This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the General Counsel (OGC) General Law Division (GLD) Labor and Employment Law Branch (LEL).
The primary purpose of this position is to represent the Department on labor and employment matters including litigation and counseling on personnel management issues and to advise clients and leadership on matters of legal interpretation and Department-wide policies.
Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.
As an Attorney-Advisor (General) GS/14/15 your typical work assignments may include:
Perform legal analysis and research and conduct necessary conferences and consultation to provide legal counsel to the Departments senior leadership on the full spectrum of federal sector labor and employment law issues.
Negotiate complex and unique issues often with high-level personnel individuals from various parts of the Department and individuals from the other federal agencies to obtain the necessary balance between conflicting interests factual issues and policy considerations. Maintain continuing liaison with clients and component counsel. Conduct complex legal research and analysis and develop memoranda or present results to senior officials in a clear precise and persuasive manner while keeping supervisors fully informed.
Represent the Department before various administrative tribunals to include the Merit System Protection Board the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission the Federal Labor Relations Authority and the Office of Special Counsel. Assist the Department of Justice in litigation involving labor and/or employment matters in U.S. federal district and appellate courts.
Work with the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer on disciplinary and adverse action proposals and decisions workforce policies and other personnel-related matters. Ensure that labor and employment law issues are properly considered in Departmental planning and policy development.
Leverage a wide range of available resources including paralegal support and e-discovery software to effectively manage employment- law cases.
Basic Requirements:
GS-13:
Applicants must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicants resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organizations interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.
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 persons 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 for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation click on the links above or 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.
This position may be filled at the GS-13 GS-14 or GS-15 grade level. If selection is made at the GS-13 or GS-14 levels promotion to the next highest level may occur without further competition.
You will be required to complete an OGE 450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Form.
If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306 Declaration of Federal Employment and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment dismissal after beginning work fine or imprisonment.
Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for Secret clearance as a condition of placement in this Non-Critical Sensitive position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts child support and/or tax obligations as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
This is a permanent appointment in the excepted service and will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment are required to serve a two (2) year trial period unless already completed. Upon successful completion of the required trial period this position will be permanent. This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority