Clarification from the agency

Open to the Public-All US Citizens

Serves as a senior attorney advisor to the Chief and Deputy Chief, on all policy matters.  Provides expertise on Tribal issues and ensures that the Commission’s telecommunications regulatory policies with respect to federally-recognized American Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, Hawaiian Home Lands, and other Native Communities are implemented and met. Provides expert advice to the Office Chief on legal issues affecting broad policy matters; and evaluates current and potential policy issues; and initiates original research and investigation analysis.  Keeps abreast of legal developments affecting Tribal governments and Tribal lands by reviewing court and Commission decisions, professional publications, and trade press; researching legislative, decisions, opinions and regulation.  Based on such knowledge, reviews agenda items and other documents (e.g., draft proposals) prepared for the Office Chief’s signature or concurrence.  Drafts materials, remarks, or speeches for the Office Chief, Deputy Chief, and Bureau Chief for presentations to Tribal governments, Native communities, industry groups, and other professionals and governmental groups – providing legal analysis and Tribal policy relevance in covering current communications matters of interest and importance. Represents the Office Chief and interfaces with Congress and Tribal, Federal, state, and local government officials, in consumer and industry meetings, discussions, policy forums, etc., addressing changes in Bureau/FCC initiatives and their impact on American consumers, Tribal governments, Native communities, Tribal lands and the telecommunications industry.  Reviews legislative and rule-making proposals, position papers, correspondence and agenda items originating in the various Offices/Bureaus; evaluates policy implications, legal or factual adequacy, completeness and comprehensiveness of coverage.  Works on matters and items that directly influence FCC policy making and regulatory developments.

Conditions of employment

• Bar Membership Documentation Required Upon Selection.
• Education-Transcripts Required Upon Selection.
• US Citizenship.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Financial disclosure statement may be required upon assuming the position.
• Current FCC employees must provide SF-50 verifying grade & status
• SF-50 Documenting One Year of Time in Grade Required

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions.  Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.

SF-50 Required: ALL FCC EMPLOYEES AND CURRENT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST provide a legible Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade.  If an SF-50 is not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible. To request a copy of your SF-50 please send an email to PersonnelRecordsRequest@fcc.gov

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

In order to be deemed as "BEST QUALIFIED" candidates must meet both the educational requirements AND the Specialized Experience.

A. Education

You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions. Education requirements include:  a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M. 

NOTE-If you do not provide a transcript at the time of application, a transcript will be required to be provided at the time of selection.

AND

B. Specialized Experience

GS-14

Applicants must posses at least three years of professional law experience and at least on year must be equivalent GS-13 level in the Federal Service.

For this position, specialized experience must include the following:

1. conducting in-depth legal research: preparing complex legal documents;

2. developing research strategies for legal issue;

3. writing documents including briefs, research memorandum and report summaries with analysis and;

4. making oral presentations, communicating research results, and defending legal positions.

GS-15

Specialized Experience: For GS-15: Applicants must possess at least four years of professional law experience and at least one year must be equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal Service.


For this position, specialized experience must include the following:

1. Interpreting laws, statutes, regulations and/or rulemaking documents on telecommunications or tribal issues;

2. analyzing legal issues including developing strategies, weighing implications, identifying potential problems and proposing solutions;

3. developing and editing policy statements, position papers, and other decisional documents;

4. and providing legal advice on policy matters to all levels of authority.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE:  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.

How you will be evaluated

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

All candidates will be considered without regard to political or religious affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap, age, or any other non-merit factor.  THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

All applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position.  Applicants who do not submit a supporting resume will be rated ineligible. 

There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:

1.  the core questions
2.  supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, transcripts, bar membership); and
4.  your resume.

Applicants will be rated ineligible, if they do not respond to job specific questions provide supplemental documents and submit resume.  For more information, please click on Rating Process

You will be evaluated for this position on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs):

• Knowledge of the policies, rules and regulations, and relevant case law.
• Knowledge of research strategies and techniques to research complex legal, policy and Tribal issues.
• Ability to communicate orally on issues related to in-depth legal research.
• Ability to communicate in writing in order to produce legal documents