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ATTORNEY-ADVISOR (GENERAL)

Department of Defense
Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Summary

This position is in the Excepted Service. Selection under this appointment does not confer civil service competitive status.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—This position is an in-person position at facilities located at Fort Belvoir, VA. This position may be eligible for limited, situational telework subject to supervisory approval and not to exceed current Agency guidelines.  This position is not eligible for remote telework.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$169,279 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
DTRA-26-13019525-AT
Control number
879737600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to All U.S. Citizens, and is being filled under the Schedule A, 213.3102(d) hiring authority. Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612)(NonComp Mil Sp), NonComp Appointment of DoW Civilian Employee Spouses, Priority Placement Program (PPP) Retained Grade Preference (RGP), and PPP Military Reserve and National Guard Technician eligibles may also apply.

Duties

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As a ATTORNEY-ADVISOR (GENERAL) you will be responsible for the following duties:

  • Research, investigate, and analyze diverse subject matter related to the missions and functions of the Agency. Identify problem areas and associated legal issues; investigate facts; and research and analyze applicable laws, regulations, and other legal and technical source materials.
  • Apply a comprehensive knowledge of domestic and international environmental laws, international humanitarian laws, laws governing the role of the Federal government in preparing for and responding to man-made disasters worldwide, legal matters related to the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, and operational and intelligence issues arising from complex technological and scientific operations. Guide, provide instruction, or participate in negotiations arising out of Agency missions in extremely sensitive technological matters such as nuclear weapons effects, research, consequence management resulting from the use of WMD, protection of intellectual property and trade secrets, etc.
  • Apply a comprehensive knowledge of fiscal and military administrative law to difficult legal issues arising from a broad spectrum of threat reduction operations.
  • Apply a comprehensive knowledge of federal statutes and regulations to proposed or on-going government operations, delays in which could prove detrimental to the nation's defense, and the nature of which requires defending scientific positions as to which there is substantial disagreement and controversy among scientists and within the general public.
  • Provide legal review, guidance, and representation for the Agency in Department of Defense and inter-agency proceedings with respect to intra- and intergovernmental agreements.
  • Protect sensitive but unclassified information (e.g. commercially sensitive or militarily sensitive data), and classified, national security information from improper disclosure under the Government's information laws and policies. Promote sound organizational security practices and coordinate for security staff assistance visits as appropriate.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Application materials must be received by 11:59PM EST on the closing date.
  • This is a drug testing designated position.
  • This is an Excepted Service position.
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Recruitment Incentives: Subject to approval
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
  • The work is mainly sedentary. Trips to DTRA offices, other government agencies, and exercise sites may be required on a monthly basis. Significant travel is involved, and some TDY may be performed under field conditions.
  • The incumbent must maintain the capability to be deployed worldwide and may be required to deploy to the site of a real-world chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear event.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance.
  • Must consent to and pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to periodic random drug testing thereafter.
  • Travel in the performance of temporary assignments may be required 25% of duty time.
  • Must be willing to work overtime during exercise play and real-world crisis
  • Must be willing to spend 40-70 days annually in temporary duty travel in the United States and foreign countries.
  • The employee must be willing to comply with each Combatant Command (COCOM) travel medical requirement to include vaccinations.

Qualifications

Qualification standards for attorney positions may be found in DoD Directive 1442.2, "Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys" at DoD Instruction 1442.02, September 30, 2010 (whs.mil).

To qualify, applicants must possess the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.).

Applicants must provide proof that they are licensed and a member in good standing with the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Proof is a "certificate of good standing" issued by your state of licensure within 6 months of the date of application or a screenshot of your bar status taken from your state of licensure website dated within six (6) months. The successful applicant selected for employment must provide a "certificate of good standing" issued by their respective bar showing they are in good standing and in active status prior to appointment.

Applicants must possess professional legal experience in excess of 3 years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened for competencies needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the DUTIES section of this announcement. The QUALITY of experience relates to how closely or to what extent your experience, education and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Your resume must show you have the competencies necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate level.

Qualifying specialized experience would include:

  • Interpreting and applying U.S. laws, regulations, and policies governing the role of the Federal government in preparing for and responding to man-made disasters, domestically and overseas
  • Providing advice and and delivering legal instruction with respect to operational and national security law as applicable to agencies of the Federal government
  • Advising government officials on administrative investigations and administrative law matters as applicable within the Department of Defense
  • Coordinating with senior military officials on the laws and regulations relating to military discipline under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
  • Demonstrating professional knowledge regarding the protection of sensitive but unclassified information (e.g. commercially sensitive or militarily sensitive data) from improper disclosure under the Government's information laws and policies, including, but not limited to, the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974.
The principle selection factors for this position follow:
  • Ability to provide accurate, timely, responsive and ethical legal advice and counsel that addresses the operative facts and applicable law and provides clear and workable guidance.
  • Ability to provide effective support working cooperatively with senior level civilian and military clients using problem-solving skills to facilitate consensus solutions.
  • Analytical/legal ability (including issue identification, legal research, analysis of options, risk analysis, creative problem-solving).
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills and proficiency as an advocate.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and client relationships, and the ability to interact well with senior officials on controversial and sensitive issues.
Additional selection factors: Federal sector legal experience, preferably DoD, in the following is not required but will be given favorable consideration: employment, fiscal, Government contracts, intellectual property, information, or administrative law.

The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened for competencies needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the DUTIES section of this announcement. The QUALITY of experience relates to how closely or to what extent your experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Your resume must show you have the competencies necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate level. Salary will be set within the range specified in this vacancy announcement based on the complexity of work to be performed, the selectee's experience, education, training, and availability of funds.

Education

Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/approved.html

You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, and be in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Bar.

AND

Possess a Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited law school at the time of applying for the position. A copy of college transcripts must be submitted with your application.

NOTE: Failure to provide college transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Foreign Education: For further information, click on the following link: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

SELECTIVE SERVICE REQUIREMENT: https://www.sss.gov

Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

Other Notes:
All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Veteran's Preference:
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. (SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov.)

*NOTE: If you submit a resume but no questionnaire, you cannot be considered for the position. If you submit a questionnaire but no resume, you cannot be considered for the position. Your application will be appropriately documented and you will be removed from further competition against this announcement.

*NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment.
You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

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 application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration. We will evaluate your application for basic eligibility and to determine if your experience meets the qualifications and other basic requirements are eligible for referral and selection consideration.

Defense Threat Reduction Agency

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency provides cross-cutting solutions to enable the DoD, the United States Government, and international partners to DETER strategic attack against the United States and it's allies; PREVENT, reduce, and counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and emerging threats; and PREVAIL against WMD-armed adversaries in crisis and conflict.This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Agency contact information

DTRA Servicing Team
Phone
614-693-0259
Fax
(215) 516-6068
Email
DHRC-DDTRAHR@dla.mil
Address
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
8725 JOHN J KINGMAN ROAD
MSC 6201
FT BELVOIR, VA 22060-6201
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Defense Threat Reduction Agency, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.dtra.mil

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