Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Attorney-Adviser

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of the Chief Counsel, Regulations Division (AGC-200)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Serves as legal adviser providing advice and legal counsel for a variety of regulatory matters.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
05/02/2023 to 05/15/2023
Salary
$88,791 to - $137,651 per year

The salary listed above does not include locality. Locality will be determined based on the duty location of the selectee.

Pay scale & grade
FV J
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Washington
Des Moines, WA
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
NA
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
AWA-AGC-23-97628AN-83268
Control number
723096900

Duties

Help

Performs assignments that involve providing leadership to others and providing authoritative legal expertise. Develops critical agency positions and provides guidance on critical legal issues to senior agency officials. Serves as a technical authority providing legal advice and authoritative counsel to the agency regarding regulatory matters involving aircraft operations, aircraft certification, airmen certification, air traffic, and commercial space. Responsible for assisting with the development and drafting of regulations including making determinations of legal sufficiency of such regulations. Provides legal review and counsel regarding agency orders, guidance, exemptions, airspace actions, obstruction evaluation determinations, and space transportation licenses and permits. Develops legal interpretations regarding aviation and commercial space regulations and statutes.

Conducts thorough legal research by appropriately identifying and analyzing relevant legal and factual issues and arguments. Assesses legal strengths and weaknesses of available arguments to provide accurate, complete, and practical legal advice and conclusions. Identifies and learns emerging issues, principles, and practices relevant to the legal practice area.

Is considered a technical authority in assigned specialty area. Performs most work independently. Completed work is typically reviewed through status reports and at completion to ensure compatibility with organizational objectives and priorities. Work contributes to the accomplishment of AGC objectives and FAA objectives and programs. Work is subject to critical review by program officials and representatives of external entities.

Applies considerable experience in assigned specialty area, including advanced, directly relevant legal knowledge to assignments. Plans and directs the use of time and resources to accomplish organizational objectives.

Produces communications that are well-organized, clear, and persuasive. Provides advice tailored to the client and requirements of the agency. Maintains the appropriate balance between providing accurate, complete, and practical legal advice. Effectively presents advice to meet audience expectations and level of understanding.

Demonstrates interpersonal skills needed to develop and maintain strong client relationships. Actively participates with clients to identify and meet client goals and objectives. Seeks consensus with client as to the timing and scope of work. Proactively identifies and appropriately pursues solutions to effectively represent the agency’s interests in responding to high priority issues. Puts forth effort to meet established proficiency level goals and objectives. Keeps clients informed of developments, to include why and when an extension may be necessary.

Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of key client business processes, priorities, and objectives relevant to the practice area. Accurately identifies client business objectives and issues when providing legal advice. Provides appropriate alternative solutions as needed to meet client’s strategic business objectives. Provides legal risk/reward analysis in support of business decisions.

Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of when and the willingness to go to more senior-level of client based on risk-levels. Demonstrates skill in representing the agency. Consistently puts forth effort needed to accomplish tasks and produce work that is timely and of professional quality.

Performs most work independently and effectively prioritizes work such that priorities are achieved and deadlines are met. Delegates work to the appropriate level for competent and timely completion. Uses available staff resources and technology to manage work flow and product.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.
  • **Veterans preference does not apply to Attorney positions. PLEASE do not submit any documentation related to veterans preference.**

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, ALL applicants MUST meet the following criteria:

(1) have a JD Degree from an accredited law school;

(2) be admitted to practice before the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction or within the District of Columbia;

(3) be an active member of that bar; and

(4) demonstrate at least one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to the next lower grade/pay band (FG/GS-13/FV-I) that is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as:

  • Significant experience addressing extremely complex and difficult legal and factual issues for which there are limited precedents and requires balancing of conflicting or competing interests;
  • Performs assignments that involve providing leadership to others and providing authoritative legal expertise. Develops critical agency positions and provides guidance on critical legal issues to senior agency officials;
  • Applies considerable experience in a specialty area and advanced directly relevant legal knowledge to assignments such that work is considered authoritative;
  • Independently manages caseload and completes activities within established schedules, analyzes requirements and accomplishments and makes or directs adjustments needed to address organizational needs.

In addition to the above, this position also has the following Selective Placement Factors (SPFs):

  • Experience providing legal advice to clients engaging in the federal rulemaking process; and
  • Experience reviewing federal agency rulemaking and guidance documents for compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

*Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.*

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; or (3) alphabetical, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

**All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.**

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation.

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence at the time of application. For additional information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Applicants who are not currently in the 905 occupational series (Attorney) in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 905 occupational series (Attorney), you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it.

Preview job questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/financial_disclosure_requirements

The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family.

NOTES:

1) As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate.

2) This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: http://jobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm.

3) This Level 5 (Moderate Risk; Public Trust) position requires favorable adjudication of a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.

4) Some, all, or none of the referred applicants may be interviewed.

5) The salary range above will be adjusted to include the locality payment as applicable:

  • Des Moines, WA: $115,046 - $178,354 (incl 29.57% locality pay for Seattle, WA
  • Washington, DC: $117,639 - $182,374 (incl 32.49% locality pay for Washington, DC)


This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by AFSCME Local 1653.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA

How you will be evaluated

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



IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.