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Assistant General Counsel for the Office of Environment

Department of Energy
Department of Energy - Agency Wide
Office of the General Counsel

Summary

The Department of Energy's (DOE), Office of the General Counsel is looking for a dynamic, innovative, seasoned executive to provide executive leadership and direction in overseeing the Office of Environment by providing legal support for DOE's environmental protection, health and safety.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 08/12/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 12, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$199,172 - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Senior Executive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
26-GC-00950-13016913-ES
Control number
878381500

Duties

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As the Assistant General Counsel for the Office of Environment, you will:

  • Supervise and manage legal activities related to the General Counsel's duty to provide comprehensive legal support for DOE's critical environmental protection, health and safety, and nuclear safety programs.
  • Provide legal support to DOE's environmental protection programs and offering legal assistance and policy guidance to DOE programs and regulatory offices for planning strategies to implement environmental protection requirements effectively.
  • Provide legal review and approval of environmental impact statements (EISs), assessments, and other NEPA documents as requested by Secretarial Program Offices and assists in their preparation.
  • Review and assist in the development of DOE environmental protection policies, regulations, and internal activities; reviewing and commenting on NEPA documents and EISs from other agencies; and preparing legal procedures for and representing the Department in public hearings on EISs and NEPA-related matters.
  • Serve as a key liaison on legal questions with other federal agencies, such as the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor (DOL), and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, as well as with appropriate state and local authorities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Subject to a 1-year SES probationary period (unless already completed).
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  • File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278 within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  • You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents: BAR MEMBERSHIP: You must be a current active member in good standing of the Bar of a State or Territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Qualifications

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET ALL OF THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume must clearly demonstrate that you possess the following technical qualifications.

TQ 1: Experience in both directing and supervising other attorneys in matters involving the legal issues involved in the cleanup of hazardous or radioactive waste pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Endangered Species Act; and in negotiating environmental cleanup and remediation efforts with the Environmental Protection Agency and state regulatory agencies within the framework of the Federal Facility Compliance Act.

TQ 2: Experience in the application of the National Environmental Policy Act; the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act; in managing and conducting the legal review of environmental impact statements and environmental assessments; and in your ability to successfully interact with technical subject matter experts, including scientists and engineers.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position. There are five ECQs:

  • ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
  • ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
  • ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
  • ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
  • ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.
Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

Must meet the minimum education requirements of successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) with a professional law degree (L.L.B or J.D.).

This position has a positive education requirement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Additional information

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm

Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to

Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx)

OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

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.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

Department of Energy - Agency Wide

The Office of the General Counsel is responsible for providing comprehensive legal services to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and all Departmental elements, except the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and for effectively representing the Department as counsel before Federal, State, and other governmental agencies and courts. These services are intended to advance the missions and objectives of the Department through advice, negotiation, rulemaking, legislation, regulatory enforcement and, when necessary, litigation, and to ensure that the Department operates in compliance with all pertinent laws and regulations.

Agency contact information

Rashida Smith
Email
rashida.smith@hq.doe.gov
Address
Office of the General Counsel
Department of Energy
Human Capital Shared Service Center
1000 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20585
US

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https://www.energy.gov/

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