This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/652582400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
This is a Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.
This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office (NOAA), Office of the Undersecretary (UNSEC), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Fisheries and Protected Resources Section with two vacancies to be filled in Silver Spring, MD.
Learn more about this agency05/05/2022 to 06/03/2022
$89,834 - $176,300 per year
GS 12 - 15
2 vacancies in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Position requires overnight domestic and may require foreign travel.
No
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
15 - If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you may be non-competitively promoted if you perform successfully and if recommended by management.
No
No
SO-OGC-2022-0011
652582400
National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries). NOAA Fisheries is one of the agency’s largest program offices and it works to ensure productive and sustainable fisheries, safe sources of seafood, the recovery and conservation of protected resources, and healthy ecosystems. NOAA Fisheries works in partnership with Regional Fishery Management Councils to assess and predict the status of fish stocks, set catch limits, ensure compliance with fisheries regulations, and reduce bycatch.
NOAA Fisheries is also responsible for the conservation, protection, and recovery of endangered and threatened marine species under the Endangered Species Act, and for the conservation, management, and protection of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
As an attorney-advisor, you will work closely with experienced biologists and fishery managers in developing and reviewing regulations, permits, policies, and other agency actions relating to the management and conservation of marine resources. Key laws include the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Northern Pacific Halibut Act, Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Fur Seal Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). This position requires interaction with other NOAA General Counsel Office attorneys, scientists, policy makers and technical staff, Department of Commerce officials, other Federal and state agency officials, tribal representatives and members of Alaska Native organizations, members of the regulated community, and representatives of public interest organizations. It also involves active participation, in concert with U.S. Department of Justice attorneys, in defending NOAA actions challenged under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, ESA, MMPA, and other similar laws.
Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. NOAA received notice of reintegration to occur on April 25, 2022. As employees are permitted to return to the office, you will need to follow management’s guidelines on the expectation of reporting to the duty station listed on this announcement. You may be eligible to request to telework depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy.
Applicants must have a J.D. from an accredited law school, and be an active member of a state bar OR the bar of the District of Columbia.
This position has an educational requirement. Official Transcripts must be submitted upon selection.
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
NOAA seeks attorneys with a comprehensive knowledge of Federal environmental statutes and conservation laws, as well as laws and regulations related to the implementation and oversight of large-scale natural resource restoration projects.
Applicants must have a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and to identify and resolve complex legal issues. Applicants also must demonstrate the ability to manage large projects independently, assimilate large amounts of materials quickly, balance a large and diverse workload, and work effectively in a team with other attorneys and support staff.
Significant academic achievement in law school (such as top 20% class ranking, graduation with honors, judicial clerking experience, or participation in moot court or law review) or experience practicing environmental law will be favorably considered.
To qualify at the GS-12 level:
One year of professional legal experience after admission to the bar at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-11 level conducting legal research on matters pertaining to administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice;
OR
LL.M (Master of Laws) with a specialization in administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice.
To qualify at the GS-13 level:
Two years of professional legal experience after admission to the bar; at least one year of which was at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-12 level in the Federal service conducting legal research, drafting and reviewing discovery, memos, pleadings and motions pertaining to administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice;
OR
One year of professional legal experience conducting legal research, drafting and reviewing discovery, memos, pleadings and motions pertaining to administrative, environmental, marine, cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice; after receiving an LL.M (Master of Laws) with a specialization in a related area of the law.
To qualify at the GS-14 level:
At this level qualified candidates must demonstrate significant experience in the field of administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice; at least one year of which was at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-13 level in the Federal service that included:
Experience representing an organization and assuring its compliance with administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practice; and, Experience advising organizations on the application of laws and regulations related to the protection and management of ocean and coastal resources, cultural heritage, or the environment.
To qualify at the GS-15 level:
At this level qualified candidates must demonstrate significant experience in the field of administrative, environmental, marine, and/or cultural heritage law, one full year of which was at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-14 level in the Federal service that included, in a lead capacity:
Experience representing an organization and assuring its compliance with administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage law, or other relevant legal practices;
Experience advising organizations on the application of laws and regulations related to the protection and management of ocean and coastal resources, cultural heritage, or the environment; and
Experience participating in business, operational and strategic decisions, including regulatory and compliance matters as they relate to administrative, environmental, marine, or cultural heritage legal matters.
Relocation or moving expenses will not be authorized.
Overnight travel may occasionally be required.
NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants will be evaluated based on the Qualifications described above. Please be advised that NOAA Attorney positions are in the Excepted Service. As such, these positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures.
There is no numerical rating system through which to apply veterans preference; however, the NOAA Office of General Counsel considers veterans preference eligibility as a positive factor in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume, and to attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD214 Form or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the qualifications for the position. Selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointment to the civil service. Current civil service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the civil service and require a new probationary period.
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.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please see this guidance: What to include in your resume
OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or by phone at (866) 656-6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
For instructions on submitting your application in an alternate format, please contact the Agency Contact listed in this vacancy announcement.
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at https://www.usajobs.gov/ AND CLICK ON "Track Your Online Application." The four points of notification are:
1. Application Received or Application Incomplete;
2. Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Not Met;
3. Eligible (Application Referred to the Selecting Official) or Eligible (Application Not Referred to the Selecting Official); and
4. Selected or Not Selected.
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans’ preference, disability, etc.)
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/652582400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
Unlock secrets in deep oceans, track rapidly moving storms, operate state-of-the-art environmental satellites, chart the Nation’s waterways, formulae models to forecast climate trends, protect and preserve our living marine resources…all in a day’s work at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)! Join a dedicated work force committed to a vital mission: safeguarding the public, protecting natural resources, strengthening the economy. An extraordinary opportunity is available to serve as an Attorney Advisor in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of the General Counsel.
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