Closing Date: 3rd April, 2023
Description:
Summary:The Office of Inspector General (OIG) works within the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to promote efficiency and effectiveness, and prevent or stop waste, fraud and abuse in departmental programs. We do this through audits and investigations. OIG also consults with the Congress about programs in progress and proposed new laws and regulations. The Inspector General Act of 1978 gives the Office of Inspector General autonomy to do its work without interference.
Duties:
This position is located in the Office of Inspector General, Office of Chief Counsel. The Office of Chief Counsel provides legal advice and guidance affecting every aspect of OIG operations, including audits, investigations, and other reviews; internal management issues; appropriations; ethics; Freedom of Information Act; and much more.
The individual selected will primarily perform duties related to leading or supporting the office's Freedom of Information Act program. The individual selected will also provide legal advice on matters and policies concerning information disclosure, privacy protection, and records management. Other duties may include opportunities to provide general law support in areas such as ethics, fiscal law, and procurement law. The individual selected will work with a small team of Attorney-Advisors, Government Information Specialists, and others. Specific duties supporting the FOIA program include the following:
- Conducts, supervises and/or coordinates the processing of responses to requests to OIG for documents/information made in accordance with the FOIA and/or the Privacy Act.
- Ensures that requests made in accordance with the FOIA and/or Privacy Act are handled in an appropriate and timely manner by reviewing proposed document productions by other staff and/or conducting initial review of records.
- Researches and develops responses to FOIA appeal cases.
- Conducts, supervises and/or coordinates guidance on sensitive and complex legal issues concerning the interpretation, application and enforcement of statutes, regulations and guidance governing OIG's disclosure obligations under the FOIA and/or the Privacy Act.
- Ensures that decisions to withhold documents/information from disclosure are defensible and based on appropriate exemptions and/or privileges after coordination with other agencies and/or DOT components, as appropriate.
- Routinely speaks with requesters (and/or their counsel) who have questions or concerns about the processing of their requests. Regularly drafts letters to members of the public (and/or their counsel) concerning requests for information made under the FOIA and/or the Privacy Act.
- Represents the agency in discussions, meetings, and conferences with Departmental officials and other Federal, State and local government officers.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must be a U.S. Citizen
- This position is subject to a background investigation.
- Submit application and resume online by 11:59 P.M. EST on the closing date.
- May be required to serve a 2-year trial period.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service
- Must submit transcripts.
- Must meet member of bar requirement.
- Must possess a Juris Doctorate Law Degree or equivalent (J.D. or LL.B)
MEMBER OF THE BAR REQUIREMENT: Must be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Applicants are responsible for citing minimum qualifications such as JD and Bar membership information (institution name, state for bar, and dates) on their respective resumes. Failure to supply details will result in an incomplete application.
Applicants must meet qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Qualifications:
Qualifying applicants must have successfully completed a law degree (J.D. or L.L.B) and must be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Additionally, applicants must also possess the specialized experience as described below.
GS-11: To be considered for the GS-11 grade level, applicants must have some prior experience reviewing records as part of a FOIA program or other analysis of legal issues related to FOIA and/or demonstrated interest in the Freedom of Information Act.
GS-12:To be considered for the GS-12 grade level applicants must have at least one year of relevant specialized and professional legal experience as an attorney. The specialized experience must include supporting a Freedom of Information Act program.
GS-13: To be considered for the GS-13 grade level applicants must have at least two years of relevant specialized and professional legal experience as an attorney, at least one of which includes specialized experience supporting a Freedom of Information Act program; identifying policy and procedure areas that require improvement; and helping to implement changes.
GS-14: To be considered for the GS-14 grade level, applicants must have at least five years of relevant professional legal experience as an attorney. The specialized experience must include leading others in support of a Freedom of Information Act program, working with DOJ on litigation matters, leading people, managing databases (FOIA-related databases preferred), and identifying and implementing policy and improvement changes.
Applicants must meet the required qualifications by the closing date of the announcement.
Education:
Education: Successful completion of a law degree (J.D. or L.L.B.).
Must be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
NOTE: ALL APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETE COPY OF THEIR TRANSCRIPTS. DEGREE AUDITS ARE NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTE FOR OFFICIAL/UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS. IF SELECTED, AN OFFICIAL/SEALED TRANSCRIPT WILL BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO AN APPOINTMENT DATE BEING ESTABLISHED.
IF YOU HAVE EARNED A DEGREE FROM A FOREIGN INSTITUTION YOU MUST SUBMIT WITH YOUR APPLICATION EVIDENCE THAT ANY EDUCATION COMPLETED IN A FOREIGN INSTITUTION WAS APPROPRIATELY ACCREDITED BY AN ACCREDITING BODY RECOGNIZED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS EQUIVALENT TO U.S. STANDARDS. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, REFER TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEB SITE AT http://www.ed.gov.
Kindly refer to the following link for a detailed description of the job - https://www.usajobs.gov/job/713175500
