This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/674880500. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
The General Counsel provides legal advice to the Secretary and Secretarial Offices and is a full-service legal organization, committed to excellence and integrity, providing the highest quality legal support and services, identifying issues that could undermine the Department's mission and policy objectives, and developing creative and innovative solutions to problems the Department may encounter.
Learn more about this agency09/01/2022 to 09/30/2022
$135,469 - $195,700 per year
ES 00
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Occasional travel is required.
Yes—Relocation expenses have been authorized.
Permanent - Career
Full-time - Permanent
Senior Executive
00
Yes
No
OST.SES-2022-0009
674880500
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Those who meet the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).
Open to U.S. Citizens.
The Assistant General Counsel for Operations serves as principal attorney for the Department in all matters related to the Department's emergency response, homeland security, and cyber security responsibilities; environmental issues; information and records management, Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act; oversight by Congress, the Government Accountability Office, and the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Transportation; Native American sovereignty and jurisdiction. The Office is also responsible for addressing the domestic aviation economic matters. In addition, the incumbent participates actively and personally with the highest officials of the Department in resolution of problems in areas assigned to him/her by providing appropriate legal advice.
Furthermore, the AGC:
• Participates actively and personally with the highest officials of the Department in resolution of problems in areas assigned to him/her by providing appropriate legal advice. Performs legal research necessary to the formulation of sound legal opinions on questions presented.
a. Briefs the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Assistant Secretaries as necessary with respect to matters in his/her area of responsibility.
b. On the basis of information developed as the result of his/her own activities or research, or the recommendations of subordinate attorneys, recommends to the General Counsel or other appropriate Departmental officials such changes in policies and procedures as seem desirable.
c. Either alone or with attorney-advisors under his/her direction, represents the Department in meetings with senior officials of other departments and agencies of the Federal Government, State or local governments, or public groups in areas assigned to him/her.
• Monitors and maintains professional cognizance over legal activities of the legal staffs of the operating administration in areas assigned, including the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administrations, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Transit Administration, OST-R, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Maritime Administration, and Greater Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. Recommends to the General Counsel those matters in which the Office of the Secretary should assume primary responsibility.
• Supervises and guides all aspects of work performed by members of his or her staff. Assigns cases, directs and evaluates performance, act on recommendations, furnishes advice and assistance, approves or disapproves proposed actions, exercises other appropriate supervisory functions.
• Prepares legal opinions, memoranda, documentation and other written material as required. Determine whether particular problems require resolution by the Attorney General, the Office of Management and Budget or other authority and prepares requests for opinions, giving complete analysis of law and facts involved.
• Is responsible for legal services relating to Departmental responsibilities in all environmental matters.
• Is responsible for legal advice and services relating to various aviation and other program matters under the Office of the Secretary, including maritime programs and emergency transportation.
• Is responsible for legal matters relating to the Department's emergency response and homeland security responsibilities.
• Is responsible for implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act and related Executive Orders governing the availability of government information.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES), you must clearly articulate and describe within your five (5) page resume evidence of progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience which involved management of a program or organization of significant scope and complexity. Your resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to perform the duties of this position and meet the mandatory Technical Qualification(s) and Managerial Executive Core Qualifications listed below.
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Below are the descriptions of the mandatory technical qualifications for this position. Your five (5) page resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet these technical qualifications.
TQ 1: Demonstrated executive level experience and a history of success leading a legal office overseeing a practice involving extensive working knowledge of environmental matters; Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts; as well as statutory interpretation. This includes experience in governmental entities, private law firms, corporations, trade associations and/or academia, and the ability to work collaboratively across organizational lines, while operating within appropriately constrained legal and procedural parameters.
EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Below are descriptions of the mandatory ECQs that are required for all SES positions. Your five (5) page resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet the 5 ECQs.
ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Leadership Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision
ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, Team Building
ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Technology Management
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating
FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES: The following competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Continual Learning, and Public Service Motivation.
Additional information about the SES and Executive Core Qualifications can be found on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) SES Website.
