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GENERAL ATTORNEY

Department of Defense
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency

Summary

The agency seeks a highly qualified attorney to serve as a senior legal advisor on federal procurement law, bid protests, contract claims, and contract litigation. The selectee will provide independent counsel to contracting officials, program offices, and senior leaders; assess acquisition and litigation risk; prepare legal analyses and litigation documents; and support or represent the agency before the Government Accountability Office, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, boards of contract appeals.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Salary
$143,913 - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 14
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 an estimated 10% of time 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
Sensitive Compartmented Information
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
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
DCSA-27-13084036-P
Control number
888653900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to: All U. S. citizens, Retained Grade Preference (RGP) eligibles, and Military Reserve and National Guard Technician eligibles may also apply.

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Duties

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As a GENERAL ATTORNEY you will be responsible for the following duties:

  • Represents or supports agency representation before the Government Accountability Office, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, boards of contract appeals, and other forums.
  • Prepares agency reports, legal memoranda, pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery materials, and corrective-action or settlement recommendations.
  • Provides independent legal advice on complex federal procurement matters, including bid protests, contract claims, disputes, and related litigation.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a US citizen
  • Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. For more information http://www.sss.gov
  • Resume and supporting documents received by 11:59PM EST will be considered
  • This is a Drug Testing designated position
  • Position is a (DCIPS) position in the Excepted Service under U.S.C. 1601
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • PCS (Permanent Change of Station): May Be Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Required
  • Telework Eligibility: Supervisors may approve situational telework on a case-by-case, temporary basis for limited situations.
  • If selected, the incumbent must obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance as indicated in job announcement.
  • Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Qualifications

This position has a Basic Requirement for the 0905:
In accordance with DoDI 1442.02, to be qualified, you must meet the following requirements:

(1) Possess a first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.)

  • Law school transcripts MUST be provided. Failure to provide transcripts with your application will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

(2) Be an active a member of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.

  • An applicant for a DoD civilian attorney position who is not, at the time of selection to fill the position, serving in a current DoD civilian attorney position must provide to the selecting official prior to his or her appointment to the position an official, current certificate from a State agency demonstrating that he or she has active membership in the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia and is permitted to engage in the active practice of law. Failure to provide this information prior to appointment will result in disqualification from further consideration.
(3) Possess 3 years or more of professional legal experience, with one year or more being at the next lower grade level GS/GG-13, that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.


The legal experience described in your application package or resume will be evaluated and screened for competencies required to perform the duties of the position as described in the Major Duties section of this announcement. The QUALITY of experience will be evaluated and screened to determine how closely or to what extent your experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Your application package or resume must demonstrate you have the competencies and quality of experience necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate grade level.


Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have specialized experience sufficient to demonstrate that you have acquired all the competencies necessary to perform at a level equivalent in difficulty, responsibility, and complexity to the next lower grade (GS/GG-13) in the Federal service and are prepared to take on greater responsibility.
Generally, this would include one year or more of such specialized experience.

Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Advising and representing the Government in complex procurement disputes arising under the Federal Acquisition Regulations and related statutes, and regulations.
  • Independently analyzing protest grounds and administrative records;
  • Developing litigation strategy;
  • Preparing persuasive pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery responses, and legal opinions; conducting factual and legal research;
  • Appearing before forums such as the Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, boards of contract appeals, and, as appropriate, federal appellate courts.
Specifically you will be evaluated on the following competencies:
1. Technical competence: Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

2. Strategic thinking: Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunities and manages risks.

3. Technical Credibility: Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.

4. Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.

5. Leadership: Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level, however, in accordance with DoDI 1442.02, you must possess a first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) to qualify.

Law school transcripts MUST be provided. Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.


Superior Academic Achievement does not apply to DCIPS positions.

Foreign Education: For further information, click on the following link:
https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Additional information

VETERANS PREFERENCE/CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL
In accordance with DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, veterans preference is not required to be applied when considering candidates with prior Federal competitive or excepted service who have completed a probationary or trial period and have not been separated for cause. Therefore, veterans preference will not be applied to applicants with current federal service, or former federal civilian service meeting the above criteria.

Re-employed Annuitant: This position does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

Applicants selected from this announcement may be required to serve a two-year trial period.

If selected, Federal employees currently serving in the competitive service must acknowledge that they will voluntarily leave the competitive service by accepting an offer of employment for a DCIPS excepted service positions.

If selected, non-DCIPS candidates must acknowledge in writing that the position they have been selected for is in the excepted service and covered by DCIPS.

All Defense Intelligence positions under the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) are in the excepted service by specific statue, 10 U.S.C. 1601. This position is in the excepted service and does not confer competitive status.

For more information on the DCIPS occupational structure click here.

For more information about career advancement in DCIPS click here.


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.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire.


EXCEPTED SERVICE PILOT REVIEW: Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Top ranked candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further review and consideration.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

All eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency

Our Mission
Through vetting, industry engagement, education, and counterintelligence and insider threat support, secure the trustworthiness of the United States Government's workforce, the integrity of its cleared contractor support, and the uncompromised nature of its technologies, services, and supply chains.

Our Vision
DCSA's elite security experts illuminate national security risks to empower faster, smarter decision-making that protects American innovation and resilience to enable mission success.

DCSA Strategic Execution Plan
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency stands at the intersection of government-wide trusted workforce, national security, and industrial base protection. Guided by the Secretary of War's National Defense Strategy, Deputy Secretary's Warfighting Acquisition Transformation efforts, and Trusted Workforce 2.0, our mission is to deliver data-driven, threat-informed, and customer-trusted security services at scale.

The FY2026 - 2028 DCSA Strategic Execution Plan defines six strategic priorities for the agency:
  1. Deliver NBIS
  2. Deploy NI2 to Modernize Industrial Security
  3. Modernize and Sustain Trusted Workforce Determinations
  4. Rebuild the Workforce Compact
  5. Operate as a Customer-Centric Business
  6. Drive Audit-Ready Integration and Agency Efficiency with AI

Agency contact information

DCSA Servicing Team
Phone
614-693-4444
Email
DHRS-DDCSA@dla.mil
Address
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
27130 Telegraph Road
Quantico, VA 22134
US

Visit our careers page

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

http://www.dcsa.mil

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