Attorney-Adviser (General)

Summary

About the Position: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Office of the Chief Counsel, Military Programs and Installation Law practice group is hiring an experienced attorney to provide authoritative legal advice on complex real property matters. The position supports senior leaders on real estate acquisition, management, disposal, leasing, housing, energy, and other high-value or precedent-setting transactions.

Duties

• Provides authoritative legal advice and counsel to senior officials and program offices on complex real property acquisition, management, disposal, leasing, development, and related program matters.
• Interprets statutes, case law, regulations, policies, and proposed legislation to determine legal effects on real property programs and transactions.
• Drafts and reviews legal instruments, agreements, legal opinions, briefs, and other written products to ensure legal sufficiency and protect organizational interests.
• Advises headquarters elements and subordinate organizations on the negotiation, preparation, execution, and administration of complex real property initiatives, including housing, energy, leasing, and exchange programs.
• Represents the organization in negotiations and other external engagements involving complex or controversial real property transactions; resolves legal and policy issues that cannot be addressed at lower organizational levels.

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 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.). In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: 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) 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). Specialized Experience: Applicant must have three or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. One year of the required professional legal experience is equivalent to the GS-14 under the General Schedule or other pay systems which includes: 1) Interpreting statutes, regulations, case law, and legal authorities applicable to complex real property programs or transactions; 2) Providing legal advice to senior officials on complex real property acquisition, management, disposal, leasing, development, or energy-related matters; 3) Drafting or reviewing legal instruments, agreements, leases, easements, solicitations, legal opinions, or similar documents for legal sufficiency; 4) Resolving complex legal or policy issues involving high-value, controversial, novel, or precedent-setting real property transactions; and 5) Representing an organization in negotiations with private-sector entities, governmental organizations, or other stakeholders on complex real property agreements. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-14).

Education

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 (LLB or JD).Only a degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education acceptable to meet positive education requirements, or to substitute education for experience. Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Education websites at - http://www.opm.gov/qualifications and http://www.ed.gov//admins/finaid/accred/index.html.Foreign education must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency in order to be considered for this position. Please include this information in your resume. 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, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of this position: Knowledge of federal real property laws, regulations, policies, and legal principles governing real property acquisition, management, disposal, leasing, and development. Knowledge of the environmental aspects of real property transactions. Skill in legal research, analysis, and interpretation of statutes, case law, regulations, legal instruments, and proposed legislation. Ability to provide authoritative legal advice and recommendations to senior officials on complex, sensitive, controversial, or precedent-setting real property matters. Skill in drafting and reviewing legal instruments, including deeds, easements, leases, agreements, solicitations, legal opinions, briefs, reports, and congressional responses. Ability to analyze and resolve complex legal and policy issues involving competing interests, substantial financial considerations, and significant organizational impacts. Skill in negotiating real property agreements and representing organizational interests with lessees, grantees, private entities, and governmental stakeholders. Ability to communicate legal positions clearly and effectively, orally and in writing, to senior leaders, program officials, external stakeholders, and congressional audiences. Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates 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. A trial period may be required. Per CSR XI 11.3 The first year of continuous service in the position of a preference eligible in the excepted service, or the first 2 years of continuous service in the position of an individual in the excepted service (other than a preference eligible), is a trial period. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. This position requires you to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter. This is a Legal Career Field position. 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. 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.