Closing Date: 18th April, 2024
Description:
Summary:A Government Entity Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) is seeking an Associate Legal Advisor to serve in the Commercial and Administrative Law Division (CALD).
This position is located at OPLA Headquarters, in Washington, D.C. The selectee may be approved for local remote work (i.e., within a 50-mile radius of the agency worksite). This position is also telework-eligible, in conformance with agency policy.
Duties:
A Government Entity OPLA Commercial and Administrative Law Division (CALD) is seeking an attorney for an Associate Legal Advisor position in Washington, D.C. to handle issues relating to:
- Advising and assisting A Government Entity officials (including the Head of Contracting Activity and Chief Financial Officer) in carrying out A Government Entity responsibilities with respect to acquisition programs and inquiries involving fiscal and appropriations law.
- Providing oral and written legal advice on all stages of the acquisition process, including acquisition planning, solicitation, and award, as well as contract administration;
- Litigating and representing A Government Entity in bid protests before the Government Accountability Office and claims before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals;
- Assisting Department of Justice counsel in all aspects of bid protest and claims litigation before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims;
- Providing legal counsel and representation in a variety of practice areas, including, but not limited to, federal procurement law, fiscal law, appropriations law, suspension and debarment, general administrative law, contract and fiscal issues related to medical and health law, and intellectual property law.
CALD attorneys work closely with a wide range of ICE program offices, including Management & Administration, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Homeland Security Investigations. They also work with components within DHS, and other federal agencies and departments.
The selected attorney will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to craft legally supportable policies to address the needs of agency operational components. The attorney will be expected to routinely provide timely legal opinions to ICE officers and agents, CALD management, and leadership within OPLA, A Government Entity, and the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the General Counsel Headquarters. The selected attorney will be required to assess litigation risk and provide litigation support to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
OPLA is the largest legal program in DHS, employing over 1,200 attorneys nationwide. In addition to Headquarters in Washington, D.C., there are 25 OPLA field locations in more than 60 cities throughout the United States. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, litigating cases involving criminal noncitizens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority noncitizens. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices.
OPLA provides legal advice and prudential counsel to ICE personnel on their law enforcement authorities, legal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, ethics, and a range of administrative law issues, such as contract, fiscal and employment law. OPLA represents the agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals. OPLA attorneys support DOJ in the prosecution of ICE cases and in the defense of civil cases against ICE.
OPLA fosters an environment in which all voices are heard and values the unique perspectives and opinions that inhere among a talented, diverse, and inclusive workforce. Comprising a far more diverse workforce than its private sector counterparts, OPLA is proud to strive to further diversify the experiences, perspectives, and characteristics of its workforce. It is committed to celebrating our differences and embracing practices that foster a fair, safe, and inclusive workplace by promoting equitable access to opportunities. In keeping with this commitment, OPLA will ensure that qualified applicants with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is required for any part of the application process, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug test for federal employment.
- Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
- You must have relevant experience (see How You Will Be Evaluated and Qualifications tabs).
- You must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- You may be required to serve a two-year trial period if the requirement has not been met.
- Current OPLA attorneys must have completed two years of service with OPLA by the announcement closing date to be considered for this position.
- You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
- Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed in connection with this position.
- Occasional travel may be required, and you may be required to attend meetings and trainings at OPLA Headquarters and elsewhere in National Capital Region.
Qualifications:
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.
Applicants should be able to efficiently produce quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues, exercise sound legal judgment, prioritize competing assignments, and work effectively independently, as part of a team, and across work units. Applicants should be detail-oriented and have a strong interest in supporting and providing stellar client services to diverse program offices, including law enforcement officers, policymakers, attorneys, and agency senior leadership, and must be able to tailor communications to a particular audience. Applicants should be able to take initiative and work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner. Applicants should possess the following characteristics and competencies: integrity, sound professional judgment, organizational skills, decisiveness, initiative, stellar client services, the ability to function independently and cooperatively, and superior written and oral advocacy skills.
In addition, applicants for this position should have experience in the following areas:
- Providing legal counsel and representation in a variety of practice areas, including but not limited to federal procurement law, fiscal law, suspension & debarment, general administrative law, and intellectual property law;
- Conducting extensive research, analysis, and evaluation and providing oral and written advice; experience in one or more of the following is highly preferred: appropriation and fiscal law, suspension & debarment and contract matters to include formation, administration, claims, disputes, terminations, appeals, and litigation;
- Possessing well-developed written advocacy skills, organizational skills, communication skills, the ability to function both independently and as part of a team, interpersonal relationship skills, a strong work ethic, and an ability and willingness to learn new areas of the law;
- Drafting legal opinions that contain complex legal analysis while balancing policy considerations.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last five years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u), and Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 C.F.R. 315.707. Veterans (https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/special-hiring-authorities/#content, Peace Corps (https://www.peacecorps.gov/returned-volunteers/careers/noncompetitive-eligibility/), VISTA volunteers (https://www.vistacampus.gov/after-vista/career), and persons with disabilities (http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/) possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, a
