Closing Date: 6th October, 2025
Description:
Summary:The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is the legal team for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), providing quality representation and legal advice on a wide range of highly visible national issues. OGC supports the development and implementation of the Department's programs by providing the highest quality legal services to the Secretary of HHS and the organization's various agencies and divisions.
Duties:
The incumbent serves as the Deputy Associate General Counsel for Public Health Division (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Branch) and head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Branch. The incumbent serves as the primary source of legal advice and services for both the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). This position is physically located in Atlanta, Georgia, and reports to the Associate General Counsel for Public Health, located in Rockville, Maryland.
CDC is an agency of the Public Health Service (PHS) charged with providing leadership and direction to programs and activities designed to reduce unnecessary human morbidity and mortality and improve the health of the people of the United States by thorough public health surveillance, inventive laboratory applications, and public health interventions utilizing a wide range of practical prevention programs. Finally, the CDC is deeply involved in the latest initiatives and trends for public health crises and the threat of bioterrorism, including the regulation of the possession, use, and transfer of select biological agents and toxins.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
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: Demonstrated experience handling and overseeing complex legal and factual issues. Requires experience in directing all aspects of enforcement litigation, including review and evaluation of cases, strategy development, briefing, oral advocacy and settlement negotiations and appeal recommendations, and working with Department of Justice, CDC, ATSDR, and OGC leadership.
TQ 2: Demonstrated leadership experience directing an effective cadre of lawyers and supporting personnel providing program advice, setting appropriate priorities, and ensuring that the organization meets clients' needs for a high functioning program advice group and a litigation group handling a large volume of complex, high priority litigation.
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:
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:
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.
CDC is an agency of the Public Health Service (PHS) charged with providing leadership and direction to programs and activities designed to reduce unnecessary human morbidity and mortality and improve the health of the people of the United States by thorough public health surveillance, inventive laboratory applications, and public health interventions utilizing a wide range of practical prevention programs. Finally, the CDC is deeply involved in the latest initiatives and trends for public health crises and the threat of bioterrorism, including the regulation of the possession, use, and transfer of select biological agents and toxins.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Subject to a 1-year supervisory 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: Demonstrated experience handling and overseeing complex legal and factual issues. Requires experience in directing all aspects of enforcement litigation, including review and evaluation of cases, strategy development, briefing, oral advocacy and settlement negotiations and appeal recommendations, and working with Department of Justice, CDC, ATSDR, and OGC leadership.
TQ 2: Demonstrated leadership experience directing an effective cadre of lawyers and supporting personnel providing program advice, setting appropriate priorities, and ensuring that the organization meets clients' needs for a high functioning program advice group and a litigation group handling a large volume of complex, high priority litigation.
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.