environmental regulatory compliance laws sufficient to provide management with advice and guidance on activities, such as: 1) remediation of hazardous and radioactive waste sites; 2) waste characterization, treatment, and disposition; 3) facility deactivation, decontamination, decommission, and demolition; 4) nuclear safety; and 5) environmental regulations and compliance requirements established under NEPA, RCRA, , Federal Facility Compliance Agreements, and other laws and regulations applicable to oversight and direction of a large and complex project to completion.
MTQ 3: Please describe your experience managing and supervising a full-service legal organization engaged in a broad range of legal practice (i.e., drafting and negotiating contracts and other documents; dispute resolution; litigation; administrative law, including employment, procurement law; and providing legal advice to Agency executives and staff). Inherent in this qualification is the demonstrated ability to assess and prioritize client and organizational needs, and to develop a strategy to communicate, interpret, explain and advocate on complex legal matters which arise in the normal conduct of business.
MTQ 4: Skill in leading successful legal negotiations with regulators involving highly complex and technical environmental matters, interpreting regulatory policies and procedures, and drafting implementation requirements to support regulatory requirements.
Education
You must meet the minimum education requirements of successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) with a professional law degree (L.L.B or J.D.)
You must be a current member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. You must provide a copy of this certification.
You must provide a copy of your transcripts from an accredited institution. Be sure to include those transcripts directly applicable to determining your meeting the education requirements. Failure to provide proof of education will result in non-consideration for this position. OFFICIAL ORIGINAL TRANSCRIPTS will be required to be provided prior to entrance-on-duty for individuals selected.
Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see Department of Education
Additional information
COVID-19 VACCINATION: Executive Order (EO) 14043 requires Federal employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work), subject to such exceptions as required by law. At this time, EO 14043 is subject to a preliminary nationwide injunction. Although this injunction may ultimately be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action at this time to implement or enforce EO 14043's requirement that employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, as Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine, the selectee(s) for this position will be required to submit information about his/her vaccination status.
Providing a knowing and willful false statement on either DOE's COVID-19 Vaccination Form prior to starting or when providing proof of vaccination in DOE's vaccination tracking system once onboard is punishable by fine and/or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001) and will result in termination from Federal service.
If selected, you may be expected to telework upon your appointment or you may be required to report to the duty station listed on this announcement, even if your home/temporary telework site is located outside the local commuting area. Your position may be eligible for workplace flexibilities which may include remote work or telework options, and/or flexible work scheduling. These flexibilities may be requested in accordance with the DOE Workplace Flexibilities policy.
The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Telework: For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov
OF-306: You may be required to complete an OF-306, "Declaration for Federal Employment" form used to (a) determine your suitability for Federal Employment and/or (b) in conducting an investigation to determine your suitability or ability to hold a security clearance.
Applications contain information subject to the Privacy Act (PL 93 579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available.
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 rated and ranked using only the information submitted for consideration.
Applicants who do not demonstrate sufficient possession of the Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) factors and document demonstrated experience, training, and/or education in support of the technical qualifications by answering all of the questions for this vacancy announcement, will be ineligible for further consideration.
Applicants will be evaluated on their narrative responses to the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and all of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). The narrative must demonstrate the necessary level of skills, specialized knowledge, and technical competence that would indicate success at this level and must include clear and concise examples that emphasize the applicant's level of responsibilities, scope, and complexity.
Please refer to the reference guide indicated in the Qualifications section to ensure the proper procedures for submission are followed. For detailed guidance on ECQs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications at SES RECRUITMENT/ECQ.
Veteran's Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive service (SES).
Once a candidate has been identified for selection, reference checks may be completed. The Department's appointing official(s) will make a final approval of the selection, and in competitive cases, OPM's Qualifications Review Board (QRB) must certify the ECQs before final appointment can occur. If OPM approval is required for the ECQs, the candidate is required to assist in the development of the QRB template for submission to the QRB. Verification of performance, suitability and security information from reference checks will be taken into consideration when making offers of employment.
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.
Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.
You must submit:
1. A resumesupporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire. Ensure that you address the ECQs and MTQs, attached as supplemental narrative documentation. (ALL APPLICANTS)
Your resume should list all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of the each employer.
For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
For paid work experience, please indicate your starting salary for each position and the highest salary you earned (if different).
Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.
Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require one specific format. You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.
2. ECQ Narrative (no more than 10 pages, 2 pages per ECQ, 12pt font, 1 inch margins) (ALL APPLICANTS)
3. MTQ Narrative (no more than 1 page per MTQ at least 10pt font) (ALL APPLICANTS)
4. Current or former career SES members must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
5. Applicants who have successfully completed an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program must submit a copy of their certification.
