Attorney Advisor (Secretariat to the Commission)

Closing Date: 19th April, 2024

Description:

Summary:
This position is located in the Planning Services Division, A Government Entity.

Duties:
The Attorney Advisor serves as the principal legal officer for the Commission and as such renders legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices in community planning, architecture, zoning, project and plan review, environmental, transportation, open space, landmark preparation or other matters within the scope and mandate of the A Government Entity. The Attorney Advisor also serves as Secretary to the Commission and presides over the meeting proceedings as parliamentarian and works with the Director of the Planning Services Division to organize pre-and post-meeting preparation of documents memorializing decisions and actions taken. The Attorney-Advisor will report directly to the Executive Director and Commission Chair on sensitive agency administrative or legal matters.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Providing legal advice to the Commission and its staff on the Commission's statutory powers, duties, and functions regarding legal questions in the fields of planning, environmental protection, historic preservation, transportation, and other related fields.
• Serving as parliamentarian at meetings of the Commission.
• Reviewing and preparing proposed and pending litigation reports, administrative records, pleadings, and briefs for, or together with, the Department of Justice and other parties in civil litigation and preparing records and pleadings for representing the agency's case in administrative litigation.
• Administering the agency Ethics Program, including preparing legal opinions, providing ethics advice to the Commission and staff, reviewing financial disclosure reports, ensuring Commission members and staff receive annual ethics training, and preparing and submitting required reports to the Department of Justice Office of Information Policy.
• Conducting legal research on a variety of federal planning, land use, administrative law and other legal areas pertinent to the Commission.
• Processing requests and keeping necessary records under the Freedom of Information Act and providing necessary reports to the Department of Justice.
• Promulgating and publishing all orders, rules and regulations of the Commission and prescribing the issuance date for these unless the Commission prescribes such date.
• Responding to inquiries from parties concerning pending proceedings and requests for interpretations of Commission orders, rules, regulations, and decisions.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Must be suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Qualifications:
Applicants must have demonstrated experience as listed below. This requirement is according to the OPM Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions.

Bar Membership: Applicants must currently be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a federal court of general jurisdiction. Applicants are responsible for submitting proof of minimum qualifications such as J.D. bar membership information (institution name, state(s) for bar, and dates) in their respective application packages. Failure to supply details will constitute an incomplete application. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Post J.D. Experience: Applicants must also possess at least 3 years of post J.D. experience.

Specialized experience: Subsequent to graduation from law school, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience as a practicing attorney equivalent to the GS-13 level in the federal service. Specialized experience includes conducting research, providing legal advice, and preparing written opinions involving a variety of complex legal matters in areas related to the agency's mission, such as land use and real estate law, in addition to administrative law and the Freedom of Information Act.

Education:

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