Serves as Legal Counsel for the United States Section, International Boundary & Water Commission (USIBWC), Legal Affairs Office (LAO), working on binational treaties relating to the Colorado River and Rio Grande River to develop international agreements, and to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act, providing legal work and research, legal advice to USIBWC staff, and assisting with administering the Ethics, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and Privacy Act Programs.

Duties

Conducts research and composes correspondence, reports, formal contracts, advisory opinions or decisions, and legal briefs. Provides guidance to agency officials and staff on compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Reviews major contracts, modifications, options and other significant procurement activities. Drafts, assists in negotiating, reviews, and provides advice pertaining to contracts, agreements, and other legal instruments. Reviews and advises on environmental assessments, findings, and actions for legal compliance. Researches and provides advice concerning land acquisition or disposal, along with licenses, permits, and easements. Coordinates contracts with right of way negotiations with private land owners, and with city, county, and state entities. Reviews significant employee and labor relations proposals and decisions for compliance with federal and agency guidelines. Assists in the administration of the agency's Ethics, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and Privacy Act Programs. Represents the agency before administrative agencies such as the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Contract Appeals Board.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or Naturalized U.S. Citizen.
• You must obtain and maintain a favorable background investigation.
• In accordance with 5 CFR subsection 731.106(A) the agency has assigned a High Risk designation to this position. The designation hereby subjects the incumbent to an enhanced background investigation.
• You must complete and submit the required US Office of Government Ethics Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report upon entrance on duty and the supplemental Periodic Transaction Report annually thereafter.
• You may be required to work overtime.
• You may be required to travel with overnight stay for official business up to 15% of the time.
• You must have graduated with a J.D. or LL.B. from an American Bar Association-accredited law school and continually be an active member in good standing of the bar in a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory.
• You may be required to serve a one-year trial period.
• You may be required to enter Mexico to carry out official agency business.

Qualifications

Qualifications must be met by 10/26/2023 Basic Requirements: You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory, and be licensed to practice law as evidenced by admission to, and membership of, the bar; AND GG-13: 1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.); AND 2. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of 3 years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. GG-14: 1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.); AND 2. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of 4 years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Specialized Experience: GG-14 - Defined as performing a wide variety of professional legal services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of the agency, including international law, contract law, environmental law, real estate law and federal employment and labor relations law; conducting research concerning the interpretation and application of statutes, rules, and regulations as they pertain to contracts, claims, or other legal instruments involving agency activities, and state, local, or international matters; analyzing factual and legal issues presented to determine the need for further facts and applicability of legal sources; reviewing major contracts, modifications, options and other significant procurement activities; researching laws, legal opinions, policies, regulations, legal texts, precedent cases, technical and professional publications, and other authoritative sources; drafting correspondence, reports, formal contracts, advisory opinions or decisions, and legal briefs; managing the organization or agency's Ethics, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act programs; and reviewing significant employee and labor relations proposals and decisions for compliance with federal and agency guidelines. Duties performed are equivalent to the GG/GS-13 level in the Federal service or comparable pay systems in the private or public sector. GG-13 - Defined as performing in a developmental capacity, a wide variety of professional legal services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of the agency, including international law, contract law, environmental law, real estate law and federal employment and labor relations law; conducting research concerning the interpretation and application of statutes, rules, and regulations as they pertain to contracts, claims, or other legal instruments involving agency activities, and state, local, or international matters; analyzing factual and legal issues presented to determine the need for further facts and applicability of legal sources; reviewing major contracts, modifications, options and other significant procurement activities; researching laws, legal opinions, policies, regulations, legal texts, precedent cases, technical and professional publications, and other authoritative sources; drafting correspondence, reports, formal contracts, advisory opinions or decisions, and legal briefs; assisting with the organization or agency's Ethics, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act programs; and reviewing employee and labor relations proposals and decisions for compliance with federal and agency guidelines. Duties performed are equivalent to the GG/GS-12 level in the Federal service or comparable pay systems in the private or public sector. Part-Time or Unpaid Experience: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the number of hours per week spent in such employment.

Education

There is a positive education requirement for this position. Transcripts (unofficial) are required at the time of application to verify that you meet the educational requirement.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website:
http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Contacts

• Address United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission 4191 N. Mesa Street El Paso, TX 79902 US
• Name: Loretta Palmer
• Email: [email protected]