Closing Date: 27th March, 2026
Description:
Summary:The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is seeking an experienced attorney and skilled presenter for our Washington, D.C. office. This role in the Outreach, Training, and Compliance Unit involves delivering engaging training, translating complex legal principles into practical guidance, and supporting OSC's mission to promote accountability, integrity, and fairness in the federal workplace.
Duties:
Why Join OSC?
OSC consistently ranks highly in the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) for workplace satisfaction!
Division Overview
The Outreach, Training & Compliance Unit (OTC) advances awareness and compliance with federal personnel law through outreach, training, and workforce development initiatives. OTC manages the 2302(c) Certification Program to educate employees on workplace protections, including whistleblower rights, and coordinates and/or delivers internal training to promote professional growth and a well-informed federal workforce. OTC also oversees OSC's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program to ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws.
Duties:
As a member of the Outreach, Training & Compliance Unit, you will:
Ideal Candidate:
OSC seeks a dynamic legal professional with exceptional oral presentation skills, strong interpersonal and collaboration abilities, and a commitment to public service. The ideal candidate will lead engaging training that transforms complex legal principles into practical guidance, build strong partnerships across government, and champion OSC's mission to promote accountability, protect whistleblowers, and uphold the Merit System Principles.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Qualifications:
Education Qualifications for all positions: A professional law degree (L.L.B., J.D., L.L.M.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
In addition to Education, applicants must meet the minimum Experience Requirements outlined below:
Your resume must explicitly outline your qualifications. We will not make assumptions about your experience.
Note: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0905 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards
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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above.
Annual Leave Accrual Credit
Selectees for their first Federal position may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credited will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant resume and documentation submitted.
Additional Information:
Active-Duty Service Members: In accordance with VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-56),Current military members may apply by submitting a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain: (1) your rank; (2) dates of active duty service; (3) type of discharge and projected character of service (i.e. honorable); (4) projected Veteran's preference, if applicable; (5) date terminal leave begins, if applicable; (6) date of expected discharge or release that is within 120 days of your employment application submission; and (7) signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. If selected, your qualifying separation, veteran's preference, and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Active-duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found to have an incomplete application. Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if on terminal leave.
Selective Service: Individuals born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. You can find more information on Who Must Register and Exemptions here (https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register). In addition, you can find more information on what to do if you failed to register here. (https://www.sss.gov/verify/sil/)
Developmental Position: This position can be filled at the GS-13 or GS-14 grade level. If filled at the lower grade level, noncompetitive promotion to the next grade level is authorized but not implied. It is dependent upon meeting time-in-grade requirements, specialized experience, required training and any other management requirements to demonstrate ability to perform the next higher/target grade level.
These are not Bargaining Unit positions.
Additional Information:
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.
OSC consistently ranks highly in the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) for workplace satisfaction!
Division Overview
The Outreach, Training & Compliance Unit (OTC) advances awareness and compliance with federal personnel law through outreach, training, and workforce development initiatives. OTC manages the 2302(c) Certification Program to educate employees on workplace protections, including whistleblower rights, and coordinates and/or delivers internal training to promote professional growth and a well-informed federal workforce. OTC also oversees OSC's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program to ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws.
Duties:
As a member of the Outreach, Training & Compliance Unit, you will:
- Serve as a subject matter expert, conducting external Prohibited Personnel Practices and 2302(c) Certification training for federal agencies.
- Collaborate with leadership to enhance training programs, researching emerging legal trends and best practices to develop advanced curricula that simplify complex laws through interactive techniques such as real-world hypotheticals and case studies.
- Provide authoritative legal guidance on complex factual and legal issues, requiring accurate analysis, extensive research, and integration of evolving case law.
- Develop and maintain training resources and manage the Unit's website to ensure timely, accurate, and accessible content.
- Administer OSC's 2302(c) Certification Program, assisting federal agencies and government corporations with fulfilling their statutory requirement to ensure employees understand their rights under the Civil Service Reform Act, the Whistleblower Protection Act, and related statutes.
- Coordinate workforce development initiatives, including internal training and professional development programs, and oversee compliance with mandatory training requirements.
- Support the management of OSC's EEO program, conducting legal research, advising on complex internal EEO matters, and drafting and reviewing documents to ensure compliance.
Ideal Candidate:
OSC seeks a dynamic legal professional with exceptional oral presentation skills, strong interpersonal and collaboration abilities, and a commitment to public service. The ideal candidate will lead engaging training that transforms complex legal principles into practical guidance, build strong partnerships across government, and champion OSC's mission to promote accountability, protect whistleblowers, and uphold the Merit System Principles.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- U.S. Citizenship or National authorized to work in the U.S.
- Individuals born after 12-31-1959 and required to register for Selective Service under the Military Selective Service Act of 50 USC App. 453, must be registered or otherwise exempt from Selective Service. See "Additional Information" section below.
- May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
- May be eligible for incentive pay.
- May be eligible for superior qualifications/special needs pay setting.
- Direct Deposit of pay is required.
- E-Verify will be used to confirm employment eligibility on new employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
- Suitable for Federal employment as determined by appropriate background investigation.
Qualifications:
Education Qualifications for all positions: A professional law degree (L.L.B., J.D., L.L.M.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
In addition to Education, applicants must meet the minimum Experience Requirements outlined below:
- Applicants must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (proof of active bar membership in good standing is required; failure to provide documentation will result in disqualification).
- Experience developing curricula or educational materials that simplify complex concepts for broad audiences. All candidates will be required to conduct a mock presentation as part of the interview process to assess public speaking skills.
- Superior skills conducting in-depth legal research and analysis to interpret statutes, regulations, and case law, and communicating complex legal concepts through written materials and oral presentations.
- Knowledge of federal personnel law is preferred, with particular emphasis on experience providing legal guidance on reasonable accommodation requests and interpreting the Rehabilitation Act or ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), as well as familiarity with the Merit System Principles, anti-discrimination statutes, and whistleblower protection laws.
Note: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0905 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards
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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above.
Annual Leave Accrual Credit
Selectees for their first Federal position may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credited will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant resume and documentation submitted.
Additional Information:
Active-Duty Service Members: In accordance with VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-56),Current military members may apply by submitting a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain: (1) your rank; (2) dates of active duty service; (3) type of discharge and projected character of service (i.e. honorable); (4) projected Veteran's preference, if applicable; (5) date terminal leave begins, if applicable; (6) date of expected discharge or release that is within 120 days of your employment application submission; and (7) signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. If selected, your qualifying separation, veteran's preference, and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Active-duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found to have an incomplete application. Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if on terminal leave.
Selective Service: Individuals born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. You can find more information on Who Must Register and Exemptions here (https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register). In addition, you can find more information on what to do if you failed to register here. (https://www.sss.gov/verify/sil/)
Developmental Position: This position can be filled at the GS-13 or GS-14 grade level. If filled at the lower grade level, noncompetitive promotion to the next grade level is authorized but not implied. It is dependent upon meeting time-in-grade requirements, specialized experience, required training and any other management requirements to demonstrate ability to perform the next higher/target grade level.
These are not Bargaining Unit positions.
Additional Information:
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.
