This position is located in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of the Solicitor, Washington, DC.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. The "Required Documents" section of this announcement identifies all documents that must be uploaded in order to be considered a complete application package. Applicants that do not submit a complete application will not receive further consideration.
Summary
This position is located in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of the Solicitor, Washington, DC.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. The "Required Documents" section of this announcement identifies all documents that must be uploaded in order to be considered a complete application package. Applicants that do not submit a complete application will not receive further consideration.
All qualified candidates may apply. Current and/or former Senior Executive candidates must submit appropriate documentation to receive credit for non-competitive consideration.
The Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor (SOL), is seeking a highly skilled and motivated individual to serve as the Associate Solicitor for Legal Counsel. This pivotal role involves directing the work of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), providing critical legal advice to the Secretary of Labor, and serving as a key liaison for legislative and ethics matters.
On the legislative front, your primary responsibilities will include coordinating and preparing the Department's legislative program, drafting, and clearing testimony for Congressional Committees, and coordinating the communication of the Department's positions before the Office of Management and Budget and other executive branch agencies. You will provide expert legal advice to top Department officials, including the Secretary of Labor, Deputy Secretary, and Assistant Secretaries, on a variety of complex legal and administrative issues.
One of your responsibilities will be to ensure that Department employees conduct their mission in an ethical manner. You will serve as the Department's Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official (ADAEO), managing the ethics program, providing guidance on government-wide ethics laws and regulations, and overseeing financial disclosure processes. Your role will involve advising on highly confidential matters, ensuring compliance with ethics requirements, and certifying the ethics compliance of prospective nominees to PAS-level positions.
You will also be interacting with senior Department leadership on executive personnel issues, such as providing guidance on the order of succession and onboarding new appointees. You also provide advice to the Department and other offices of the Solicitor of Labor on generally applicable issues of administrative law.
Moreover, you will oversee the SOL's Honors Attorney Program, the primary means by which entry-level attorneys are brought into the Department. This includes recruitment, selection, and oversight of new attorneys in the agency, ensuring they have diverse assignments to develop their legal skills and contribute to the Department's mission.
This position offers a unique opportunity to work on high-profile issues, contribute to the effective administration of the Department's programs, and making a long-lasting impact on the agency by recruiting and developing its future leaders. If you have a passion for public service, exceptional legal acumen, and the ability to lead and mentor a talented team, we invite you to apply for this rewarding position. Join us and help shape the future of labor law and policy.
Must meet Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications.
Must complete one year SES probationary period if not previously covered.
Subject to financial disclosure requirements.
Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
If selected, the candidate must receive approval from OPM's Qualifications Review Board in order to be appointed to the SES.
As a basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive-level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Mandatory/Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications listed below. 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 this basic qualification requirement and all executive and technical qualification factors will automatically exclude you from further consideration.
Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.
Qualifications
Candidates must possess technical and management experience and have developed the knowledge and skills required for effective performance of the specific duties of the position. Candidates must have had experience at a major management level (normally equivalent to the GS-15 level in the federal service).
All competitive 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, you must show in your resume that you possess the Fundamental Competencies, five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), and the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs), listed below. It is recommended that your resume emphasize levels of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, and program accomplishments and results. FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Written Communication, Continual Learning, and Public Service Motivation.
EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Possession of the ECQs MUST be included in your resume. RESUMES MUST BE LIMITED TO 5-PAGES ONLY. It is strongly recommended that you follow the guidance outlined on Pages 27-31 in the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Senior Executive Qualifications.
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.
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.
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.
4. Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
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.
MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): In writing your narrative responses to the MTQs, please give examples and explain how often you used your skills, the complexity of the knowledge possessed, the level of people you interacted with, the sensitivity of the issues you handled, etc. APPLICANTS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR NARRATIVE RESPONSES TO ONE (1) SINGLE SPACED PAGE PER EACH MTQ WITH THE FONT SIZE NO SMALLER THAN POINT 12.
1. Demonstrated knowledge and experience relating to general counsel-related legal matters, such as government ethics, employment matters, legislation, and administrative law.
2. Demonstrated executive level ability to manage a legal program with diverse activities, including experience developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing policies, procedures, and operations.
Education
Education for this position is a requirement and applicants must possess a J.D. You will be required to provide an original copy of your transcripts at a later time. Applicants are required to be active members of the Bar in any US State or US Territory Court under the U.S. Constitution. Documentation of Bar License will be required before selection.
You must provide a copy of your transcripts from an accredited institution. Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.
If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.
Additional information
DOL seeks to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.
The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act.
Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions.
As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.
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.
You will be evaluated based on your experience and your responses to the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). It is essential that your resume provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses. If your responses are not adequately substantiated by your resume, your application will be rated ineligible.
Current/Former Career SES or SES Candidate Development graduates who have been certified by OPM must provide a narrative response to address each of the MTQ's but need not address the ECQs. You must submit a Standard Form 50 that documents your SES Career appointment or a copy of your OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Program certificate.
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.
