Clarification from the agency

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

The incumbent will work closely with senior level Department officials in implementing financial assistance programs that further the Department's mission to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities. Specifically, the CHIPS Incentives Program provides $100 billion to catalyze long-term growth in the domestic semiconductor industry to support our national and economic security by financing major semiconductor manufacturing and related facilities through a combination of grants, loans, loan guarantees, and other transactions, and NTIA's various broadband grant programs provide over $48 billion to connect everyone in America to high-speed, affordable, reliable Internet access. Financial assistance awards under these programs may be subject to various Federal environmental and historic preservation mandates and responsibilities, and funded actions will be subject to a range of Federal, state, and local environmental and historic preservation laws and regulations. The Department will engage in a thorough review of applications to identify and mitigate environmental and historic preservation risks.

The responsibilities will include:

• Advising on the drafting and implementation of policies, procedures, templates, and forms to govern the environmental review and compliance processes associated with federal financial assistance applications, including helping to draft standard language and advise on strategic approaches to environmental compliance and risk assessment.
• Providing direct legal support on a range of time-sensitive legal and compliance issues under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and other requirements.
• Reviewing individual environmental documents, including NEPA documents and consultation or permitting requests, applications, or assessments, agency determinations, and internal and external-facing documents with broad applicability.
• Advising on inter and intra-agency coordination and relevant consultations and engaging with applicants and applicant counsel.
• Assisting in developing terms and conditions related to environmental and historic preservation compliance to be included in funding agreements, and advising on specific mitigation issues;
• Advising on the monitoring and enforcement of environmental and historic preservation terms and conditions after execution;
• Advising and commenting on relevant draft and final rules, regulations, and other priority Federal permitting or environmental reform requests; and
• Advising on a range of legal matters that could arise in connection with environmental and historic preservation compliance issues throughout the application, award, and post-award periods, including matters related to litigation.

As the bulk of the work in these programs transitions from the transaction phase to the asset management phase, the incumbent's workload will shift to other priorities throughout the Department. Specifically, the incumbent would be responsible for advising on Department compliance with any required Federal environmental statutes, regulations, and other mandates (including historic preservation mandates), and advising on federal, state, local and tribal permitting responsibilities required for the Department's programs. In performing these activities, the incumbent is expected to help to identify environmental and historic preservation risks and potential mitigation opportunities in applications; support and advise on coordination and cooperation with other Federal agencies, states, tribes, and stakeholders; and handle other environmental legal issues that arise in the execution of the Department's programs.

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.
• You must complete a 2-year trial period.
• 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
• License required: No
• Pre-employment physical 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

Qualifications

Basic requirement for all grade levels:

1. You must be a graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent from an accredited law school;
AND
2. You must have bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands.

This is a full-time position. Full promotion potential for OGC Attorneys is GS-15.

Minimum Requirements:

GS-14: Typically requires a minimum of three years of relevant legal experience, at least one of which must be specialized experience at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-13 level in the Federal service.

GS-15: Typically requires a minimum of four years of relevant 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.

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.

Specialized Experience Requirements:

Applicants must meet the basic and minimum requirements set forth above and the below specialized experience by the closing date of the announcement. Specialized experience equips applicants with particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

For this position, specialized experience includes serving as the lead attorney advising on or litigating Federal environmental statutes, regulations, and other related mandates, including NEPA, NHPA, and ESA. In addition, experience with the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act is considered beneficial.

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 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 to successfully perform the duties of this position:

1. Knowledge and experience in the practice areas and the various laws and regulations identified in this announcement.
2. Knowledge of research strategies and techniques sufficient to research the most complex legal issues. 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.
3. Ability to communicate effectively with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics in writing clearly, concisely and persuasively, with particular emphasis on the ability to analyze and explain complex legal issues.
4. Ability to communicate effectively orally with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics and independently present legal conclusions to supervisors and/or client.
5. Ability to maintain effective working and reporting relationships with professional peers, support staff and management officials.
6. Ability to organize work effectively to meet established deadlines and priorities related to legal cases and matters.

Please be advised that Department of Commerce Attorney 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 and minimum qualifications for the position and numeric scores will not be assigned. 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.