The incumbent of this position serves as Chief Counsel for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), as Chief Counsel of NIST, the incumbent is responsible for developing and maintaining a NIST legal program that provides a broad range of legal services, advice and consultation to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology (Under Secretary), NIST and the National Technical Information Service (NTIS).

Duties

Provides legal advice and consultation to the Under Secretary and NIST and NTIS senior staff with regard to the powers, duties, and responsibilities of NIST and NTIS, and its relationship with other government departments and agencies, business, industry, and private organizations; interprets basic statutes, Executive Orders, administrative rulings and directives pertaining to NIST and NTIS. As directed by the General Counsel and Under Secretary, and in coordination with the Deputy General Counsel for Administration, Assistant General Counsels, and other Chief Counsels within the Office of the General Counsel, prepares legislative and regulatory proposals to achieve, efficiently and harmoniously with existing Federal and State legislation, such revisions and interpretations of Federal power and authority in the measurement science, standards, and technology fields as may be desirable, and advises the Under Secretary concerning the effect of such legislation or regulations initiated from other sources. More specifically, this position will perform the following: Conducts continuing reviews of all existing legal bases of U.S. policies and programs affecting measurement science, standards, and technology. Provides or directs at the request of the Under Secretary, the provision of legal services in the development and coordination of testimony for NIST and NTIS officials at Congressional hearings and may accompany NIST and NTIS officials to such hearings as an advisor. As directed by the General Counsel and Under Secretary, participates, as NIST advisor or representative, in meetings and conferences involving controversial or complex interagency, government industry and U.S.-foreign relationships, measurement science, standards, and technology interests. Conducts or supervises such appearances by NIST as the General Counsel and Under Secretary may find proper and desirable before State and Federal courts and regulatory bodies.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive level leadership experience and office management experience directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and their competencies and Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs). The ECQs were developed to evaluate executive experience and potential, not to evaluate technical experience. ECQs measure whether an individual has the broad experience needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions. Executive Core Qualifications: The following are the five ECQs and their competencies. The ECQs were developed to assess executive experience and potential, not to evaluate technical experience. ECQs measure whether an individual has the broad experience needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions. ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. (Competencies: creativity and innovation, external awareness, flexibility, resilience, strategic thinking, vision) ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. (Competencies: conflict management, leveraging diversity, developing others, team building) ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. (Competencies: accountability, customer service, decisiveness, entrepreneurship, problem solving, technical credibility) ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. (Competencies: financial management, human capital management, technology management) ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. (Competencies: partnering, political savvy, influencing/negotiating) NOTE: Responses to ECQs must not exceed 10 pages typed in 12-point font. Professional/Technical Qualifications: Demonstrated ability to plan, implement and supervise the work of a legal office, providing sound and timely legal counsel and effectively presenting agency views on measurement science, standards, and technology policy matters. Demonstrated experience in preparation and review of legal proposals and comments to regulatory agencies, and in reviewing legislative proposals in issues of measurement science, standards and technology policy. Demonstrated ability to conduct continuing reviews of all existing and proposed legal bases of U.S. policies and programs affecting measurement science, standards, and technology issues, domestically and internationally. For detailed guidance on ECQs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.aspExample of ECQ statements are available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf

Education

Incumbent must have a law degree and an active bar membership in good standing in the bar of a U.S. State, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territory.

Contacts

• Address Office of the General Counsel 1401 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20230 US
• Name: Shannon Thompson
• Email: [email protected]