Attorney-Adviser (General)

Summary

About the Position: The duty station for this position is the Office of Counsel, Rock Island District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island, IL. The position will be filled at the GS-13 grade level and is an Excepted Service position. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is an equal opportunity employer. The Corps is firmly committed to recruiting, developing, and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce where all employees are valued for their talents as members of the team.

Duties

• Work under the general supervision of the Rock Island District Counsel and/or Deputy.
• Provide oral and written advice to Commander, Deputy Commander, and senior management officials.
• Work effectively with senior management officials and/or teams of diverse personnel in government and private industry, balancing customer program with legal goals and priorities, and to develop legal approaches to solving problems and issues.
• Furnish legal guidance, support, and services to operating officials regarding the following:
• Contract and procurement, environmental, federal regulatory, personnel administration, labor relations (union), real estate matters, and tort, admiralty, and administrative law.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience 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 qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration: Education Requirement: An applicant 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 (LL.B. or JD.). Bar Membership: An applicant must currently be an active member in good standing of the Bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (must provide a copy) In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Experience: Two or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position: must possess either an advance law degree such as an LLM (masters of law) or graduated with a distinguished record from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class which may be substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience after being admitted to the bar. Fitness to Practice Law: An applicant must currently be fit to practice law. If your fitness to practice law, or your conduct has ever been challenged you must submit a sworn statement giving the facts and circumstances, together with any explanations you consider appropriate. The sworn statement should be notarized and dated within 3 months of the date of your application. (If you are currently employed as an attorney with The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this requirement does not apply to you). Time in Grade Requirement: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government you must have completed 1 year at the next lower level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade as the position being filled.

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/. How You Will Be Evaluated

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Basis for Rating: If eligible and meeting basic qualifications, your application package will be evaluated in conjunction with your résumé and supporting documents for the required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of this position: Knowledge and/or experience of laws, regulations and procedures relating to: Contract, procurement and construction matters. Real Estate matters, including acquisition, management and disposal. Environmental and Federal regulatory matters sufficient to advise operating officials on the impact of such statutes and regulations on studies, civil works projects and associated litigation. Personnel administration, Equal Employment Opportunity and labor relations (union) matters. Tort and admiralty law, litigation and administrative law, including fiscal law, ethics and Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act. Ability to work effectively with senior management officials and/or teams of diverse personnel in both government and private industry, to balance customer program with legal goals and priorities, and to develop legal approaches to solving problems and issues. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics. Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates. The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements. Other Information

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. This position requires a 2 year trial period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. This position requires you to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a Legal Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest. A Relocation, Recruitment, Student Loan Repayment, Advance in Hire or Advance Leave Accrual incentive may be authorized if it is in the best interest of the government.