About the Position: This position is located at Headquarters, U.S. Army South, Command Group-Special Staff, Staff Judge Advocate (SJA), Fort Sam Houston, Texas. If you are currently serving in a permanent, competitive service appointment in the Federal service, and are selected for this position, the appointment will remove you from the competitive service while you occupy this position.

Duties

Serves as the senior Attorney-Advisor to staff, supervisors, managers, and commanders within ARSOUTH in all areas of administrative and civil law. Provides advice to Commanding General and staff on all aspects of the organization, powers, functions, and employment of U.S. Army South in executing Theater Security Cooperation Activities, Title 10 Missions, and Contingency Operations. Interprets and applies international agreements, legislation, regulations of DoD and other Federal Agencies, judicial decisions, and OGC opinions. Legal actions include but are not limited to adverse, disciplinary, and performance-based actions pertaining to officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees; Article 138 complaints; conscientious objector applications, etc. Work is complex and requires collaboration with attorneys and officials at DoS, JCS Legal, DoD OGC, DA OGC, OTJAG, U.S. Southern Command, sister services, and multiple JTFs. Serves as the Command’s Senior Ethics Counselor and Command Ethics Program Manager for ARSOUTH. Proactively implements the Joint Ethics Regulation (JER) and practices preventive law to avoid agency ethics violations. Advises subordinate commands on ethics and standards of conduct issues. Independently researches, analyzes, and provides oral and written opinions in the most complex conflict of interest situations and the interpretation and application of ethical standards. Responsible for all matters pertaining to the investigation, adjudication, and final action on all foreign tort claims against the United States within the ARSOUTH area of responsibility. Serves as subject-matter expert on the Foreign Claims Act (10 U.S.C. 2734). Reviews claims filed by third-party foreign nationals against the U.S. Government, to determine a defense in the best interest of the U.S. Government. Exercises broad technical control, direction, and coordination over accomplishment of Administrative and Civil Law Division functions. Directly supervises all attorneys and paralegals in the administrative and civil law division. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, assigns continuing day-to-day responsibility and authority for accomplishment of Division activities, and provides broad direction to assure achievement of objectives.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• A two-year trial/probationary period may be required.
• This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance for access for the duration of employment.
• This position may require the incumbent to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.
• This position requires the incumbent to maintain active bar membership, in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Position requires incumbent to obtain and maintain a U.S Official Passport.
• Temporary duty related travel up to 25% of the time is required.
• Travel locally, long distance and overseas for events such as (but not limited to) site assistance visits (SAVs) conferences, meetings, conduct training/ briefings, training opportunities, etc.
• Overseas locations include Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
• Travel may require specific immunizations, and compliance with all US Army Southern Command/US Army South annual AOR-specific training requirements, and Department of the Army mandated training, to include Personnel Recovery policies.
• Incumbent must comply with DoD Foreign Clearance Guide, US Southern Command, US Army South, JTFs, and US MILGRP requirements for entry into and operations in country.
• Position has been designated as “Key” and shall not be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization as doing so would seriously impair the capability of the organization to function effectively.
• Incumbent must be exempted from recall to active duty and will receive training to ensure mission accomplishment of sustaining base operations during mobilization.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and on the extent to which their application shows possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position. KSA's: Skill in identifying and researching highly technical and complex legal issues. Skill in providing legal, technical, and policy guidance. Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs. Ability to supervise or lead others. Qualification Requirements: The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration: Education Requirements: Position requires the possession of the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) AND a member in good standing with the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Applicants for initial appointment into attorney positions within the Department of Army must be graduates of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association at the time of the applicant's graduation. As indicated below, a law school transcript must be submitted with your application materials. Bar Membership: Applicants must currently be a member in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. As noted below, proof of such membership and good standing must be submitted with your application materials. Experience: In addition to the requirements above, applicants for the GS-14 or equivalent Attorney positions must also possess 3 years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Graduation from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class or an advanced law degree such as an LLM may substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience. Time in Grade: The Qualifying Authorities (QA's) will make a determination as to the applicability of time in grade based on the requirements of the position. If you are currently employed as an attorney by the Federal government you must have completed one year at the next lower grade level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade level as the position being filled. NOTICE OF VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference", and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. The SF 15 will identify the supporting documentation required along with the list of the types of 10-point preference. The SF 15 is available from the OPM at https://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/type/sf/.

Education

Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Education websites at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications and http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

Contacts

• Address FR-APF-WJMW99 MAIN CMD POST, US ARMY SOUTH DO NOT MAIL Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk