Closing Date: 18th February, 2026

Description:

Summary:
The HHS Office of the General Counsel seeks a senior legal executive to serve as Associate General Counsel for the CMS Division. The AGC leads one of OGC's largest divisions, directing legal strategy for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, ACA programs, Medicare Advantage, managed care, Innovation Center models, insurance market reforms, Health Benefit Exchanges and drug pricing. The role partners closely with the CMS Administrator, the HHS Secretary, and senior leadership to shape national health policy.

Duties:

This position is the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Division (CMSD) in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). It is a rare opportunity to serve as the lead attorney for the CMS Division, directing legal strategy for programs that shape health coverage, affordability, and innovation across the nation.
The Associate General Counsel (AGC) for CMSD provides executive-level legal leadership for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), programs that collectively affect hundreds of millions of people and anchor the U.S. health care system. The role oversees the legal architecture for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care, CMS Innovation Center models, drug price negotiation and rebate programs, Quality Improvement Organizations, and other high-impact initiatives at the forefront of national health policy.
This position also leads legal oversight of the federal private health insurance markets, including Health Benefit Exchanges, ACA market reforms, and consumer surprise billing protections, placing the AGC at the intersection of public programs, private markets, and consumer protection.
As chief of the CMS Division, the incumbent has full executive and managerial authority over one of OGC's most complex and visible divisions, setting strategy, leading and developing a high-performing legal workforce, and ensuring trusted legal counsel to CMS and HHS leadership. The role demands vision, decisiveness, and the ability to lead through complexity and change.
The AGC operates with significant independence and influence, reporting to the Deputy General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for CMS and working directly with CMS leadership, the General Counsel, the Secretary of HHS, and counterparts across the federal government.
This position is ideal for a senior legal leader seeking to operate at the highest levels of government, lead at scale, and have a lasting impact on the future of U.S. healthcare.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
You must meet the qualification requirements of this position no later than the closing date of the job opportunity announcement.
Must possess J.D. or LL.B degree
Active Membership or admission to the bar is required

Qualifications:

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.
There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).

Technical Qualifications (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

TQ 1: Demonstrated leadership experience, initiative, decision making and sound knowledge of policies, regulations and legislation that governs the DHHS legal advice and services for CMSD programs, including but not limited to all activities related to the interpretation, application, and enforcement of the laws, rules, and regulations by the OGC.
TQ 2: Demonstrated executive, managerial and diplomacy skills to work effectively and closely with multilateral organizations, to frequently represent and speak to the Secretary and with the Department of Justice, other DHHS departments, Federal agencies, and other stakeholders in the planning and formulation of the legal strategy and tactics and in the development of substantive issues, technical accuracy and completeness, and legal sufficiency of all matters related to and arising under the laws, rules, and regulations administered by the CMSD and OGC.
TQ 3: Demonstrated leadership experience directing an effective cadre of lawyers and supporting personnel, setting appropriate priorities, and ensuring that the organization meets clients' needs, adhering to the highest ethical standards of public service.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs:

ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education:
Must possess J.D. or LL.B degree.
and

Licensure:
Applicants must be licensed and authorized to practice law under the laws of a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territorial court established under the United States Constitution. Judicial status is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in States that prohibit sitting judges from maintaining "active" status to practice law. Being in "good standing" is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in States where the licensing authority considers "good standing" as having a current license to practice law.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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: http://www.ed.gov.

Additional Information:
HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, research emerging diseases,