Attorney-Adviser

Duties

Provides legal advice and counsel to FAA management in enforcement matters, and any and all matters within the area(s) of expertise. Reviews and analyzes issues within the practice area(s) to ensure compliance with existing laws, statutes, regulations, and agency policies.

Performs routine, though varying assignments in an advanced developmental capacity. Assignments include those designed to develop legal expertise to generally less complex assignments and/or assisting higher level attorneys on broader assignments. Plans and carries out assignments in accordance with instructions and the principles of professional practice. Receives guidance from a manager or higher level attorney on complex cases, including those for which there are no clear precedents. Routine work is performed independently and subject only to limited supervision and guidance. Knows when to seek guidance from management or higher level attorney. Applies relevant experience and professional legal knowledge to individual assignments. Typical assignments include:

Conducts thorough legal research by appropriately identifying and analyzing relevant legal and factual issues and arguments. Assesses legal strengths and weaknesses of available arguments to provide accurate, complete, and practical legal advice and conclusions. Identifies and learns emerging issues, principles, and practices relevant to the legal practice area.

Reviews and analyzes enforcement investigative reports and initiates and processes legal enforcement actions for routine and progressively complex violations of statutory and regulatory safety requirements. Represents the agency in enforcement matters before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in certificate and civil penalty actions, and the Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Hearings on civil penalty actions.

Prepares and coordinates responses to routine requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Prepares responses to Congressional and other inquiries regarding enforcement actions.

Conducts research and discovery, and prepares motions, pre-trial memoranda of law, and post-trial briefs in enforcement proceedings. In some cases, prepares and submits administrative appeal briefs. Assists the Department of Justice with FAA enforcement actions adjudicated in U.S. District Court. Produces communications that are well-organized, clear, and persuasive.

Provides advice tailored to the client and requirements of the agency. Adjusts communications to meet audience expectations and level of understanding. Provides accurate, complete, and practical legal advice.

Demonstrates interpersonal skills needed to develop and maintain strong client relationships. Actively participates with clients to identify and meet client goals and objectives. Seeks consensus with client when appropriate. Proactively identifies and appropriately pursues solutions to effectively represent agency's interest in responding to high priority areas. Puts forth effort to meet established proficiency level goals and objectives. Keeps client informed of developments.

Produces presentations and communications that are well organized, clear and persuasive. Provides advice tailored to the client and requirements of the Agency. Prepares and adjusts presentations, communications and advice to meet the audience expectations and level of understanding.

Develops and demonstrates knowledge and a full understanding of key client business processes, priorities and objectives relevant to practice area. Accurately identifies client business objectives and issues when providing legal advice. Provides appropriate alternative solutions as needed to meet client's strategic business objectives. Provides legal risk/reward analysis in support of business decisions.

Consistently puts forth effort needed to accomplish tasks and produce work that is timely and of professional quality.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, ALL applicants MUST meet the following criteria:

(1) have a JD Degree from an accredited law school;

(2) be admitted to practice before the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction or within the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico;

(3) be an active member of that bar; and

(4) demonstrate at least one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to the next lower grade/pay band (FG/GS-11 or FV-G) that is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as:

• Experience applying the laws, rules, and regulations related to administrative or regulatory enforcement law.

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

*Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.*

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; or (3) alphabetical, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

**All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.**

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: .

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence at the time of application. For additional information, visit:

Applicants who are not currently in the 905 occupational series (Attorney) in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 905 occupational series (Attorney), you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it.

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies.

The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family.

NOTES :

1) As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate.

2) This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website:

3) This Level 5 (Moderate Risk; Public Trust) position requires favorable adjudication of a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.

4) The base salary range above will be adjusted for locality:

• Washington, DC: $83,431 - $129, % locality - Washington, DC)
• College Park, GA: $77,289 -$119, % locality - Atlanta, GA)
• Des Plaines, IL: $81,646 -$126, % locality - Chicago, IL)
• New York, Queens, NY: $85,922 - $133, % locality - New York, NY)
• Oklahoma City, OK: $73,138 - $113, % locality - Rest of the U.S.)
• Fort Worth, TX: $79,455 - $123, % locality - Dallas, TX)

5) Some, all, or none of the referred applicants may be interviewed.

6) This announcement is limited for the receipt of applications. Once at least 50 applications are received, it will close at 11:59 p.m. EST, or on the initial closing date, whichever occurs first.

This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by AFSCME Local 1653.

Links to Important Information: ,

• Benefits
  
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

• Benefits
  
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
• Required Documents
  
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  ALL applicants MUST submit the following:
  
  (1) resume with complete work history;
  
  (2) proof of active membership to the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction or within the District of Columbia. (Please provide bar association number(s) and verification of active status.);
  
  (3) writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages in length); and
  
  (4) copy of unofficial or official transcript from an accredited law school verifying JD degree.
  
  Applicants who are or have been employed by the Federal Government SHOULD also upload a copy of the most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action).
  
  For guidance on how to create a Federal resume, visit
  
  Only the documents listed above will be accepted in combination with your on-line application. These documents MUST be uploaded or before the closing date of this announcement.
  
  Failure to submit all required documents by the closing date will result in a finding of ineligible. We are not responsible for incomplete, missing or illegible documents. Please DO NOT email application documents. Documents received via email will NOT receive consideration.
  
  This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 905 series.
  
  College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the 905 series with the FAA.
  
  College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying a 905 series.
  
  If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.
  
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  
  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 .
  
  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.

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