Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all U.S. Citizens.

As a Supervisory Attorney Advisor (Ethics)(Public Notice Flyer), you will perform the following duties:

• Functions as Attorney Adviser performing legal analysis and research of extreme difficulty and complexity surrounding various issues related to standards of conduct, ethics laws and regulations. Provides written and verbal legal counsel, legal reviews, opinions, and decisions on all activities and matters involving DOC initiatives, operations, programs, and policies, in particular the ethics compliance program requirements. The incumbent in this position is utilized as a resource and technical expert on ethics.
• Oversees the implementation and management of department-wide ethics compliance programs for compliance by analyzing, monitoring, and reporting on department progress towards identified risk areas, including monitoring financial disclosure systems for effectiveness. Conducts assessments of program and administrative offices with responsibilities for supporting the department ethics program. Makes recommendations for improvements and implements changes as appropriate.
• Reviews public and confidential financial disclosure reports and travel gift reports regarding conflicts of interest. Engages in supplemental fact-finding and investigations and mitigates conflicts or problems discovered in public and confidential financial disclosure reports. Certifies that reports are complete, accurate, and compliance with conflict of interest and other ethics rules. Develops improvements to systems and procedures, as required by the Ethics in Government Act.
• Formulates and implements DOC-wide policies, systems, and procedures for the department's ethics programs. Coordinates ethics programs implementation at departmental, bureaus, and components. Provides advice and information based on expert knowledge of current circumstances, documents, and other references.
• Reviews, analyzes, and comments on new legislation and regulations in the ethics area and determines the best method of implementing new rules affecting financial disclosure and other ethics program issues. Recommendations and proposed changes are to bring the department into compliance, where needed, or improve efficacy and efficiency of the program.
• Conducts or participates as necessary in meetings, conferences, and consultations, prepares memoranda and opinions, and maintains continuing liaison with clients; represents DOC in conferences and meetings with representatives of other Executive Departments and agencies, industry, and the public regarding legal matters of interests, in particular the ethics compliance program requirements.
• Provides training and technical assistance to management and administrative offices regarding coverage of the financial disclosure requirements, the dissemination and collection of reports, and other elements of the ethics program. Provides technical assistance to filers regarding the completion of reports and advises employees, including Special Government Employees, regarding conflicts of interest, the standards of conduct, and other ethics laws.
• Supervisory duties constitute 25% of duty time. Directs ethics program staff, including ethics specialists, management analysts, and other staff supporting the Ethics Law and Programs Office. Provides technical, legal, and administrative supervision to ethics program staff, including establishing positions and selecting staff by applying Merit and EEO principles; assigning and reviewing work considering the skills and needs of employees; planning and arranging for the training and development of employees; setting organizational and individual performance standards, and evaluations; reviewing and approving awards; hearing and resolving complaints that have not been resolved; and finding/implementing ways to improve business practices and budget process.
• Supervises the development and implementation of policies, systems, and procedures for ethics program requirements, including financial disclosure and training, as well as compliance reporting.
• Strategically manages resources throughout the office to ensure high performance, greater accountability, quality service, and customer satisfaction.
• Serves as acting supervisor for the Ethics Law and Programs Office, as needed, in the absence of the Chief and Deputy Chief of the Office, although not for final supervisory determinations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Supervisory Attorney Advisor (Ethics)(Public Notice Flyer) GS-0905-15 GS-15 positions within the Office of the Secretary in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs.
• A probationary period may be required.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/)
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Drug Test Required: No
• Bargaining Unit Position: No
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will Not be paid
• You must be suitable for Federal employment.
• J.D. degree and active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).
• You must be able to successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must complete a 2-year trial period.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

The successful candidate must possess the following skills and abilities:

• excellent management and organizational skills
• a sound understanding of ethics law and program requirements, including knowledge of complex financial instruments and financial disclosure reviews
• superior legal writing and editing ability
• outstanding analytical and interpersonal skills and the ability to work directly with clients and staff members
• a demonstrated commitment to professionalism and public service

It is also preferrable for the candidate to have:

• a demonstrated strong interest in the subject matter and knowledge of the legal framework for DOC and its bureaus
• technical proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and SharePoint
• experience with developing and conducting training presentations

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.

To qualify at the GS-15 level: You must have a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.), plus five (5) years of professional legal experience, at least one of which must be specialized experience at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-14 level in the Federal service.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: experience identifying and analyzing complex legal issues involved in federal ethics law. Expertise is preferred in a broad variety of ethics subject areas such as federal criminal conflict of interest statutes, federal standards of ethical conduct regulations, financial disclosure requirements, procurement integrity provisions, lobbying rules, political activity restrictions, and program compliance. The experience may have been gained in either the public or private sector. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/date/year and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process.

Basis for evaluation: If eligible and meeting basic qualifications, your application package will be evaluated in conjunction with your resume and supporting documents for the required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of this position:

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process. Basis for evaluation: If eligible and meeting basic qualifications, your application package will be evaluated in conjunction with your résumé and supporting documents for the required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of this position:

1. Demonstrated experience managing and leading a legal staff in a demanding operational environment; ability to review program implementation and results; demonstrated ability to balance organizational program goals and priorities; ability to balance customer program and legal goals and priorities.
2. Ability to develop and utilize innovative approaches in solving problems, formulating effective solutions, and resolving complex issues.
3. Knowledge, experience, and ability to effectively advise on complex legal issues in the areas of federal administrative law and standards of conduct/ethics law. The issues researched are almost always factually complex and are in areas of the law which are often in a continual state of evolution, thus requiring atypical and innovative research strategies.
4. Ability to manage and organize work effectively to meet established deadlines and priorities.
5. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics.
6. Ability to maintain effective working and reporting relationships with professional peers, support staff and management officials.

Please be advised that Department of Commerce Attorney Advisor positions are in the Excepted Service. As such, these positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures. You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications stated herein. We will perform an initial review of applications to determine basic eligibility. The Office of the General Counsel favorably considers veterans preference eligibility in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume. If selected, additional information may be required.

There are no numerical rating systems through which to apply veterans preference; however, the Office of the General Counsel favorably considers veterans preference eligibility in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume. If selected, additional information may be required.