Closing Date: 10th October, 2024
Description:
Summary:The Office of Inspector General is an independent office within the EPA that helps the agency protect the environment in a more efficient & cost effective manner. We perform audits, evaluations, & investigations of the EPA to promote economy, efficiency, and to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse. We strive to provide solutions to problems that ultimately result in making America a cleaner and healthier place.
Duties:
This position is located in the EPA Office of Inspector General's Office of Special Review and Evaluation, Administrative Investigations Directorate.
AID conducts administrative investigations of allegations of misconduct by senior agency employees, including, but not limited to, complaints of ethical violations and financial conflicts of interest; travel card fraud and misuses of Government property; abuse of authority; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; violations of harassment and scientific integrity policies, and more. We also investigate whistleblower reprisal by agency employees, or employees of agency contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees or personal services contractors. The office performs special reviews of significant events and emergent issues of concern that involve a suspected or alleged violation of law, regulation, or policy, or allegations of serious mismanagement.
As an Investigative Attorney, you will be responsible for:
- Conducting sensitive and complex administrative investigations related to allegations of misconduct against senior officials;
- Conducting administrative investigations into allegations of misconduct, gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, and abuses of authority by senior agency officials, as well as allegations of whistleblower reprisal against agency employees, contractors and grantees. This includes developing investigative plans, conducting interviews of witnesses and subjects, searching for and analyzing documentary evidence;
- Preparing and reviewing legal documents and other materials in connection with ongoing investigations;
- Preparing investigative reports and memoranda in adherence to Office of Inspector General policies, directives and standard operating procedures, and coordinating with management, investigators, quality assurance and editorial staff, Congressional liaisons, OIG counsel, and other stakeholders on investigative work product;
- Conducting legal research on substantive legal matters encountered during investigations, including determining applicable legal precedent, applying civil, and administrative laws to specific fact patterns, and assessing sufficiency of evidence following investigative activities;
- Engaging with a wide range of sources, including whistleblowers, regarding potential or ongoing administrative investigations; and
- Engaging with law enforcement officials and prosecutors, including but not limited to, the Office of Inspector General's Office of Investigations and the U.S. Department of Justice, on potential criminal referrals.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must be a U.S. citizen.
- Background Investigation Required.
- Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.
- Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.
- EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.
- Pre-employment drug testing is required and random testing thereafter.
- You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
- Submit a current resume and a writing sample (5-10 pages in length).
This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the tentative employment offer may be withdrawn.
If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law (https://www.sss.gov/).
Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 (https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-9-paper-version.pdf) Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about e-verify (https://www.e-verify.gov/), including your rights and responsibilities.
Upon appointment, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450. You will need to provide the information annually.
Depending on your status, this position may require serving a 1-year trial period.
Selectee must submit to a drug test and receive negative test results before being appointed. After appointment, you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
Qualifications:
In addition to the mandatory education requirement, all applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:
To qualify at the GS-13 level, applicants must have two or more years of post-J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-13 grade level, and an active bar status in good standing.
To qualify at the GS-14 level, applicants must have three or more years of post-J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-13 grade level, and an active bar status in good standing.
Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
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, knowledge, and skills 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 the qualifications for this position within thirty (30) days of the closing date of this announcement.
Education:
Mandatory Education Requirement.
This is an attorney position. Applicants must have a Juris Doctorate degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and must be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. Active bar membership (of any jurisdiction) is required.
You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable during the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon appointment.
All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.
All education claimed by applicants will be verified.