Closing Date: 16th September, 2026
Description:
Summary:The Office of General Counsel (OGC) at the ODNI provides legal advice and counsel to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and other ODNI officials on a wide range of legal issues to include intelligence and national security law; procurement and acquisition law; personnel law; government ethics, fiscal law; general administrative law; legislative support; government information practices (Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act); and intellectual property law.
Duties:
Provide expert, authoritative advice and counsel to the ODNI General Counsel and senior leadership and staff on often complex, difficult, and novel legal issues (1) that affect the responsibilities of the DNI and ODNI as they relate to statutes, Presidential directives, Executive Orders, and other related laws and policies, including the DNI's statutory responsibility to ensure compliance with the Constitution and laws of the United States by elements of the IC; and (2) that relate to all aspects of intelligence law and federal agency law, to include collection, analysis, covert action, foreign relations, intelligence and information sharing, security and protection of sources and methods, intelligence policy and legislation, and other related areas of intelligence and national security law, intelligence community policies and legislation, administrative law, personnel law, government ethics, government information practices, acquisition and procurement law, and federal appropriations law.
Render legal opinions and associated oral advice on a wide range of issues, often in areas where few or no legal precedents exist, and ensure legal requirements are implemented across the IC.
Provide expert legal advice to support the DNI's responsibilities regarding counterintelligence, security, counterterrorism, counternarcotics, and ODNI intelligence oversight activities.
Research and analyze a wide variety of laws, regulations, legislation, and policies; and draft or review new legislation (to include the annual Intelligence Authorization Act), Executive Orders, policies, congressional testimony, and related policy guidance.
Supervise and manage a team of attorneys and staff, including assisting with the supervision of other managers and the management of the OGC, including the development of the OGC budget, the approval of leave and training requests, the distribution of portfolios and assignments, the HR process, and other general office management issues.
Perform personnel management responsibilities with a focus on building a high performance workforce; promote team building and a collaborative work environment; ensure goals and performance objectives are understood; assess performance and provide timely feedback, recognition, and remediation.
Establish and maintain effective relations with the legal and (at times) policy offices of other Executive agencies and organizations, including the National Security Council; other IC elements; the Department of Justice National Security Division, as well as with the Congressional Intelligence Oversight Committees, with a particular focus on ensuring a comprehensive legal approach to major system acquisition law and policy; budget planning, programming and execution issues; research and technology; and the related fields of intellectual property law and government ethics.
Establish and manage liaison relationships with external partners to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to intelligence and national security law topics.
Represent the General Counsel and the ODNI on a variety of intra- and inter-agency committees and working groups.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Probationary & Trial Periods
Employees Newly Appointed to The Senior National Intelligence Service (snis) Are Subject to A Twelve (12)-Month Probationary Period to Assess Their Ability to Perform Assigned Duties and Responsibilities at A Level of Excellence Expected of A Senior Executive. for Permanent Employees Newly Hired Into the Odni, the Probationary Period Will Run Concurrently with The First Twelve (12) Months of A New Employee's Two (2)-Year Trial Period.
Executive Core Qualifications (ec Qs):
To Meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements for This Position, You Must Show that You Possess the Five Executive Core Qualifications (ec Qs) and The Intelligence Community Senior Officer Core Qualification (icsocq) in Your Resume. Please See Qualification Section.
Free Response Essay Questions
All Applicants Must Answer the Following Four Short, Free Response Essay Questions. the Responses Cannot Exceed 200 Words per Question. by Submitting Your Responses to The Following Questions, You Certify that You Are Using Your Own Words and Did Not Use a Consultant or Ai (such as A Large Language Model [llm]).
Qualifications:
Executive Core Qualifications (ec Qs):
To Meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements for This Position, You Must Show that You Possess the Five Executive Core Qualifications (ec Qs) and The Intelligence Community Senior Officer Core Qualification (icsocq) Listed Below in Your Resume. Resumes Must Not Exceed Two (2) Pages. Resumes Over the Two (2)-Page Limit Will Not Be Reviewed and Will Be Disqualified. Your Resume Should Include Examples of Experience, Educations, and Accomplishments Applicable to The Qualifications. if Your Resume Does Not Demonstrate Evidence of These Qualifications, You May Not Receive Consideration for The Position. for More Information Regarding Ec Qs, Please Visit the Executive Core Qualifications (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/) Page on The Opm Website.
Ecq 1: Commitment to The Rule of Law and 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.
Iscocq: Leading the Intelligence Enterprise
This Core Qualification Involves the Ability to Integrate Resources, Information, Interests, and Activities Effectively in Support of The Intelligence Community's Mission and To Lead and Leverage Cross-Organizational Collaborative Networks to Achieve Significant Mission Results. Inherent to This Senior Officer Qualification Is a Deep Understanding of The Intelligence Enterprise and A Shared Commitment to The Ic's Core Values.
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 Ec Qs. Instead, You Should Attach Proof (e.G., Sf-50, Certification by Opm's Ses Qualification Review Board (qrb)) or Your Eligibility for Noncompetitive Appointment to The Ses.
Mandatory Requirements:
Render legal opinions and associated oral advice on a wide range of issues, often in areas where few or no legal precedents exist, and ensure legal requirements are implemented across the IC.
Provide expert legal advice to support the DNI's responsibilities regarding counterintelligence, security, counterterrorism, counternarcotics, and ODNI intelligence oversight activities.
Research and analyze a wide variety of laws, regulations, legislation, and policies; and draft or review new legislation (to include the annual Intelligence Authorization Act), Executive Orders, policies, congressional testimony, and related policy guidance.
Supervise and manage a team of attorneys and staff, including assisting with the supervision of other managers and the management of the OGC, including the development of the OGC budget, the approval of leave and training requests, the distribution of portfolios and assignments, the HR process, and other general office management issues.
Perform personnel management responsibilities with a focus on building a high performance workforce; promote team building and a collaborative work environment; ensure goals and performance objectives are understood; assess performance and provide timely feedback, recognition, and remediation.
Establish and maintain effective relations with the legal and (at times) policy offices of other Executive agencies and organizations, including the National Security Council; other IC elements; the Department of Justice National Security Division, as well as with the Congressional Intelligence Oversight Committees, with a particular focus on ensuring a comprehensive legal approach to major system acquisition law and policy; budget planning, programming and execution issues; research and technology; and the related fields of intellectual property law and government ethics.
Establish and manage liaison relationships with external partners to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to intelligence and national security law topics.
Represent the General Counsel and the ODNI on a variety of intra- and inter-agency committees and working groups.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must be registered for the Selective Service, if applicable.
- You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age.
- You must be willing to move to the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA).
- You must successfully complete a medical and psychological exam, a polygraph interview, and a comprehensive background investigation.
Employees Newly Appointed to The Senior National Intelligence Service (snis) Are Subject to A Twelve (12)-Month Probationary Period to Assess Their Ability to Perform Assigned Duties and Responsibilities at A Level of Excellence Expected of A Senior Executive. for Permanent Employees Newly Hired Into the Odni, the Probationary Period Will Run Concurrently with The First Twelve (12) Months of A New Employee's Two (2)-Year Trial Period.
Executive Core Qualifications (ec Qs):
To Meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements for This Position, You Must Show that You Possess the Five Executive Core Qualifications (ec Qs) and The Intelligence Community Senior Officer Core Qualification (icsocq) in Your Resume. Please See Qualification Section.
Free Response Essay Questions
All Applicants Must Answer the Following Four Short, Free Response Essay Questions. the Responses Cannot Exceed 200 Words per Question. by Submitting Your Responses to The Following Questions, You Certify that You Are Using Your Own Words and Did Not Use a Consultant or Ai (such as A Large Language Model [llm]).
- How Has Your Commitment to The Constitution and The Founding Principles of The United States Inspired You to Pursue This Role Within the Federal Government? Provide a Concrete Example from Professional, Academic, or Personal Experience.
- In This Role, how Would You Use Your Skills and Experience to Improve Government Efficiency and Effectiveness? Provide Specific Examples Where You Improved Processes, Reduced Costs, or Improved Outcomes.
- How Would You Help Advance the President's Executive Orders and Policy Priorities in This Role? Identify One or Two Relevant Executive Orders or Policy Initiatives that Are Significant to You and Explain how You Would Help Implement Them if Hired.
- How Has a Strong Work Ethic Contributed to Your Professional, Academic or Personal Achievements? Provide One or Two Specific Examples and Explain how Those Qualities Would Enable You to Serve Effectively in This Position.
Qualifications:
Executive Core Qualifications (ec Qs):
To Meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements for This Position, You Must Show that You Possess the Five Executive Core Qualifications (ec Qs) and The Intelligence Community Senior Officer Core Qualification (icsocq) Listed Below in Your Resume. Resumes Must Not Exceed Two (2) Pages. Resumes Over the Two (2)-Page Limit Will Not Be Reviewed and Will Be Disqualified. Your Resume Should Include Examples of Experience, Educations, and Accomplishments Applicable to The Qualifications. if Your Resume Does Not Demonstrate Evidence of These Qualifications, You May Not Receive Consideration for The Position. for More Information Regarding Ec Qs, Please Visit the Executive Core Qualifications (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/) Page on The Opm Website.
Ecq 1: Commitment to The Rule of Law and 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.
Iscocq: Leading the Intelligence Enterprise
This Core Qualification Involves the Ability to Integrate Resources, Information, Interests, and Activities Effectively in Support of The Intelligence Community's Mission and To Lead and Leverage Cross-Organizational Collaborative Networks to Achieve Significant Mission Results. Inherent to This Senior Officer Qualification Is a Deep Understanding of The Intelligence Enterprise and A Shared Commitment to The Ic's Core Values.
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 Ec Qs. Instead, You Should Attach Proof (e.G., Sf-50, Certification by Opm's Ses Qualification Review Board (qrb)) or Your Eligibility for Noncompetitive Appointment to The Ses.
Mandatory Requirements:
