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General Attorney

Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Inspector General
Office of Counsel to the Inspector General
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General.

This position will close at 11:59p.m. EST on the date the 100th application is received.



Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/17/2023 to 04/26/2023
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$94,199 to - $145,617 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
15
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
HHS-OIG-DE-23-11908016
Control number
719773700

This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens, No Prior Federal Experience is Required

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Duties

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The incumbent will be responsible for performing the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Contributing to the appropriate handling of the OIG's whistleblower disclosures and retaliation complaints by advising the OIG Hotline, OIG Office of Investigations (OI), and Whistleblower Protection Coordinator on such matters;
  • Providing legal support to OIG investigators and staff on whistleblower retaliation investigations, Office of Special Counsel (OSC) referral investigations or audits, and other administrative investigations, including agency official misconduct investigations;
  • Conducting legal analysis and review of reports of investigation for whistleblower retaliation, OSC referral and other administrative investigations.
  • Serving as a liaison with the litigation branches of the HHS Office of General Counsel (OGC) when the OIG is involved in litigation related to its whistleblower reprisal investigations or administrative investigations;
  • Serving as a liaison to OSC, OIG employees, and HHS stakeholders on OSC referral investigations and compliance requirements under various Federal whistleblower laws, rules and regulations.
  • Advising OIG employees on audit, investigation, evaluation and inspection matters related to whistleblower protections and whistleblower retaliation;
  • Advising OIG employees concerning requests for information or testimony from OIG employees (Touhy requests) and representing the OIG during interactions with third parties concerning such requests;
  • Advising attorneys in OCIG as well as criminal investigators in the OIG's Office of Investigations (OI) on matters related to with respect OIG and grand jury subpoenas as well as other criminal investigative matters;
  • Advising OIG employees on access to information issues relating to documents held by HHS and other Federal government agencies, state local and private sector entities or individuals;
  • Training OIG employees on whistleblower protections and retaliation matters, and assisting in outreach efforts to HHS Operational or Staff Divisions on whistleblower issues;
  • Advising and assisting the Whistleblower Protection Coordinator, and other OIG stakeholders, on responses to HHS employees, contractors and grantees regarding whistleblower protections and rights against retaliation;
  • Advising the OIG on policies and procedures related to whistleblower disclosures; retaliation complaints; and criminal and administrative investigations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S Citizenship is required.
  • Registration with the Selective Service (if applicable).
  • Suitability for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
  • Two-year trial period may be required.
  • Must maintain membership and good standing with the bar association in a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Qualifications

You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 04/26/2023

Positive Education Requirement: This position has a position education requirement, as indicated below. A complete transcript showing relevant coursework and degrees must be submitted with your application package. A list of completed courses or incomplete transcripts will not be accepted.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Applicants must have graduated with a Juris Doctorate (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and must be a current member, in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar association.
  • GS-12: Applicants must have one (1) year of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Experience may be outside ofthe Federal Government.
  • GS-13: Applicants must have one (2) years of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level. Experience may be outside ofthe Federal Government.
Highly qualified applicants will have experience as an attorney advising agencies (Federal, state, or local), individuals or entities on matters concerning whistleblower protection laws, criminal and/or administrative investigations (including, but not limited to, investigations of employee misconduct).
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. Your resume should include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

Education

Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click on the link for a list of accrediting organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.

Additional information

Recruitment Incentives: Payment for relocation expenses is not authorized for this position. A recruitment bonus will not be offered. Repayment of student loans will not be offered. Private sector work experience may be approved as credit for your Annual Leave accrual.

Security and Background Requirements: A background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time. Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.

E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires, and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.

Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Career Transition Program (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Documentation: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee eligible for consideration under the CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility. Appropriate documentation such as a reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, an SF-50 reflecting your RIF separation, or a notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function to another commuting area. You MUST also submit documentation to reflect your current (or last) performance rating of record along with your application package. Those eligible for consideration will need to be rated as well-qualified at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position in order to exercise selection priority. For more information about ICTAP, go to: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition.

EEO Statement: HHS is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status, or other differences.

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 on the quality and extent of your experience, education (if applicable), and training relevant to the duties of this position. If you are found minimally qualified for the job, your application package will be further evaluated to determine your possession of the critical knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics required for this position. Your writing sample must demonstrate your ability to conduct legal analysis and provide legal advice. The writing sample will be evaluated and rated based on tone, style, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Your responses to the self-assessment questions will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you.

Your resume must document specialized experience and support your responses to the vacancy questions.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the "Required Documents" section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11908016

Selections may be made for vacancies across the entire Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). By applying, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more HHS hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.

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