*RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID FOR THIS POSITION*

Serves as the Inspector General’s (IG’s) principal advisor and personal representative on all matters related to the IG’s policy, regulatory, managerial, and operational responsibilities. Ensures that issues and matters presented to the IG are fully researched, analyzed, evaluated, and documented prior to formal or informal consideration and decision-making.

Ensures that all briefing materials and background documentation prepared for the IG are accurate, timely, comprehensive, and responsive to the IG’s priorities and concerns.

Applies broad knowledge of agency policies, programs, and operations, including controversial or sensitive issues, to ensure actions and recommendations are aligned with the IG’s strategic objectives and immediate priorities.

Participates in policy discussions, planning groups, staff meetings, and special confidential meetings to remain informed of agency-wide issues and to coordinate the execution and follow-up of resulting action items.

Directs and manages staff activities and interactions. Ensures effective internal and external communication by conveying the IG’s priorities and directives to OIG staff, agency executives, and other key stakeholders. Assigns tasks, establishes deadlines, tracks progress, and identifies short- and long-term action items to ensure timely completion of the IG’s objectives. Provides regular status updates on major initiatives.

Oversees and monitors briefings on significant problems and controversial policy or program issues. Reviews and evaluates documents submitted for IG review and directs the preparation of background materials on matters of particular concern to the IG.

Coordinates and follows up on inquiries and action items with senior officials and external stakeholders, as appropriate. Periodically briefs the IG on significant issues and ensures the IG is kept fully informed of liaison activities.

Maintains awareness of issues affecting the nuclear industry (domestic and international), the energy sector, and climate-related matters, with particular sensitivity to legislative, political, and oversight activities on Capitol Hill and concerns raised by external stakeholders.

As directed by the IG, provides legal support to the Office of Inspector General (OIG), including occasional support to and back-up of the General Counsel on legal matters affecting OIG operations.

May be required to handle, review, access, and protect classified, sensitive, or otherwise protected information, the unauthorized disclosure of which could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.
• Successful completion of a background investigation resulting in a "Q" clearance is required, as well as the ability to maintain the "Q" clearance.
• This position is covered and subject to prohibited securities rules.
• Filing of the Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 278e)
• You must be a member of the Bar in good standing.
• You must have a law degree from an accredited college or university.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:  You must be a current member of a Bar in good standing admitted to practice before any court of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the highest court of any State, territory, or possession of the United States.

Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the basic entry requirements listed above, you must demonstrate at least 1 year of specialized experience at a level equivalent to the GS-14 grade, reflecting a high level of professional legal competence. This experience includes applying legal principles, practices, and precedents; interpreting and applying federal law such as the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, Administrative Procedure Act, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act, EEO and personnel statutes (including Merit Systems Protection Board and Alternative Dispute Resolution/Mediation), Special Counsel and Whistleblower Protection statutes, Title 18 U.S.C. et seq., Atomic Energy Act and Energy Reorganization Act, False Claims Act, and Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act; and analyzing judicial decisions, government regulations, and agency and federal case law to exercise independent legal judgment in handling a wide range of complex and/or sensitive legal matters.

You must also have extensive experience in conducting legal research, preparing legal papers, and reviewing documents for legal sufficiency. 

Typically, at least one year of this experience should be comparable in complexity and responsibility to the kind of work normally assigned at the grade 14 level or higher in the federal service, or equivalent.

Evaluation Criteria:  Candidates will be evaluated on the criteria listed below. Your resume should include information that is clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities; the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, and/or issues involved; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues you addressed; and the results of your actions as they relate to the evaluation criteria. In addition to your resume, you may use the available space provided to supply additional information regarding your qualifications for this position.

The ideal candidate for this position will have the following:

• Strong knowledge and a thorough understanding of both general and OIG-specific legal principles and practices, including OIG and agency-specific legislation, related federal statutes and regulations, applicable precedents, and other legal instruments or concepts associated with the OIG’s role in the agency. Prior experience in a federal Office of the Inspector General is preferred but not required.

• Broad knowledge of the mission, functions, organization, and regulatory practices of both the NRC and the DNFSB.

• Extensive knowledge of criminal and administrative law, especially laws applying to federal agency audits and investigations, as well as the ability to convey this knowledge effectively during consultations with OIG management and during meetings with NRC/DNFSB officials and other parties outside the OIG. Given our law enforcement functions, prior experience as a state or federal prosecutor is preferred but not required.

• Demonstrated ability to manage and coordinate the oversight of a broad range of complex technical, policy, and programmatic activities; to facilitate or carry out diverse responsibilities with significant policy implications; to perform effectively in an operational environment characterized by high visibility and meaningful impacts from decisions; and to provide sound legal advice and counsel to senior staff in agency matters.

• Highly developed interpersonal, organizational, and negotiation skills; ability to meet and deal effectively at a policy level with a broad range of senior management and technical officials; and strong skill in establishing relationships and achieving cooperation and consensus among parties or entities with diverse and often-conflicting views or objectives.

• Advanced skills in oral and written communication sufficient to effectively convey and present complex, detailed information of a technical or policy nature to the Inspector General, other OIG managers, NRC Commissioners, DNFSB Members, senior NRC and DNFSB managers, and representatives of other institutions, agencies, and organizations. A writing sample may be required from candidate finalists.

NOTE: Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration.

How you will be evaluated

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

• We strongly encourage you to complete your USAJOBS profile before you submit your application for this position. 
• OPM guidance requires a résumé of no more than two (2) pages. USAJOBS will not accept longer résumés, and applicants exceeding this limit will not be considered.
• Please read the entire announcement. Your application for this vacancy must be received online via the USAJOBS application system BEFORE 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online application, you will not be considered for this position.
• Paper applications will not be accepted unless hardship circumstances can be demonstrated. Requests for extensions WILL NOT be granted. If applying online poses a hardship for you, the Human Resources Specialist listed on the announcement will provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted online by the closing date. Applicants must contact the Human Resources Specialist during business hours BEFORE the closing date of the announcement and speak to someone who can provide assistance for your online submission.
• You must answer any job specific vacancy questions. You will be rated based on your responses to any vacancy questions and especially the information provided in your resume. Breadth, recency, and length of experience in the field; training, awards, and commendations; past and current performance; and community or outside professional activities will be considered to determine your level of knowledge, skill or ability for this position. Abbreviated responses to the vacancy questions, such as “significant experience” or “see resume” do not provide enough information and should not be used. You will not be considered for this position if you leave any of the vacancy questions unanswered.
• To begin the application process, select the "Apply On-line" button to the right on this screen. Then follow the prompts to login/register, submit all required supplemental documents, and complete the application process.