Closing Date: 10th June, 2026
Description:
Summary:About the Position: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Office of the Chief Counsel, is hiring experienced attorneys to serve as Counsel to the Senior Contracting Official and Assistant Division Counsel. Positions provide legal advice on major procurements, complex acquisitions, and contract matters.
This permanent excepted service role may fill up to five vacancies at any of the listed locations and may also support military programs, civil works, fiscal law, ethics, and labor & employment law.
Duties:
- Serves as Counsel to the Senior Contracting Official and Assistant Division Counsel, advising senior leaders, contracting officials, and district offices on complex acquisition and procurement matters.
- Provides legal advice on major procurements, acquisition strategies, source selections, contract formation and administration, claims, protests, disputes, procurement integrity, and related matters.
- Develops legal guidance on complex, sensitive, and precedent-setting procurement issues affecting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers missions and operations.
- Leads and coordinates procurement law support across the assigned Division, working closely with contracting officials, program leaders, fiscal personnel, and counsel across the command.
- Supports other Division legal practice areas as needed, including military and civil works programs, fiscal law, ethics, labor and employment law, and other mission-related matters.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
- This position requires pre-employment financial disclosure and annually thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.
- Appointment to this position is subject to a two-year trial period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 11.3.
- This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance or access for the duration of employment.
Qualifications:
Who May Apply: US Citizens
The minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration:
Bar membership: Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Professional Legal 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-13 under the General Schedule or other pay systems which includes: providing legal advice to senior officials, leadership, and program offices on complex federal procurement, acquisition, and contract administration matters; interpreting laws, regulations, and policies; advising on contract formation and administration, source selections, claims, protests, disputes, procurement integrity, and organizational conflicts of interest; preparing legal opinions and recommendations; representing agency positions in contracting-related disputes or administrative proceedings; and providing legal support across other mission-related practice areas.
Note: All Applicants Should Address The Following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Time in Grade Requirements: Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-13). If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government you must have completed 1 year at the next lower level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement or previously served at the same or higher grade as the position being filled.
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/.
Additional Information:
Additional Information:
The minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration:
Bar membership: Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Professional Legal 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-13 under the General Schedule or other pay systems which includes: providing legal advice to senior officials, leadership, and program offices on complex federal procurement, acquisition, and contract administration matters; interpreting laws, regulations, and policies; advising on contract formation and administration, source selections, claims, protests, disputes, procurement integrity, and organizational conflicts of interest; preparing legal opinions and recommendations; representing agency positions in contracting-related disputes or administrative proceedings; and providing legal support across other mission-related practice areas.
Note: All Applicants Should Address The Following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of federal acquisition laws and regulations, including procurement statutes, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), agency supplements, contract formation, and contract administration principles.
- Knowledge of federal contracting and procurement processes involving construction, services, architect-engineer, supply, and cost reimbursement contracts.
- Skill in legal research, analysis, and interpretation to evaluate complex statutes, regulations, policies, and legal precedents and provide sound recommendations.
- Ability to provide legal advice to senior leaders and stakeholders on highly complex and sensitive matters affecting organizational programs, policies, and operations.
- Skill in drafting and reviewing legal documents, including opinions, agreements, protest responses, memoranda, and other legal instruments with accuracy and clarity.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to present legal positions, negotiate solutions, and advise leadership, contracting officials, and external stakeholders.
- Skill in analyzing and resolving complex legal and procurement issues, including protests, disputes, investigations, and compliance matters involving multiple interests or competing priorities.
- Ability to collaborate and build working relationships with contracting personnel, leadership, federal agencies, investigative organizations, and other stakeholders to achieve mission objectives.
- Knowledge of ethics, procurement integrity, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance requirements applicable to federal contracting activities.
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/.
Additional 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.
- This position requires a 2-year trial period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
- Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
- This position requires you to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.
- 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 (https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=kb_article&sysparm_article=KB0016277) information sheet.
- This is a Legal Career Field position
- Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
- Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
- 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.
- This is a permanent position in the excepted service without time limitation and will not be filled by a competitive appointment. Service in this position may be fully creditable toward civil service retirement. Any selected applicant who is in the competitive service will be taken out of the competitive service when he or she occupies this position and will compete only with other excepted status employees in the event of a reduction-in-force.
Additional Information:
