Closing Date: 9th June, 2023

Description:

Summary:
This position is in the Excepted Service. Selection under this appointment does not confer civil service competitive status.

Duties:
As a Attorney (General) you will be responsible for the following duties:
  • Exercises discretion and independently resolves broad range of legal issues in matters involving complex legal problems. Plans and organizes work and meets deadlines with minimal supervisory instruction. The incumbent maintains specialized in-depth subject matter expertise, serving as a significant Agency-wide resource.
  • Provides legal reviews regarding the legality, interpretation, and enforceability of contracts; grants; cooperative agreements; other transactions; litigation (to include mistakes in bids, protests, disputes, and claims); international cooperative research and development issues and agreements; foreign military sales; disclosure of classified, proprietary, or export.
  • Provides legal reviews regarding controlled information; special access programs; intellectual property; and other legal matters.
  • Serves as member of acquisition strategy panels and advisor to source selection authorities.
  • Advises on statutory and regulatory compliance. Major program acquisitions and procurements to include contract formation; administration and termination; classified contracts; technical data rights; fiscal law; and disclosure of information to foreign governments and other entities.
  • Releasability of records, to include classified, proprietary, and source selection information.
  • Administrative law issues to include GAO and DoD IG audits, executive branch standards of conduct, and fiscal law issues concerning the appropriate obligation and expenditure of appropriated funds.
  • Drafts and negotiates contracts or other legal or decision documents required by the agency.
  • Furnishes legal opinions and advice regarding: Intellectual property law, to include trademark, copyright, patents, trade secrets, secrecy orders and FAR/DFARs data rights acquisitions compliance. Drafts and makes substantive recommendations with respect to proposed legislation.
  • Under the direction and control of the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel makes decisions on complex legal problems.
  • Determines when a matter requires consultation or coordination with other government offices, commercial organizations; refers matters requiring guidance to his/her supervisors.
  • Plans and organizes work and meets deadlines with minimal supervisory instruction.
  • Personally handles complex, novel, and difficult legal issues, providing and carrying out special assignments for the General Counsel on urgent, important, and precedent-setting legal areas.
  • Participates and provides legal counsel in meetings with senior MDA and Department of Defense (DoD) officials.
  • Represents MDA in meetings with other departments and agencies to include the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the DoD Inspector General (IG), other departments and agencies, contractors, and foreign government officials.
  • Represents or assists the DOJ or other DoD counsel in prosecuting/defending litigation involving the agency, to include responding to discovery requests, compiling documents , preparing briefs and memorandum of law, preparation of agency personnel for litigation , and assisting or representing the agency in litigation, to include GAO bid protests.
  • Represents the agency in judicial/administrative proceedings such as the Government Accountability Office, and the U.S. Courts, etc. In handling a legal matter, it is typically necessary for incumbent to review the propriety and advisability of proposed, ongoing, or past agency actions.
  • Because of the importance of any given program or initiative to the agency, incumbent must use creativity in developing sound legal responses that best sustain the propriety of client actions, policies, practices and positions. When a proposed agency action cannot or should not be undertaken, incumbent proposes innovative alternatives for reaching the underlying goal or objective within the rule of law.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Application materials must be received by 11:59PM EST on the closing date.
  • This is a drug testing designated position.
  • This is an Excepted Service position.
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Recruitment Incentives: Recruitment or relocation incentives may be offered consistent with Agency policy.
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
  • Covid19: Please see, Additional Information.

Qualifications:
Specialized experience required for this position is:
Contracts: federal acquisition and procurement law.

Intellectual Property Law: intellectual property law, to include trademark, copyright, patents, trade secrets, secrecy orders and FAR/DFARs data rights acquisitions compliance.

International: international law including statutes, treaties, case law, regulations, and policy directives governing research and development; international implications of acquisition of major weapons systems; international agreements; international contracting; international cooperative research and development; and other methods of foreign participation in R&D and acquisition programs; foreign military sales; export control process; the U.S. arms control process, including knowledge of the arms control agreements negotiating process and U.S. treaty compliance process.

