Clarification from the agency

All US Citizens View common definitions of terms found in this announcement (http://dhsconnect.dhs.gov/org/comp/mgmt/dhshr/hr/Documents/JOA_Common_Definitions.pdf)

As a Attorney Advisor, GS 0905 13/14/15, your typical work assignments may include:

• Provide oral and written advice, analysis, interpretations, and guidance on complex and sensitive legal and policy matters both for individual questions and as related to DHS programs and operations.
• Draft and review documents for consistency with all applicable legal authorities and requirements, to include: ethics guidance, financial disclosure reviews, analysis and advice, directives, correspondence, reports, memoranda, testimony, regulations, Federal Register notices, directives, legislation, guidance and other such documents.
• Represent the office in meetings and conferences with representatives of other legal divisions, programs, components, U.S. Office of Government Ethics, the White House, other Executive Branch agencies, industry, and the public on ethics questions.
• Draft and present ethics training to Headquarters officials, to include senior leadership and political appointees.
• Review financial disclosure reports, analyze and resolve potential conflicts of interest and related ethics questions.
• Assist with administration of the DHS Standards of Conduct Program.
• Provide guidance related to related areas of law, such as procurement integrity and partisan political activity regulations and policies.

Conditions of employment

• U. S. Citizenship Required
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service
• You must successfully pass a background investigation
• You must be able to obtain a SECRET Security Clearance
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test
• You may be required to submit a Financial Disclosure Form
• Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment are required to serve a two (2) year trial period

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:
GS-13:
1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD); or
2. The second professional law degree (LL.M.) AND
3. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position or two years of judicial clerkship.

GS-14 or GS-15:
1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD); or
2. The second professional law degree (LL.M.) AND
3. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization.

Specialized Experience:
The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) will evaluate eligible candidates based on the following criteria:

OGC will rate qualified applicants by comparing each candidate's qualifications to those pertinent to the position. OGC will consider relevant skills and experience, education and training, performance, and awards. The skills and experience listed immediately below are of particular importance to the position, and applicants should provide specific detailed information in these areas, where applicable, as part of their application.

Only applicants with superior legal research and writing skills will be considered. Applicants should possess strong oral and written communication skills, legal research and writing skills, interpersonal skills and exercise fair and sound judgment. Additionally, it is desired that the successful candidate have strong academic credentials.

Specialized Experience is defined as experience:

• Conducting complex legal analysis related to conflict of interest statutes, the Standards of Ethical Conduct laws, regulations, and applying department policies to departmental programs/operations or personnel.

• Supporting the administration of the DHS Standards of Conduct program, including completing required Ethics in Government Act requirements, conducting specialized or tailored training, as well as drafting departmental level policies.

• Advising on and reviewing Public and Confidential Financial Disclosure Reports, including nominee clearance for Presidential appointments.

• Familiarity with related areas of law including the Hatch Act, Federal Advisory Committee Act, Non-Federal Travel Support, and statutory gift acceptance interpretation.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, you must meet the following requirement(s) to be considered qualified for the position:

Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps / VISTA volunteers, and people with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility and to understand the documentation that would be required with your application, click on the links above and contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position is considered scientific/professional.) Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using a job questionnaire based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform this job:

1. Skill dealing with complex legal issues and experience providing timely legal advice and guidance.
2. Knowledge and experience in the practice of government ethics or a similar program is preferred. Including program administration, training, and financial disclosure reviews.
3. Ability to conduct legal research in order to provide oral and written advice on complex legal and factual issues. Research and writing skills will be a major consideration in the selection process.
4. Ability to recognize relevant legal issues, to integrate applicable facts and legal requirements, and to provide clear, concise, and well-reasoned oral and written advice on those initiatives.
5. Evidence of the outstanding professional judgment and maturity necessary to brief and advise Department officials on sensitive matters.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

1. Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors as determined by the job analysis.
3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors as determined by the job analysis.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

To preview the job questionnaire and application, click here https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10747189

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you will be removed from consideration or your score will be lowered.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.