This position is located in the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), which is an independent authority housed within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. FirstNet is responsible for building, deploying, operating, maintaining, and enhancing a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network. The Chief Counsel, FirstNet leads the legal office that directly supports FirstNet's programmatic activities.
Summary
This position is located in the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), which is an independent authority housed within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. FirstNet is responsible for building, deploying, operating, maintaining, and enhancing a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network. The Chief Counsel, FirstNet leads the legal office that directly supports FirstNet's programmatic activities.
The Chief Counsel provides legal advice to the FirstNet Authority Board, the FirstNet Authority Executive Director, FirstNet Authority Senior Management, the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, and the Secretary of Commerce regarding the FirstNet Authority's programmatic activities. The Chief Counsel reports to the General Counsel of the Department of Commerce as the Department's Chief Legal Officer with respect to all legal matters.
The Chief Counsel coordinates on FirstNet Authority legal matters across the Department's Office of General Counsel and serves as the FirstNet Authority's liaison with other legal offices within the Federal Government. Specific responsibilities include:
Advise and collaborate with the FirstNet Authority Executive Director, Senior Management team, and the Board on legal and policy matters to contribute to the formulation and execution of strategy for the overall organization;
Represent the FirstNet Authority to outside entities and articulates FirstNet Authority actions and decision making in light of applicable statutes, regulations, guidelines, policies, directives, charters, and agreements;
Manage an office of attorneys and subject matter experts and oversee coordination between the Office of Chief Counsel and the Department's Office of General Counsel;
Analyze legal and policy options and risks and communicate effectively with the Board and Senior Management team to identify ways for the FirstNet Authority to achieve its objectives;
Draft legal memoranda and documents (e.g., spectrum leases, Board resolutions, memoranda of understanding, and regulatory filings) on behalf of the FirstNet Authority;
Interpret legal authorities including statutes, Executive Orders, administrative rulings, and other directives, and provide advice and input on legislative and regulatory proposals in coordination with the Department's Office of General Counsel to ensure they advance the FirstNet Authority's mission and goals;
Prepare or review orders, notices, rules, and regulations for publication, including notices in the Federal Register and announcements posted on regulations.gov to be issued by the FirstNet Authority, and examine legal instruments associated with FirstNet Authority programmatic activities;
Develop and implement a comprehensive legal compliance program for the FirstNet Authority, examine audits reports from the Department's Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office regarding FirstNet Authority activities and operations, and coordinate the FirstNet Authority's response to audit findings;
Coordinate with the Department's Office of General Counsel and the U.S. Department of Justice regarding litigation matters;
Oversee the policy development, review and update process to ensure all FirstNet Authority policies are properly maintained and support the overall legal compliance of the FirstNet Authority; and
Ensure FirstNet Authority program compliance with all relevant spectrum management and environmental and historic preservation requirements.
All members of the SES are subject to geographic relocation.
A one-year probationary period is required for new SES members.
Subject to pre-employment and employment random drug testing.
Public Financial Disclosure (SF-278 filing within 30 days is required).
OPM approval is required before appointing any current or former political appointee to a permanent position in the civil service. This includes anyone who has been a political appointee in the last five years.
Qualifications
All candidates for SES positions with the Federal Government must demonstrate leadership experience indicative of senior executive level management capability.
To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, your resume should demonstrate that you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), and the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQ's), listed below.
It is recommended that your resume emphasize levels of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, and program accomplishments and results. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the equivalent of the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state and local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations. Failure to meet all executive and technical qualification factors will automatically exclude you from further consideration.
Executive Core Qualifications: The following are the five ECQs and their competencies. The ECQs were developed to assess executive experience and potential, not to evaluate technical experience. ECQs measure whether an individual has the broad experience needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions.
ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. (Competencies: creativity and innovation, external awareness, flexibility, resilience, strategic thinking, vision).
ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.(Competencies: conflict management, leveraging diversity, developing others, team building).
ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. (Competencies: accountability, customer service, decisiveness, entrepreneurship, problem solving, technical credibility).
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.(Competencies: financial management, human capital management, technology management).
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification involves the 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. (Competencies: partnering, political savvy, influencing/negotiating).
Demonstrated ability to plan, implement, and supervise the work of a legal office, effectively interpreting existing or proposed statutes, regulations, directives and other policy instruments in at least one of the following areas: telecommunications, public safety, emergency response, or commercial law.
Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in researching, negotiating, and/or managing complex multi-year agreements in a corporate or government environment.
Demonstrated ability to establish or maintain a policy development, review and update process in a corporate or government environment.
IF SELECTED, you will be required to complete an ECQ package by drafting narratives for each of the ECQs and be certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in order to be placed in this position. If you are currently serving in a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program and your ECQs were certified by an OPM QRB, you WILL NOT need to draft the ECQs.
Education
A professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school, Law School transcript required AND active membership of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Additional information
Background Investigation/Clearance: This position is designated as Special-Sensitive (High Risk) | Top Secret, Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
Financial Disclosure: This position is covered under the Ethics in Government Act, which requires comprehensive financial disclosures from employees. The appointee will be required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (SF-278), within 30 days after his/her appointment, and then annually thereafter.
