The National Science Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for an Attorney Advisor (Assistant General Counsel) position specializing in Congressional affairs, legislative affairs, regulations, information requests, and oversight activities within the Office of the Director (OD), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Alexandria, VA. For more information on OGC please click here. For more information on OD please click here.

Duties

OGC is the legal office for the Foundation, providing legal advice, assistance, and advocacy on all aspects of the Foundation's programs, policies, and operations, as well as areas affecting science and technology more broadly. Advice is provided in a wide variety of areas, such as: grants, contracts and cooperative agreements; intellectual property; conflicts-of-interest; employee and labor relations; civil rights; health, safety and environment; Federal fiscal and administrative law and procedure; and international law and agreements. OGC is seeking to fill one or more openings for an attorney advisor. The individual selected will serve as an Assistant General Counsel responsible for providing related advice, guidance, and other legal services such as litigation support. The work of the Assistant General Counsel will include, and the candidate should demonstrate experience, as follows: The Assistant General Counsel will advise Directorate(s) and Office Head leadership and the Office of Public and Legislative Affairs on Congressional requests for information, general requests for information and other matters related to Congressional and Legislative Affairs. The Assistant General Counsel will research, interpret and opine on new and proposed legislation and will assist in legislative drafting activities on behalf of the Foundation. The Assistant General Counsel will further assist in developing responses to requests from members of Congress and their staff on legislative matters affecting or relating to the Foundation, as well as requests for information from the National Science Board and the Office of the Inspector General. The Assistant General Counsel will provide advice and guidance relating to a variety of legal issues regarding privacy law, information security law, and information governance. The Assistant General Counsel should be prepared to assist in providing guidance at the intersection of law and advanced technology, including information collection authorities, data science, and artificial intelligence. The Assistant General Counsel will provide advice and guidance on activities related to NSF's advisory bodies, including those that are and are not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and/or the Sunshine Act. As needed, the Assistant General Counsel may also be called upon to support NSF litigation matters, in particular litigation related to information collection and disclosure and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). NSF OGC is a small, collaborative office where the ability to be flexible and provide value to areas beyond the principal area of a portfolio is prized. As such, additional preference may be given to candidates with experience in areas of import to the Foundation's mission and/or of Congressional concern such as diversity, equity, and civil rights; sexual assault, harassment and other forms of harassment; export controls; emerging technologies; suspension and debarment; research integrity and misconduct; national security; or administrative law. Additionally, the Assistant General Counsel will: Be knowledgeable of, and keep up-to-date with, the state of law, policy, and procedure relevant to the portfolio. Counsel management of Directorate(s) and Offices with respect to portfolio matters, and will serve as the principal OGC liaison to NSF's Office of Legislative and Public Affairs. Support colleagues and clients to identify the need for policy guidance in portfolio matters and support its development. Consult with and render opinions to all levels of the agency in interpreting and applying such guidance. Represent NSF in interagency and executive branch discussions related to portfolio matters. Identify facts and issues to determine the nature of the legal problem, conduct legal research, and provide written and oral legal advice. Serve on working groups related to matters in the portfolio. Demonstrate the interpersonal skills needed to develop and maintain strong, trust-based client and colleague relationships, and actively participate with clients and colleagues to pursue solutions that meet OGC and NSF goals and objectives.

Requirements

Qualifications

Candidates must have a J.D. from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), plus after award of the J.D., eight or more years of professional legal experience. Candidates must have expertise related to the areas of law relevant to the position for which they wish to be considered, as articulated in the Duties and Experience section above. Bar Membership: Member in good standing of the bar of a State, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Also, desirable, but not required, is experience involving other areas of Federal government legal practice.

Education

Please refer to the Qualifications section.

If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, please also submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.

Contacts

• Address NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL 2415 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22314 US
• Name: Staffing and Classification Branch
• Email: [email protected]