D. General: federal judicial and administrative litigation processes, the inter-relationships between DoD components, the interaction of DoD with other executive branch agencies and Congress, particularly provisions underlying authorities expressly granted or delegated to Heads/Directors of Defense Agencies.
  • Experience assisting in the identification and analysis of legal issues, conducting legal research, summarizing results, reaching sound legal conclusion and providing sound legal advice.
  • Experience ensuring the Freedom of Information Act and security classification requirements and procedures are adhered to.- Experience with fiscal, administrative and personnel law; standards of conduct and ethics.
  • Experience assisting senior attorneys with the audit procedures and practices of the GAO and the DoD IG.

Education:
Positive education required IAW OPM/DoD qualification standards. Graduate of an American Bar Association accredited law school in good standing of a bar of a State, the District of Columbia, US Territory, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Qualification standards for attorney positions may be found in DoD Directive 1442.2, "Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys" at DoD Instruction 1442.02, September 30, 2010 (whs.mil). (https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/144202p.pdf)

The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened for competencies needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the DUTIES section of this announcement. The QUALITY of experience relates to how closely or to what extent your experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Your resume must show you have the competencies necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate level. Salary will be set within the range specified in this vacancy announcement based on the complexity of work to be performed, the selectee's experience, education, training, and availability of funds.

Veteran's Preference:
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. (SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov.)

Education:
Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/approved.html

You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, and be in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Bar.

And

Possess a Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited law school at the time of applying for the position. A copy of college transcripts must be submitted with your application.

Note: Failure to provide college transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Foreign Education: For further information, click on the following link: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional Information:
Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d
Note: If you submit a resume but no questionnaire, you cannot be considered for the position. If you submit a questionnaire but no resume, you cannot be considered for the position. Your application will be appropriately documented and you will be removed from further competition against this announcement.
Note: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Benefits:
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. Learn more about federal benefits. (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/)
 
Review our benefits (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/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.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration. We will evaluate your application for basic eligibility and to determine if your experience meets the qualifications and other basic requirements are eligible for referral and selection consideration.

Required Documents:
Résumé: If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed for the qualifications and referred for selection consideration if eligible.

Assessment Questionnaire

Transcripts: Required--We accept unofficial transcripts, as long as they contain the applicant's name, the name of the school, the date and degree that was awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned. Transcripts must be received n this office by 11:59 EST, of the 06/09/2023 to be considered

Statement regarding your bar status and standing. You must provide proof that you are a current active member of a bar with a valid license to practice law in a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

A copy of a college transcript must be submitted with your application.

A statement as to whether or not you have ever been found by any tribunal to have committed any crime or other act reflecting upon your suitability to practice law.

Additional documents you may be required to submit vary based on what authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying for one of the categories such as a veteran, a current or former permanent Federal employee, ICTAP, etc.).

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. (http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/)

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply:
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package as described in REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.

Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
  • Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents.
  • Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application.
  • Applications must be received by the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

To review the status of an application through USAJOBS:
  • Log into your USAJOBS account
  • Click Application Status within your profile to expand your application
  • Locate the job announcement and click the more information link under the Status column for this position. You will be routed to Application Manager. The Details tab displays by default. The Details tab displays comprehensive information about the selected Application Package including: assessment(s) and the status, supporting documents and their status, correspondence sent to you by the hiring agency, and your application processing status. To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload, complete this cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf . Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144. You are highly encouraged to submit your application package and complete your assessment questionnaire on-line.

Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at:
https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

Next Steps:
If selected, additional documentation may be required prior to appointment.

Once you successfully complete the application process, you will receive a notification of receipt. Your application package will be reviewed to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and qualifications requirements, and you will receive a notification. A review will be made of your online questionnaire and the documentation you submitted to support your responses. A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. All applicants reviewed and/or referred will receive a notification letter.

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.

Kindly refer to the following link for a detailed description of the job - https://www.usajobs.gov/job/728392800