You are strongly encouraged to review OPMs Guide to SES Qualifications for specific examples and guidance on writing effective ECQ narrative statements and executive resumes.
Please Note: All applicants must have graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, must possess a J.D or LL. B (law degree), and must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.
Retirement/Pension Plan - You will be covered by a defined benefit, contributory Federal retirement system that provides benefits for both normal retirement (with as few as 5 years of civilian service) and for circumstances that might occur earlier, such involuntary retirement because of disability.
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) - You may participate in a retirement savings investment plan that offers before-tax savings and tax-deferred investment earnings. For more details, please visit the TSP website
Employee Assistance - Employees and their immediate families can take advantage of free confidential counseling with health professionals as part of the Federal Employees Assistance Program.
Transit Benefits - We subsidize up to $280 of mass transit commuting costs each month.
Telework - Determined by agency policy.
Covid Vaccination: If selected, you will be required to provide information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
Information related to performance, suitability, and security will be verified. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.
PLEASE NOTE:
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
A Senior Executive Service (SES) reviewing panel will evaluate your application based on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education. Applicants determined to be highly qualified may undergo multiple interviews. The best qualified applicant will be asked to submit a written 10-page narrative statement addressing each of the ECQ areas (Leading Change, Leading People, Results Driven, Business Acumen, Building Coalitions). If selected, your written narrative statement addressing the ECQs must be certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB), unless you are a current SES executive or have successfully participated in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program. You must receive certification before you can be appointed to the position.
All applications must be completed and submitted electronically no later than midnight ET of the closing date. Final reviews will be performed after the announcement closing, and timely notice of the status of your application will be emailed to you. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and selecting Application Status.
The following documents must be provided by the closing date:
RESUME - You must submit a resume which should not exceed five (5) pages. Any information submitted in excess of five (5) pages WILL NOT be considered. The resume must provide evidence (such as related professional experience and accomplishments) that demonstrate you possess the technical qualifications and the 5 ECQs. Include name on each page. No photos allowed.
SF-50 - Current & former federal employees should submit an SF-50 which shows your eligibility status. We recommend submitting your current SF-50 or most recent SF-50. DO NOT submit an award SF-50 as these often do not verify eligibility. Current Career Senior Executives and individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility must submit a copy of an SF-50 which shows career SES status.
CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CERTIFICATE - individuals who have successfully completed an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Program, submit a copy of your OPM certificate.
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the announcement will result in your removal from consideration for this position.
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.
The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME ONLY. Your five (5) page resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet the 5 ECQs. Your resume must not exceed 5 pages; all other pages WILL NOT be considered.
Application packages must be received online no later than 11:59pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.
If submitting a cover letter, it can only be one page in length; all other pages WILL NOT be considered.
To begin, click the Apply Online button on the job announcement posting.
Create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office during regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, at Transjobs@dot.gov.
If you have opted to receive account status updates via USAJobs, you will receive online confirmation that your application package has been received. All applicants will receive a notification email of the final outcome regarding the hiring decision.
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/674880500. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The Office of the Secretary oversees the formulation of National transportation policy and promotes intermodal transportation. Other responsibilities range from negotiation and implementation of international transportation agreements, assuring the fitness of US airlines, enforcing airline consumer protection regulations, issuance of regulations to prevent alcohol and illegal drug misuse in transportation systems and preparing transportation legislation. Under the direction of the General Counsel, the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice, counsel, and representation in the following areas: appropriations and fiscal law; acquisitions and financial assistance; intellectual property; employee ethical conduct and political activities; Federal labor, equal employment opportunity, disability and civil rights law; environmental law; the Freedom of Information Act and privacy law; Congressional and other oversight of DOT; cybersecurity; competition law; and security and emergency response. OGC also oversees and coordinates the Department's litigation, enforcement, and legislative efforts, its regulatory program, and international legal matters. OGC plays a crucial role in facilitating the Department’s robust response to the urgent challenges facing the Nation, including rebuilding its infrastructure, economic recovery, inequity, environmental justice, and climate change as well as in all areas of the Department’s activities.