Associate Solicitor for Employment and Labor Law

Summary Department of the Interior structures its SES positions into categories to determine the minimum pay for each position. This is a Category 3 position. The minimum pay for this position is $191,900.00. Pay is set based on consideration of the selectee's current salary and other factors. Routine and situational telework may be approved at the discretion of the supervisor. Veterans preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service (SES). Responsibilities As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, each applicant must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of executive-level management capabilities that are directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications listed below. The ideal candidate will have experience managing employees through subordinate supervisors and have experience hiring, developing, and evaluating employees. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or equivalent in the private sector or non-governmental organizations. Failure to meet these basic qualification requirements in addition to all executive and technical qualification factors will automatically disqualify an applicant. The Associate Solicitor for the Division of Employment and Labor Law (DEL) functions as general counsel, serves as a close advisor to the Solicitor and Principal Deputy Solicitor, and develops substantive legal policy relevant to all Department employment and labor law matters. The Associate Solicitor provides legal advice to the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, the Department's bureau and office directors, and other senior officials during emergency situations that impact or have the potential to impact the safety and health of Department employees; regarding legal risks associated with litigating/arbitrating employment and labor law matters; regarding all employment law matters; and regarding collective bargaining obligations and all Federal labor law matters. The Associate Solicitor manages and provides overall legal advice, administrative direction, and legal services to and through DEL's litigation groups, counseling group, policy and operations group, and labor law/investigations group. The Associate Solicitor is responsible for the formulation and initiation of all legal policies, practices, and procedures that control the Department's employment and labor law operations, activities, and functions. The Associate Solicitor remains in regular contact with the Solicitor, the Principal Deputy Solicitor, the Deputy Solicitor for General Law, Assistant Secretaries, the Department's bureau and office directors, and other senior leaders as necessary to provide timely legal advice, counsel, and information regarding employment and labor law matters, and the incumbent often communicates with officials from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the U.S. Department of Justice, the OSC, the MSPB, the EEOC, and the FLRA relevant to employment and labor law matters that affect the Department's interests. Applicants who meet the mandatory executive and technical qualifications will be evaluated by a panel of SES members to determine the degree to which they possess each of the listed qualifications. This evaluation will determine which applicants are best qualified. Each candidate's background including experience, education, awards, self-development, and training will be reviewed. This information will be obtained from the application package, including the required narrative statements for the technical and Executive Core Qualifications described in this vacancy. Additionally, your resume should demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully fulfill responsibilities inherent in most SES positions such as: - Directing the work of an organizational unit; - Ensuring the success of one or more specific major programs or projects; - Monitoring progress toward strategic organizational goals, evaluating organizational performance and taking action to improve performance; and - Supervising the work of employees; and exercising important policy-making, policy determining, or other executive functions. If your resume does not include these basic qualifications, then you will not be considered further for this position and will not be determined as minimally qualified. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination. Newly appointed SES members must serve a 1-year probationary period Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required) This position requires pre and post-employment drug screening. Qualifications Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ's)- Required Documentation The Office of Personnel Management has identified five executive core qualifications (ECQs). The ECQs define the competencies needed to build a federal corporate culture that drives for results, serves customers, and builds successful teams and coalitions within and outside the organization. The ECQs are required for entry to the Senior Executive Service and are used by many departments and agencies in selection, performance management, and leadership development for management and executive positions. The ECQs were designed to assess executive experience and potential-not technical expertise. ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: You must have demonstrated an 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 & Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: You must demonstrate 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 Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This ECQ 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 ECQ 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, Integrity/Honesty, Written Communication, Continual Learning, Public Service Motivation Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs)- Required Documentation MTQs are designed to assess an applicants experience relevant to the specific position requirements. Each MTQ narrative response must 1.) not exceed two pages per narrative statement; 2.) include specific examples of your experience, education, and/or accomplishments; and 3.) address specific challenges, contexts, actions, and results. 1. Expert knowledge of federal employment law and labor law, including all relevant statutes, regulations, and case law, particularly as the pertain to anti-discrimination, collective bargaining, and personnel matters. 2. Demonstrated superior ability to manage litigation of employment law and labor law claims, including various forms of alternative dispute resolution, before the MSPB, EEOC, FLRA, U.S. District Courts and U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals 3. Demonstrated executive level ability to direct a legal staff and program with diverse activities, including experience developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing policies, procedures, and operations. Challenge-Context-Action-Result(s) (CCAR) Model. CCAR Model is outline below. When addressing the ECQs and MTQs, you are strongly recommended to utilize the CCAR Model. Each ECQ or MTQ statement should include more than one example of relevant experience. Challenge: Describe a specific problem or goal. Context: Talk about the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to tackle a particular challenge (e.g., clients, co-workers, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale). Action: Discuss the specific actions you took to address a challenge. Result: Give specific examples of the results of your actions. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills. Your responses to the ECQs and MTQs will be evaluated based on how clearly and concisely you emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, or services managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and the results of actions taken. You are required to submit separate narrative statements for each ECQ and MTQ to receive consideration for this position. Please see the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section for complete details regarding the page limitation and formatting requirement. Education Applicants must have a J.D. or LL.B. degree and be current members in good standing of a bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or commonwealth of the United States. 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 schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Additional Information CURRENT FEDERAL APPLICANTS: If you are a federal employee (non-SES or SES), then you must include your most recent performance appraisal within the last 12 months of your submission to this application. Additionally, you must include your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that reflects an appointment (i.e., initial, transfer, reinstatement, and etc.) or pay adjustment. NON-FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must include your most recent performance appraisal within the last 12 months of your submission to this application OR a justification stating the reason why this information cannot be provided. SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL APPLICANTS: Your resume, performance appraisal, SF-50, Executive Core Qualification's (ECQs), and Mandatory Technical Qualification's (MTQs) for this announcement must be received online via the USAJOBS/Application Manager application system by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on closing date of the announcement. ECQs and MTQs must be submitted in the CCAR model format as previously outlined within this vacancy announcement. Email submissions from an applicant will not be accepted. Failure to submit a complete application will eliminate an applicant from further consideration. Applicants must contact the Human Resources Specialist point-of-contact prior to the closing date if assistance is needed to submit an application online. The applicant selected for this position will be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report, SF-278, and the supplemental form, Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interest, DI-278. All forms must be filed within 30 days after the selection for this position. The sensitivity level of the position requires completion of a successful background investigation of the selectee. Effective January 1, 2010, OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Senior Executive Service Probationary Period: If you are selected for this position, you will be required to serve a one-year SES probationary period, if one has not previously been completed. THIS IS A DRUG TESTING DESIGNATED POSITION. In accordance with Executive Order 12564, and under the Department's Drug Free Workplace Program: Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. This position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use. 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.