Qualifications Approval and Probationary Period: Persons newly selected for career appointment to the Senior Executive Service must have their executive core qualifications approved by an Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Review Board and will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
Mobility: Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines.
Application materials: The materials you send with your application will not be returned.
Veterans' preference: VETERAN'S PREFERENCE IS NOT APPLICABLE TO POSITIONS IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE.
SSN: You will be required to enter your full social security number (SSN) only to initially access and create an account at the OPM USAJOBS website; however, only the last four digits will appear in your resume. Please DO NOT put your SSN on pages within your application package. Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
Signature: Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application.
False Statements: If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired, you may be fired after you begin work, or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. The Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer.
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.
Resume (not to exceed five pages) review. Your resume should demonstrate possession of the technical qualifications and executive core qualifications. Typically, experience demonstrating the technical and executive core qualifications will have been gained at or above the equivalent of the GS-15 or its equivalent with state and local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations. Follow the instructions in the vacancy announcement carefully when preparing your resume and adhere to the page limitations. Any pages in excess of the page limit will not be considered.
Basic qualification determination.
Rating panel assessment of your executive core qualifications and professional technical qualifications.
Structured interview and possible further interviews.
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.
This is a resume-based recruitment. Applicants are required to submit only a resume which must provide detailed evidence of how they meet the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs).
Resume that does not exceed the five (5) page limit. (ECQ and PTQ sample experience should be incorporated in the resume and not separately).
Additional documents you may submit:
For current Senior Executive or individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility - You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your career appointment status in the SES.
For OPM QRB certified SES Candidate Development Program graduates - You are encouraged to submit your OPM certificate of QRB ECQ approval.
For current Federal employees - You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your current tenure, position title, series, and pay.
Current or former Political Appointees (if applicable) - please note on your resume and attach an SF-50 (i.e. your appointment SF-50). OPM must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information.
Documents not listed above including writing samples, recommendation letters, narrative ECQ and PTQ statements, and proof of veteran status will not be considered and will not be forwarded to the rating panel or selecting official.
Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS by 11:59pm Eastern Time (ET) (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance. Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement:
Click the blue "Apply Online" button.
If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile.
As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application.
Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen.
Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy.
Submit the required documents.
If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.
First Responder Network Authority
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
M/S 243
Reston, VA 20192
US
Next steps
The Executive Resources Operations Staff will provide notification of applicant status through periodic emails at the four points of the hiring process, as applicable, in a timely fashion. The four points of notification are: Application Received; Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Not Met; Panel Rating of Best Qualified (Application referred to the Selecting Official) or Panel Rating of Qualified/Not Qualified (Application not referred to Selecting Official); and Selected or Not Selected.Applicants can check the status of their application at any time after the announcement closes by accessing USAJOBS website.Select "My USAJOBS" and enter your ID and password. Click the link titled "Applications" and select the link under "Application Status" next to the name of the announcement. Your status will be updated as changes occur. If you have any questions, you may contact the Human Resources Specialist at the telephone number listed in the announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This is a resume-based recruitment. Applicants are required to submit only a resume which must provide detailed evidence of how they meet the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs).
Resume that does not exceed the five (5) page limit. (ECQ and PTQ sample experience should be incorporated in the resume and not separately).
Additional documents you may submit:
For current Senior Executive or individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility - You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your career appointment status in the SES.
For OPM QRB certified SES Candidate Development Program graduates - You are encouraged to submit your OPM certificate of QRB ECQ approval.
For current Federal employees - You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your current tenure, position title, series, and pay.
Current or former Political Appointees (if applicable) - please note on your resume and attach an SF-50 (i.e. your appointment SF-50). OPM must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information.
Documents not listed above including writing samples, recommendation letters, narrative ECQ and PTQ statements, and proof of veteran status will not be considered and will not be forwarded to the rating panel or selecting official.
Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS by 11:59pm Eastern Time (ET) (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance. Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement:
Click the blue "Apply Online" button.
If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile.
As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application.
Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen.
Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy.
Submit the required documents.
If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.
First Responder Network Authority
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
M/S 243
Reston, VA 20192
US
Next steps
The Executive Resources Operations Staff will provide notification of applicant status through periodic emails at the four points of the hiring process, as applicable, in a timely fashion. The four points of notification are: Application Received; Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Not Met; Panel Rating of Best Qualified (Application referred to the Selecting Official) or Panel Rating of Qualified/Not Qualified (Application not referred to Selecting Official); and Selected or Not Selected.Applicants can check the status of their application at any time after the announcement closes by accessing USAJOBS website.Select "My USAJOBS" and enter your ID and password. Click the link titled "Applications" and select the link under "Application Status" next to the name of the announcement. Your status will be updated as changes occur. If you have any questions, you may contact the Human Resources Specialist at the telephone number listed in the announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
