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Summary

Join the team! Every U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) employee is proud to be a part of a team that works together to assure that the products you use every day are safe.

Overview

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Open & closing dates
03/13/2026 to 03/23/2026
Salary
$85,447 to - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 14
Location
Bethesda, MD
2 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Up to 25% travel in Local Commuting Area
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes - Upon appointment, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450. You will need to provide the information annually.
Bargaining unit status
Yes - This position is in the bargaining unit, The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 3579.
Announcement number
3010CEL-2026-0001
Control number
860565300

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Duties

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This position is located in the Division of Enforcement & Litigation, Office of Compliance and Field Operations. The Office identifies & investigates potentially hazardous products; enforces mandatory standards & regulations; negotiates voluntary recalls, other corrective actions & civil penalties; conducts administrative litigation to obtain mandatory recalls; supports Department of Justice in civil cases brought on behalf of CPSC; and assists in the drafting & review of rules and regulations affecting CPSC’s compliance and enforcement authority. 


Duties:

An attorney in the Division of Enforcement & Litigation will:

  • Identify new matters to investigate based on internal and external data and newly emerging technologies;
  • Investigate whether consumer products present substantial product hazards;
  • Negotiate voluntary corrective actions with manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers;
  • Determine investigative and legal strategies;
  • Recommend whether cases should be closed, resolved informally or litigated;
  • Litigate administrative actions seeking mandatory product recalls, including drafting pleadings and motions;
  • Represent the Agency at hearings, trials, and appeals;
  • Investigate and negotiate civil penalties stemming from violations of Acts administered by the Commission;
  • Advise on and recommend referral of matters to the Department of Justice (DOJ);
  • Provide legal advice related to regulations and policy affecting the Commission’s compliance and enforcement authority.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Must meet education requirements.
  • Selectee must reside in the local commuting area of the duty station
  • A background investigation is required.

Must be a U.S. Citizen.

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the employment offer may be withdrawn.

If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Please see http://www.sss.gov for more information.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment.  False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  The system confirms employee’s identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, if converted, you will be required to serve a two (2) year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the CPSC;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the CPSC or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

In addition to the mandatory education requirement, all applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

GS-12: 1) conducting investigations and assessing evidence developed in recommending litigation or other resolutions; 2) preparing pleadings and legal documents; AND 3) providing legal advice related to statutory and regulatory enforcement authorities.

GS-13: Independently 1) conducting investigations and determining investigative and legal strategy; 2) drafting and negotiating agreements 3) drafting pleadings, motions, or legal memoranda; 4) participating in hearings or trials; AND 5) providing legal advice related to statutory and regulatory enforcement authorities.

GS-14: Independently 1) conducting complex investigations and determining investigative and legal strategy; 2) drafting and negotiating complex agreements; 3) drafting complex pleading, motions, or legal memoranda; 4) representing clients in hearings or trials; AND 5) providing legal advice on complex matters related to statutory and regulatory enforcement authorities.  

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held.  Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone.  If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

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.

Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Basic Requirement: All applicants must possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree and be an active member of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. All applicants are required to provide proof of current, active bar membership/good standing.

GS-11: In addition to the basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have either: (1) one year of experience as a practicing attorney); OR (2) a second professional law degree (LL.M) OR (3) J.D. or LL.B degree with superior law student work or activities.

Superior Law School Achievement is demonstrated by one of the following:

  • Academic standing in the upper 1/3 of the law school graduating class
  • Work or achievement of significance on his/her law school's official law review or journal
  • Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif or obtaining the highest grade in a course
  • Participating in a moot court, trial or arbitration competition or membership on such a team which represents the law school in competition with other law schools
  • Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid or clinical law program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation
  • Significant summer law office clerk experience or internship

GS-12: In addition to the basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have either: (1) two years of experience as a practicing attorney); OR (2) one year of experience as a practicing attorney and a second professional law degree (LL.M).   

GS-13: In addition to basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have three years of experience as a practicing attorney.

GS-14: In addition to basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have four years of experience as a practicing attorney.

GS-15: In addition to basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have five years of experience as a practicing attorney.

ALL applicants must also submit proof of successful completion of education requirements. This proof may consist of a law school transcript or other documentation which provides clear and specific proof of education, such as a diploma. A copy of an SF-50 only is not adequate proof of meeting the education requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. 

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified. 

Additional information

CPSC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized.

This appointment requires completion of a two year trial period unless you have previously successfully completed a trial period that meets the following: 1) in the same agency, 2) in the same line of work (as determined by the employee’s actual duties and responsibilities) and 3) contains or is followed by no more than a single break in service that does not exceed 30 calendar days. 

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking references and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

As a condition of employment, the selectee must reside in the local commuting area of the duty station listed in this announcement. Proof of residence may be required. 

Must meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time, otherwise the employment offer may be withdrawn.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

After the vacancy closes, we will review your application package to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your responses to the assessment, resume and supporting documentation will then be reviewed by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited to an interview.

RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience.

There is no formal rating system for applying veterans’ preference to attorney positions in the excepted service; however, CPSC considers veteran’s preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. 

Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, salary, duties performed for each position, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level/pay band.


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