Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens and U.S. Nationals; no prior Federal experience is required.

The Deputy Associate Chief Counsel, Energy, Credits, and Excise Tax (ECE) assists the Associate Chief Counsel (ECE), in the overall executive direction of all activities and legal services provided by the ECE Associate Office. The Associate Office (ECE) is comprised of approximately 40 attorneys, tax law specialists, and support employees in Washington, D.C.; and provides legal advisory services that support the uniform interpretation, application, enforcement, and litigation of tax laws involving a wide range of tax matters, focused on the taxation of oil and gas and other natural resources, business and energy-related tax credits, and excise taxes.

As the Deputy Associate Chief Counsel (ECE), the incumbent of this position:

• Serves as a full Deputy to the Associate Chief Counsel (ECE) in providing executive direction on all matters within the Office's jurisdiction, including delegated authority for signature on all matters on which the Associate has authority and shares responsibility with the Associate for the direction and oversight of the Counsel-wide litigation program involving the taxation of oil and gas and other natural resources, business and energy-related tax credits and excise taxes. As assigned, acts as Acting Associate Chief Counsel (ECE) with full authority to make decisions on any problems arising in the administration of the Office and its programs.
• Consistent with the Chief Counsel Directives Manual, assists in the formulation and direction of programs and policies with respect to litigation involving the taxation of oil and gas and other natural resources, business and energy-related tax credits, and excise taxes in the U.S. Tax Court.
• Except with respect to certiorari matters, in consultation with the Division Counsel and the Associate Chief Counsel, approves recommendations of acquiescence and no acquiescence in adverse decisions and orders in such cases and suits and makes recommendations to the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding appeals, offers in compromise, or settlements in such cases or suits pending on appeal. Supports the Associate in ensuring IRS-wide consistency of approach in tax litigation and advice involving these issues; consults with the Division Counsel as to the defense or settlement of cases pending in U.S. Tax Court and, together with the Associate Chief Counsel (ECE) reviews and coordinates pleadings, briefs, settlement documents, notices of appeal, and other materials prepared in connection with U.S. Tax Court litigation involving the taxation of oil and gas and other natural resources, business and energy-related tax credits, and excise taxes. Assists in the direction and preparation of recommendations concerning defense, settlement, or concession.
• Assists in the executive direction to staff engaged in drafting revenue rulings, revenue procedures, announcements, and news releases to be published for the guidance of taxpayers and IRS personnel; the issuance of technical advice memoranda responding to questions raised by IRS examiners; issuance of private letter rulings and general technical information letters in response to requests from taxpayers; and preparation of Chief Counsel Advice and other legal opinions for other Chief Counsel offices and IRS functions with respect to legal questions raised in litigation and IRS programs.
• In collaboration with Associate Chief Counsel, works with Treasury officials to coordinate recommendations for legislation that particularly affect matters involving the taxation of oil and gas and other natural resources, business and energy-related tax credits, and excise taxes; assists in the direction of IRS participation in this aspect of the legislative process, including the furnishing of advice and guidance with respect to the development of new or revised legislative proposals; and assists in the oversight of IRS participation with legislative staffs in the drafting of such legislation and committee reports.
• Assists in the coordination of the processing and review of nondocketed cases submitted for consideration by various local, area, division, or national levels. Renders legal advice and assistance to IRS personnel and other Chief Counsel personnel concerning the taxation of oil and gas and other natural resources, business and energy-related tax credits, and excise tax matters under examination in the audit of returns, or in the consideration of claims for refund. Assists in the development and monitoring of performance measures and program goals for the provision of legal services and published guidance, and the implementation, compliance, and outreach initiatives on issues involving the taxation of oil and gas and other natural resources, business and energy-related tax credits, and excise taxes. Ensures that performance and program goals, strategy, and organizational policies are clearly communicated to employees.

Conditions of employment

• Refer to "Additional Information"
• Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National

Qualifications

To qualify for this position of Deputy Associate Chief Counsel, Energy, Credits, and Excise Tax (ECE) you must meet the following requirements:

• Possess at least the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; AND
• Applicants must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
• Desired Education/Experience: An LL.M. in Taxation is desired but not required. 7 years of professional legal tax experience is desired.

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level or its equivalent in Federal service. Applicants must possess the following technical and executive core qualifications:

A) Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

Unless you are currently serving under a Career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, or eligible for reinstatement into the SES, you must address the ECQs. Applicants must provide a narrative statement (not to exceed a total of 10 pages) that clearly documents and demonstrates possession of the competencies in the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) as established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The following five ECQs provide the focus for certification of executive core qualifications for initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service.

1. Leading Change - Ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
2. Leading People - Ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
3. Results Driven - Ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
4. Business Acumen - Ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
5. Building Coalitions - 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.

B) Mandatory Technical Competencies (MTQs):

In addition to the general managerial competencies set out in the Executive Core Qualifications, the following mandatory technical qualifications are specific competencies required to qualify for the position (you should address each MTQ separately, with the total narrative not exceeding ten pages):

1. Demonstrated comprehensive, professional knowledge of and experience in applying tax laws affecting the taxation of oil and gas and other natural resources, business and energy-related tax credits, and excise taxes.
2. Demonstrated ability to manage a legal services program, including the ability to review and assess the organizational effectiveness of program services and policies, and to design and implement procedures to improve/optimize organizational performance.
3. Demonstrated ability to make effective, decisive timely and well- considered decisions, and to resolve issues/problems of substantial impact, sensitivity, and complexity.
4. Demonstrated the ability to supervise others to promote maximum utilization and development of staff and to support equal employment opportunity initiative and goals.

Desirable:

1. A thorough understanding of the operations and organization of the Internal Revenue Service and Office of Chief Counsel, and a solid understanding of the Department of the Treasury and its Office of General Counsel

1. The Incumbent is required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278e) and Conflict of Interest Statement, upon entering the position, annually, and upon termination of employment (5CFR, Part 2634).
2. The position will require occasional travel away from the permanent duty station.

(Note: Failure to address these factors will result in your application being disqualified.) Narrative responses to the Technical Qualifications and Desirable Qualifications should not be more than two pages for each. Please provide the Executive Core Qualifications, Technical Qualifications and Desirable Qualifications each on separate sheets of paper.

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. 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/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants will be considered based on their overall background as it relates to the position to be filled. Interviews may be held at the option of the office. All application materials and interviews, if conducted, will be used in the final evaluation and selection process.

Candidates found minimally qualified will be further evaluated by an Executive Resources Board based on the extent and quality of their experience as it relates to the Mandatory Technical Competencies and the Executive Core Qualifications needed for this position. Appropriate consideration will be given for job-related training, education, awards, publications, and supervisory appraisals of job performance. Interviews of applicants may be held at the option of the Board. Selected applicant will be subject to certification of their executive qualifications by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (unless previously certified). (Note: Current and former SES members, and other candidates who have already been OPM/QRB-certified, are not required to address the executive core qualifications. They must, however, provide documentation of certification in the form of an SF-50 showing career SES status, or an OPM issued SES qualification certificate.)

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, you may be required to participate in a selection interview. We will not reimburse costs related to the interview, such as travel to and from the interview site.