About the Position: You will provide legal advice in labor and employment law to Agency supervisors. Advises on performance and discipline matters, and personnel policies. Represents the agency in disputes before the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in associated alternative dispute resolution processes. Serves as agency ethics counselor providing ethics training and opinions.

Duties

Furnish expert legal advice and advocacy in the area of labor and employment law to the Jacksonville District Command and staff. Review and provide advice regarding personnel-related issues, including personnel policies and employee discipline and performance matters. Defend the Agency through all phases of employment litigation, including serving as first chair trial attorney in appeals before the Merit Systems Protection Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Serve as agency counsel and assists the Department of Justice in litigation before U.S. federal courts. Research and prepares opinions for District employees on government ethics, including interpretation of the Standards of Ethics Conduct for Executive Branch Employees and supplemental Agency regulations. Prepare and deliver training to District staff on all areas of employment law and government ethics. While the duties will focus on the practice of employment law, other duties include the practice of administrative and information law, such as the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• You may be required to travel up to 25% of the time.
• You must complete an annual Financial Disclosure statement.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet education and experience the requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. The following minimum qualifications requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration: Education: Applicants must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD) (NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts). Bar membership: Applicants must currently be a member in good standing of a bar of a state territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. A copy of your current certification must be submitted. To qualify at the GS-12 grade level you must have one to two years of professional legal experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. To qualify at the GS-13 grade level you must have over two years of professional legal experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. NOTICE TO VETERANS PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to Attorney appointments in the Excepted Service; however, the Department of the Army considers veteran's preference eligibility a positive factor for Attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veteran's preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documents (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. (SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at http://www.opm.gov/).Time in Grade Requirements: Applicants currently employed as an Attorney by the Federal government must have completed one year of time-in-grade at the next lower grade level (GS-12 or GS-13) or the equivalent within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade as the position being filled. Technical Knowledge Demonstrated practical experience and mature judgment in solving legal problems, providing interpretations of statutes and regulations, drafting legal documents, and reviewing client documents for legal soundness and accuracy sufficient for the accomplishment of difficult, complex, and varied work. Demonstrated experience providing legal advice and guidance on employment law, labor law, and/or ethics (broadly including government or organizational ethics and professional responsibility). Litigation - Representation and Advocacy Demonstrated experience providing legal advice and trial advocacy regarding litigation that presents complex factual issues requiring extensive research, analysis, and obtaining and evaluating expert testimony or information. Demonstrated experience effectively representing and advocating for the client in litigation (preparing administrative records, pleadings, and dispositive motions; drafting and responding to discovery; hearing or trial experience) and in different forms of alternative dispute resolution. Demonstrated experience representing and advocating for the client in various forums, including before external agencies, stakeholders, and members of the public, often on contentious matters that involve very large sums of money and/or involve extremely capable opposing legal talent. Other Indicia of Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Ability to advise and communicate effectively with senior leadership and team members at all levels in a manner to advise, inform, and educate, even when the legal advice may differ from what is desired. Ability to work effectively on teams, including clients, experts and other witnesses, and colleagues. Ability to work effectively on matters with increased confidentiality and/or sensitivity. Credentials as indicated in the resume and other application materials (e.g., awards, performance ratings, educational achievements).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address RL-W2SR02 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT-JACKSONVILLE DO NOT MAIL Jacksonville, FL 32202 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk