About the Position: This position is located at U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) and White Sands Missile Range, Installation Legal Office, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. 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

Performs legal research and analysis, assistance and coordination in final form, on a variety of the most complex and difficult legal problems in all areas of responsibility for the White Sands Missile Range, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. Provides legal services and advice involving major weapon system testing as an integral part of government weapon system acquisition, as well as all attendant procurement and contract actions. Furnishes authoritative legal advice on a wide variety of legal topics to include acquisition strategy and business judgment, legal reviews of solicitations, awards, other acquisition actions, and supporting justification documents. Routinely addresses staff actions involving the proposed use of operations and maintenance funds, other procurement funds, military construction funds, research, development, test and evaluation funds, and other types of appropriations. Renders both authoritative oral and written opinions and advice on delegations of authority, assignments of contracts, contract modifications, indemnity of contractors contractual rights in data, proprietary rights, contract terminations, etc. Interprets ever changing Federal statutes, Executive Orders, and published regulatory material having the effect of law. Serves as primary local acquisitions attorney in order to liaison with agency and U.S. Department of Justice litigation attorneys at contract protests and appeals. Renders well researched legal advice, assistance to environmental law matters including, but not limited to, the issuance and enforcement of permits, unauthorized activities and jurisdiction. Directs and advises on enforcement and jurisdictional decision investigations. Evaluates results of investigations and determines whether additional evidence is required for recommendations of civil or criminal actions. Provides well researched legal advice and assistance in civilian personnel law, employment discrimination law and all labor relations matters to management and applicable personnel. Advises the Commander and senior management officials on informal resolution of grievances, EEO complaints, disciplinary actions, and Unfair Labor Practice complaints. Participates on the management negotiating teams before and during union contract negotiations. Provides general legal assistance services to eligible active duty and retired service members, their family members, and other individuals eligible for U.S. Army legal assistance covering the entire State of New Mexico. Provides advice and representational services to Soldiers and others who are entitled by law, regulation, or policy to legal assistance in military administrative matters. Performs or supervises the investigation, review, adjudication, and processing of all claims involving the U.S. Army for the entire state of New Mexico. Incumbent reviews and independently approves administrative settlements of claims for damage or loss of personal property submitted by Soldiers and civilian employees incident to their service. Serves as Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) representing the United States in the prosecution of misdemeanor offenses. Performs legal research on a variety of areas of the law including, but not limited to, fiscal law, government ethics, privacy law, and other general and military administrative and civil law.

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.

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: Performs legal research and analysis, assistance and coordination in final form, on a variety of the most complex and difficult legal problems in all areas of responsibility for the White Sands Missile Range, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. Areas include, but are not limited to, labor and employment law, procurement law, environmental law, litigation, and legislation, including agency authorities, administrative law, criminal law and general legal assistance. Provides well researched legal advice and assistance involving interpretation of statutes and regulations in civilian personnel law, employment discrimination law and all labor relations matters to management and applicable personnel. Advises the Commander and senior management officials on informal resolution of grievances, EEO complaints, disciplinary actions, and Unfair Labor Practice complaints. Provides general legal assistance services to eligible active duty and retired service members, their family members, and other individuals eligible for U.S. Army legal assistance covering the entire State of New Mexico. Serves as Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) representing the United States in the prosecution of misdemeanor offenses in the local United States Magistrate's Court. Coordinates with Assistant United States Attorneys assigned to cases originating within the exclusive federal jurisdiction of White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). Performs legal research on a variety of areas of the law including, but not limited to, fiscal law, government ethics, privacy law, and other general and military administrative and civil law. Personally conducts thorough research and analysis of facts, statutes, case law, regulations, agency policy and other legal precedents 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-13 or equivalent Attorney positions must also possess 2 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 FU-W6CJAA US ARMY IMCOM-USAG WSMR DO NOT MAIL White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk