Closing Date: 14th August, 2026
Description:
Summary:This position is located in the Office of Legal Services (OLS) within the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (OIG). OLS provides legal advice and covering the full range of activities within the OIG, including investigations, audits, inspections, and evaluations. The office also advises on the Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act of 1974, records management, congressional reports, Controlled Unclassified Information, the government ethics program and employee conduct.
Duties:
- Serves as the Counsel to the Inspector General. At the request of the Inspector General, serves as a representative of OIG before Federal agencies, councils, state and local governments, and other organizations. and provides authoritative legal representation for the Inspector General. Speaks for the Inspector General on legal opinions concerning all OIG related issues.
- Primary source for legal advice in the OIG. Directs the review and analysis of new laws and regulations affecting the IG Act and its amendments. Directs the formulation of policies resulting from new laws, regulations, the setting of precedents, and the continual analysis of the IG Act and its amendments. Responsible for interpretations and evaluations, often without legal precedent.
- Provides litigation support. Directs the legal program of the OIG. Activities of the legal staff include: the management of Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act and Ethics; provision of litigation support services to the Department of Justice; representation of OIG employees in civil and administrative proceedings. Coordinates with representatives from the Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, Department of Justice, etc.
- Manages and directs the full range of professional legal services through a staff of attorneys. Manages and directs a legal program which provides expert and independent legal counsel to the Inspector General and staff both in the national and regional/field offices.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
- Candidate required to obtain and maintain the necessary security/investigation level.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret Clearance/SCI.
- Must complete 1-year SES probationary period, if not previously completed.
- This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DOL/OIG and Federal ethics guidelines.
- You will be required to undergo a drug screening and obtain favorable results prior to being appointed and may be subject to random drug tests.
- If selected, the candidate must receive approval from OPM's Qualifications Review Board in order to be appointed to the SES.
Qualifications:
You must meet the Basic Requirements listed in the Education Requirements section and the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications to qualify for Counsel to the Inspector General, as described below.
As a minimum requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications. Candidates must have had experience at a major management level (normally equivalent to the GS-15 level in the federal service).
To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes must use a font size no smaller than 10-point, and margins no smaller than one inch. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.
There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Technical Qualifications (TQs) or the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).
Technical Qualifications (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.
- TQ 1: Demonstrated experience in addressing legal issues relating to audits and evaluations of federal programs and operations, and legal issues relating to criminal, civil, and administrative investigations of federal programs, employees, contractors, and grantees.
- TQ 2: Demonstrated experience in addressing legal issues relating to federal ethics, procurement, appropriations, litigation procedures, employee relations, whistleblower retaliation, Freedom of Information Act, and the Privacy Act.
- TQ 3: Demonstrated experience in providing sound legal advice and counsel to senior executives and management officials in analyzing complex legal problems, in making sound legal decisions, and in supervising and managing highly skilled attorneys and support staff.
- ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
- ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
- ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
- ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
- ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.
Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.
Education:
Basic Requirement: Applicants must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school AND be an active member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the U.S., District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.
You must submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent and proof of bar certification. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.
A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
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. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) (https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/)
Additional Information:
