Attorney Advisor (Regulatory Affairs)

Summary This position is an Attorney-Advisor for Regulatory Affairs Law/Office of Chief Counsel. Under the direction and supervision of the Deputy Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulatory Affairs Law, the Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulatory Affairs Law, and the Deputy Chief Counsel, the position renders legal assistance on matters relating to PHMSA’s regulatory activities and functions. Responsibilities The attorney selected will be responsible for rendering legal assistance on matters relating to PHMSA’s regulatory activities and functions, including: Research each of statutes, legal opinions, policies, regulations, guidance, case law, and historical PHMSA and Department practice, on matters for which the Regulatory Affairs Law Division is responsible, including those involving complex or high- profile issues of law or policy. Serving as an Attorney-Advisor for the Regulatory Affairs Law Division and a resource within PHMSA on matters for which the Division is responsible, including those involving regulations, guidance, and pertinent procedure. Serving as a liaison with stakeholders within PHMSA, the Department, OMB, and other pertinent stakeholders, on matters for which the Regulatory Affairs Law Division is responsible. The position represents PHMSA in meetings and conferences with representatives of other Federal Government executive departments and agencies, State regulatory officials, industry, and the public on matters for which the Division is responsible. Preparing, or assisting in preparation of, briefs, memoranda, and pleadings or filings in administrative proceedings and court cases involving PHMSA regulations and guidance. Reviewing and commenting on the accuracy and significance for PHMSA regulatory oversight activities of draft legal materials including legislation, hearing testimony, Departmental regulations and guidance, and regulations and guidance of other Federal agencies. Performing other duties as assigned by supervisors. This position is perfect for an attorney with experience working in a busy legal office in Federal (e.g., attorney-advisors in other agencies; judicial clerks in the Federal district courts or U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals) or state government; in the non-profit sector; or in the private sector (e.g., as an associate at a law firm). Ideal candidates will have strong project management skills; experience developing legally sound, high- quality work product; and demonstrated initiative, creativity, precision, judgment and strategic thinking. Specific duties will include reviewing proposed and final rulemakings and related materials, including Regulatory Impact Analyses and Guidance; representing the Division in rulemaking-related meetings, drafting recommendations, and conducting research; and The ideal candidate will demonstrate each of the following attributes: Strong academic credentials; Project management skills; Excellent legal research and writing skills; The ability to handle and prioritize multiple competing tasks while maintaining collegial working relationships; and Initiative, creativity, precision, judgment and strategic thinking. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. This is an Excepted Service position. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service. TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period. ETHICS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 2635, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 263. TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework. The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required. Qualifications To qualify, your experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following: To qualify for the GS-11 level attorney-advisor, you must have current, relevant experience demonstrating satisfaction of the following experience requirements: Applicants applying at the GS-11 grade level must have a J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Experience with any of the following: Federal administrative law, administrative law, corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, utilities, or antitrust laws as it relates to the development and review of regulations, guidance, and other legal materials, and coordinating legal issues. Strong academic credentials (e.g., top 33% of law school class or graduated with honors; either position on a law school journal or a member of law school moot court team). Applicants applying at the GS-12 grade level must meet GS-11 qualifications plus one year of legal experience, or additional relevant experience that distinguishes an entry-level attorney from the GS-11. This may include: a superior academic record; specific course work or an internship in the relevant legal area; another graduate or doctoral degree. Experience with Federal administrative law or other legal practice areas (e.g., corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, utilities, or antitrust law) requiring skills--independence, initiative, creativity, precision, accountability, judgment, and strategic thinking-- analogous to those involved in development and review of regulations, guidance, and other legal materials, and coordinating legal issues and professional application of legal principles, precedents and rulings. Applicants applying at the GS-13 grade level must meet GS-12 qualifications, plus must at least two years of legal experience or relevant experience. Experience conducting briefings for and providing legal advice and assistance to senior managers in carrying out their respective responsibilities. Experience either working as a member of teams or on projects in a legal office within Federal or state government or the private sector (e.g., a law firm); or in a post-graduation judicial clerkship (e.g., in the Federal district courts or the U.S. circuit courts of appeals). Experience with any of the following: Federal administrative law, administrative law, corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, utilities, or antitrust laws as it relates to the development and review of regulations, guidance, and other legal materials, and coordinating legal issues. Applicants applying at the GS-14 grade level must meet GS-13 qualifications requires at least three years of legal experience. Experience conducting briefings for and providing legal advice and assistance to executives and senior managers in carrying out their respective responsibilities. Experience either managing teams or projects in a legal office within Federal or state government or the private sector (e.g., a law firm); or working in a post-graduation judicial clerkship (e.g., in the Federal district courts or the U.S. circuit courts of appeals). Experience with any of the following: Federal administrative law, administrative law, corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, utilities, or antitrust laws as it relates to the development and review of regulations, guidance, and other legal materials, and coordinating legal issues. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, considering the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Written Communication - Writes in a clear, precise, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process. Problem Solving - Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations. 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. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. You will be required to submit proof of your Bar membership as part of your application package to show that you meet this requirement. Any offer is contingent on receipt of a letter or certificate of good standing for each bar of which the applicant is an active member dated within 30 days of any offer. Additional Information The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.