6. Current or former Federal Civilian employees, must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) documenting the following: 1) Full position title; 2) appointment type; 3) occupational series; 4) pay plan, grade, and step; 5) tenure code; 6) service computation date (SCD).
7. If this position has a positive education requirement, you must submit a copy of your transcript or a separate course listing showing the college name, course title, department, hours earned (quarter or semester), and grade. If you have completed any part of your education outside of the US, you must submit the evaluation of your foreign education that has been prepared by an accredited organization. (ALL APPLICANTS)
HOW TO SUBMIT ALL SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS: The documentation identified above must be attached to your application using one of the following actions: 1). "Upload" to upload documents directly from your computer 2). "USAJOBS" to upload documents stored in your "USAJOBS" accounts. Please review and follow the instructions listed to successfully submit your documents.
If you are selected for this position, you may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your responses.
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.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted online by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. Faxed or e-mailed applications and/or resumes will not be accepted. Requests for extensions will not be granted.
All statements made in this application are subject to investigation and any false or dishonest answer to any question may be grounds for disqualification and loss of consideration. If your resume does not support the responses in your application questionnaire, or if you fail to submit required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.
To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; 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/.
If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/
If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.
Office of the General Counsel
P.O. Box 5088
Oak Ridge, TN 37831
US
Next steps
You may check your application status any time after the announcement closes. USAJOBS has added an alert setting to the system to drive status updates notification for applicants. We recommend that you update your USAJOBS profile to receive these status updates via email after the announcement closes. We will continue to update your status on-line as changes are made. Applicants who meet the mandatory ECQs and MTQs will be evaluated by a panel of senior executives. Failure to meet all qualifications automatically disqualifies an applicant. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. Persons tentatively selected for appointment to SES positions must have their ECQs approved by OPM Eligibility for this position will be based upon a clear showing that the applicant has experience of the scope and quality sufficient to effectively carry out assignments of the position.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.
You must submit:
1. A resumesupporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire. Ensure that you address the ECQs and MTQs, attached as supplemental narrative documentation. (ALL APPLICANTS)
Your resume should list all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of the each employer.
For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
For paid work experience, please indicate your starting salary for each position and the highest salary you earned (if different).
Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.
Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require one specific format. You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.
2. ECQ Narrative (no more than 10 pages, 2 pages per ECQ, 12pt font, 1 inch margins) (ALL APPLICANTS)
3. MTQ Narrative (no more than 1 page per MTQ at least 10pt font) (ALL APPLICANTS)
4. Current or former career SES members must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
5. Applicants who have successfully completed an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program must submit a copy of their certification.
6. Current or former Federal Civilian employees, must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) documenting the following: 1) Full position title; 2) appointment type; 3) occupational series; 4) pay plan, grade, and step; 5) tenure code; 6) service computation date (SCD).
7. If this position has a positive education requirement, you must submit a copy of your transcript or a separate course listing showing the college name, course title, department, hours earned (quarter or semester), and grade. If you have completed any part of your education outside of the US, you must submit the evaluation of your foreign education that has been prepared by an accredited organization. (ALL APPLICANTS)
HOW TO SUBMIT ALL SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS: The documentation identified above must be attached to your application using one of the following actions: 1). "Upload" to upload documents directly from your computer 2). "USAJOBS" to upload documents stored in your "USAJOBS" accounts. Please review and follow the instructions listed to successfully submit your documents.
If you are selected for this position, you may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your responses.
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.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted online by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. Faxed or e-mailed applications and/or resumes will not be accepted. Requests for extensions will not be granted.
All statements made in this application are subject to investigation and any false or dishonest answer to any question may be grounds for disqualification and loss of consideration. If your resume does not support the responses in your application questionnaire, or if you fail to submit required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.
To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; 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/.
If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/
If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.
Office of the General Counsel
P.O. Box 5088
Oak Ridge, TN 37831
US
Next steps
You may check your application status any time after the announcement closes. USAJOBS has added an alert setting to the system to drive status updates notification for applicants. We recommend that you update your USAJOBS profile to receive these status updates via email after the announcement closes. We will continue to update your status on-line as changes are made. Applicants who meet the mandatory ECQs and MTQs will be evaluated by a panel of senior executives. Failure to meet all qualifications automatically disqualifies an applicant. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. Persons tentatively selected for appointment to SES positions must have their ECQs approved by OPM Eligibility for this position will be based upon a clear showing that the applicant has experience of the scope and quality sufficient to effectively carry out assignments of the position.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
