Description:
Summary:HHS OGC seeks a Deputy Associate General Counsel for Ethics to serve as Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official, advising senior leadership on federal ethics laws, financial disclosure, and compliance. The role manages the Department's ethics program, oversees policy, training, and enforcement, coordinates with OGE and other agencies, and ensures integrity, accountability, and adherence to ethics regulations across HHS.
Duties:
Serves as Deputy Associate General Counsel for Ethics and Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official (ADAEO), providing executive leadership and oversight of the Department's ethics program. Advises senior Department officials on complex federal ethics laws, regulations, and policies, including financial disclosure, conflicts of interest, procurement integrity, and related matters. Acts on behalf of the Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) when required, coordinates with the Office of Government Ethics, the White House Counsel, and other federal entities, and ensures Department-wide compliance with statutory and regulatory ethics requirements.
Oversees day-to-day ethics program operations, including financial disclosure review and certification, ethics training and counseling, policy development, and enforcement actions. Provides leadership to ethics staff, coordinates activities across operating and staff divisions, and supports investigations and referrals related to potential violations. Drafts and reviews high-level policy communications and legal guidance, represents the Department in interactions with Congress and external stakeholders, and ensures consistent, authoritative ethics advice on sensitive and high-impact issues.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Subject to a 1-year SES probationary period (unless already completed).
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
- If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
- May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
- File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
- You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
- You must meet the qualification requirements of this position no later than the closing date of the job opportunity announcement.
- Must possess J.D. or LL.B degree
- Active Membership or admission to the bar is required
Qualifications:
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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. 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 Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).
Technical Qualifications (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.
TQ 1: Describe your demonstrated knowledge, skills, and experience in administering a federal ethics program, including your application of criminal conflict of interest statutes; the Office of Government Ethics Standards of Conduct; post-government employment restrictions; rules governing use of government information and resources; financial disclosure programs; political activity restrictions; anti-lobbying laws; White House Ethics Pledge requirements; and your experience engaging with oversight entities such as the Government Accountability Office and Congress-providing specific examples that illustrate your role, actions, and impact.
TQ 2: Describe your demonstrated experience drafting complex ethics opinions and decisions under federal ethics laws and regulations; reviewing and analyzing financial disclosure reports (e.g., OGE Forms 278 and 450); identifying and resolving complex financial conflicts of interest; and drafting ethics agreements and recusal documents, including how you have provided expert advice to senior federal leaders on sensitive ethics matters requiring sound legal judgment, discretion, and effective communication-supported by specific examples.
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.
There are five ECQs:
- 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.
Education:
Must possess J.D. or LL.B degree.
and
Licensure:
Applicants must be licensed and authorized to practice law under the laws of a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territorial court established under the United States Constitution. Judicial status is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in States that prohibit sitting judges from maintaining "active" status to practice law. Being in "good standing" is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in States where the licensing authority considers "good standing" as having a current license to practice law.
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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: http://www.ed.gov.
Additional Information:
HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, research emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security
