Clarification from the agency

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

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of the General Counsel, is seeking an Attorney Advisor to join the Office of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security (OCC/IS) to focus on cutting-edge and impactful export control enforcement and related matters. Such enforcement-related duties are expected to include significant involvement in:

• Representing BIS in administrative enforcement cases before Administrative Law Judges; drafting and reviewing enforcement-related proposed BIS rules and policies; and developing various enforcement program initiatives.
• Assisting U.S. Attorneys' Offices across the country and the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in the criminal prosecution of export control cases.
• Providing legal advice to federal law enforcement agents, including special agents of the BIS Office of Export Enforcement, on a variety of routine enforcement activities and specialized topics, such as detentions, searches, seizures and forfeitures.
• Working with the U.S. Department of Justice in defending challenges in federal court to BIS programs and enforcement actions.
• Investigating and pursuing administrative enforcement actions pertaining to violations of the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018.

Depending on the needs of the Office, additional duties may include:

• Providing legal counsel to BIS on implementation of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. §§ 4801-4852) and the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. §§ 730- 774).
• Advising on proposed rules, pending legislation, export license applications, draft advisory opinions, responses to Congressional inquiries, and national security-related matters affecting export controls and other trade-related issues.
• Providing legal guidance on matters related to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. § 1862), addressing tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum arising from threats to U.S. national security.
• Supporting BIS's efforts to secure the information and communications technology and services (ICTS) supply chain by advising on ICTS transaction reviews and rulemakings.
• Coordinating with other Department and U.S. Government agencies' legal offices, including reviewing matters before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and supporting the U.S. Department of Justice on litigation matters related to BIS.
• Carrying out duties with varying degrees of preliminary instruction and review (depending on grade level at which hired and the nature of the assignment) requiring independent legal research, approach planning, and the development of legal recommendations.

The attorney in this position may also be required to perform other duties as assigned.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other General Attorney (Public Notice Flyer) GS-0905-11/12/13/14/15, FPL GS-15 positions within the Office of the Secretary in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

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 will undergo a Top Secret-SCI clearance background investigation, and that clearance level must be maintained.
• A 2 year trial period is required.
• 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: Yes
• Bargaining Unit Position: No
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will not be paid

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

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.

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.

Minimum Qualifications:

GS-11:
J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. (The requirement that an applicant possess a J.D. may be waived if his or her bar membership is in a state that allows individuals to "read for the law" rather than pursue a formal academic degree.)

GS-12:
GS-11 qualifications plus one-year legal experience, or additional relevant experience that distinguishes an entry-level attorney from the GS-11. This may include: a superior academic record; specific course work or an internship in the relevant legal area; or another graduate or doctoral degree. Individuals hired into Legal Intern positions at the GS-11 may be reassigned to GS-12 attorney positions upon admission to the bar, irrespective of time-in-grade.

GS-13:
Applicants applying at the GS-13 grade level must have two years of experience in either the private or public sectors, with a preference for experience litigating corporate enforcement actions and working on export control-related matters.

GS-14:
Applicants applying at the GS-14 grade level must have three years of experience in either the private or public sectors, with a preference for experience litigating corporate enforcement actions and working on export control-related matters.

GS-15:
Applicants applying at the GS-15 grade level must have four years of experience in either the private or public sectors, with a preference for experience litigating corporate enforcement actions and working on export control-related matters.

Note: The General Counsel or designee retains the discretion to waive minimum qualifications as described above.

Specialized Experience Requirements:

Applicants must meet the General Professional Experience 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 (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

Applicants may be hired at any of the grades shown in this announcement, commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications. You are encouraged to identify the grade level(s) or salary for which you wish to be considered.

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 resume and supporting documents for the required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of this position:

1. Demonstrated legal experience in either the private or public sectors, with a preference for experience litigating corporate enforcement-related matters. Experience prosecuting such enforcement matters is desirable but not required.
2. Ability to write clearly and persuasively, including the ability to present complex information in a concise, accurate and easy-to-understand manner to a variety of audiences.
3. Ability to communicate orally in a clear and persuasive manner, including the ability to present complex information in a concise, accurate and easy-to understand manner to a variety of audiences.
4. Ability to interact effectively with both career and policy officials at all levels at the Department and across its interagency partners.
5. Ability to operate and thrive in an environment that frequently presents short deadlines and requires handling multiple matters simultaneously. Candidates should have superior organizational skills and be detail oriented.
6. Knowledge of or demonstrated interest in export-control and national-security related matters is desirable but not required.

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.