Thoroughly review the following list to determine the documentation you need to submit. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date, 08/05/2024 to receive consideration. If you fail to submit the required documentation before the announcement closes, you will be rated "ineligible".
1. Resume - All applicants must provide a resume that demonstrates possession of the technical qualifications and achievement of the five executive core qualifications. Your resume will be used to determine your basic and specialized qualifications for the position. YOUR RESUME MUST NOT EXCEED FIVE (5) PAGES. YOU MUST ADHERE TO THE PAGE LIMIT OR YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
2. MTQ Narrative Statement(s) - All applicants are required to submit a one-page narrative statement for each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). MTQ narratives must not exceed one page per MTQ, or you will not be considered.
Important Note to Non-Competitive Candidates (i.e., Current/Former Career SES members and/or graduates of a certified SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP).
To receive consideration, non-competitive candidates must provide an SF-50 or proof of completion from an OPM-certified SESCDP.
Non-competitive candidates must provide detailed MTQ narrative statements for each mandatory qualification.
Applicants are encouraged to provide the following documents, only if applicable:
SF-50 - Documentation of status as a current federal employee or career SES appointment.
Certificate of completion of OPM-certified SES Candidate Development Program.
Cover Letter. (optional)
Copy of most recent performance appraisal. (optional)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section.
Follow the steps below to apply. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including your Resume and Saved Documents. Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, include: start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week); otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS) Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the title and click the "Apply" button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Click "Start Application" and proceed through the 5 steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application.
STEP 3 - Complete the 2nd part of the application process. On the next page, you may need to create a DOL Account if you have not already. Continue through the progress steps where you will be required to answer the vacancy-specific questions. After responding to the vacancy-specific questions, you will be prompted to submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy.
STEP 4 - On the "Review and Submit" step, click "Submit Application". You will receive confirmation that your application was submitted successfully.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm ET of the Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then "Update Application".
Office of the Solicitor
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US
Next steps
The Division of Executive Resources will review all applications to determine if applicants meet the mandatory technical qualifications of this position and the SES ECQs. A subject matter expert may be consulted in the initial review. Those who meet the qualifications will be referred to a panel of SES members for rating and ranking of candidates. Top ranked candidates will be invited to interview with the rating panel in order to determine the "best qualified" candidates. The panel will make a recommendation to the selecting official about the top candidates that s/he should interview. Once a selection is made, the selectee's application will be forwarded to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for approval by an OPM independent Qualifications Review Board (QRB), unless the selectee is a current/former SES executive or has successfully participated in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Thoroughly review the following list to determine the documentation you need to submit. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date, 08/05/2024 to receive consideration. If you fail to submit the required documentation before the announcement closes, you will be rated "ineligible".
1. Resume - All applicants must provide a resume that demonstrates possession of the technical qualifications and achievement of the five executive core qualifications. Your resume will be used to determine your basic and specialized qualifications for the position. YOUR RESUME MUST NOT EXCEED FIVE (5) PAGES. YOU MUST ADHERE TO THE PAGE LIMIT OR YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
2. MTQ Narrative Statement(s) - All applicants are required to submit a one-page narrative statement for each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). MTQ narratives must not exceed one page per MTQ, or you will not be considered.
Important Note to Non-Competitive Candidates (i.e., Current/Former Career SES members and/or graduates of a certified SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP).
To receive consideration, non-competitive candidates must provide an SF-50 or proof of completion from an OPM-certified SESCDP.
Non-competitive candidates must provide detailed MTQ narrative statements for each mandatory qualification.
Applicants are encouraged to provide the following documents, only if applicable:
SF-50 - Documentation of status as a current federal employee or career SES appointment.
Certificate of completion of OPM-certified SES Candidate Development Program.
Cover Letter. (optional)
Copy of most recent performance appraisal. (optional)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section.
Follow the steps below to apply. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including your Resume and Saved Documents. Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, include: start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week); otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS) Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the title and click the "Apply" button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Click "Start Application" and proceed through the 5 steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application.
STEP 3 - Complete the 2nd part of the application process. On the next page, you may need to create a DOL Account if you have not already. Continue through the progress steps where you will be required to answer the vacancy-specific questions. After responding to the vacancy-specific questions, you will be prompted to submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy.
STEP 4 - On the "Review and Submit" step, click "Submit Application". You will receive confirmation that your application was submitted successfully.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm ET of the Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then "Update Application".
Office of the Solicitor
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US
Next steps
The Division of Executive Resources will review all applications to determine if applicants meet the mandatory technical qualifications of this position and the SES ECQs. A subject matter expert may be consulted in the initial review. Those who meet the qualifications will be referred to a panel of SES members for rating and ranking of candidates. Top ranked candidates will be invited to interview with the rating panel in order to determine the "best qualified" candidates. The panel will make a recommendation to the selecting official about the top candidates that s/he should interview. Once a selection is made, the selectee's application will be forwarded to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for approval by an OPM independent Qualifications Review Board (QRB), unless the selectee is a current/former SES executive or has successfully participated in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
