Senior Ethics Attorney

Closing Date: 31st January, 2026

Description:

Summary:
Attorneys provide legal advice and representation to ensure that NGA accomplishes its mission in compliance with applicable laws. They ascertain facts, analyze issues, apply legal authorities, render opinions, and advocate Agency positions. Attorneys work cooperatively with others within the office, the Agency, the Intelligence Community, the DoD, and the U.S. Government. Attorneys perform legal r

Duties:
Additional Information: Candidates will be assessed based upon the information relayed in their submitted (uploaded) resume, cover letter, and supporting documentation. Please ensure all work experience details month and year of starting or concluding a position.

It is important applicants fully complete the following sections of the online application within the candidate portal (https://careers.nga.mil): Start, Prequalify, Personal Information, Preferences, and Education sections of the online application. For the Work Experience and Accomplishments sections, applicants need only identify their most recent work experience and
accomplishment because the assessment panel will primarily rely upon the information contained within the candidate's submitted resume and supporting documents.

Your application for this position may result in your consideration for other currently, or soon to be, open NGA OGC DLSA attorney positions.

Position may be eligible for PCS

This position may be eligible for a RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE: selected candidates may be offered an incentive as part of the offer of employment. To receive the incentive, selected candidates must be eligible under 5 CFR Part 575, Subpart A, upon issuance of the Final Offer Letter. Changes in federal employment status prior to issuance of the Final Offer Letter may affect eligibility. To receive the incentive, selected candidates will be required to sign a service agreement to stay within the position at NGA for the agreed upon time. If the service agreement is terminated before its completion, the employee may be required to repay a pro rata share amount of the incentive to the government. Additional information regarding recruitment incentives for current federal employees can be found in DoDI 1400.25, Volume 2006.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:

• US Citizenship is required.
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• Security Investigation

Special Info:

• As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.
• U.S. Citizenship
• Security Clearance - Top Secret /Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
• Polygraph & Drug Test
• Direct Deposit
• Trial Period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: performance conduct; needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and the efficiency of the Federal service

Special Requirements:
You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to SCI. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.

Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.

NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process.

This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility.

Qualifications:
Mandatory Qualification Criteria: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement:

• Demonstrated experience providing legal advice and counsel on Federal government ethics related matters to include standards of conduct, post-government employment, external engagements, outside employment, gifts, and financial disclosure requirements.
• Demonstrated experience managing public and confidential financial disclosure programs and resolving potential conflicts of interest.
• Demonstrated experience providing legal advice and counsel on all types of administrative and civil law matters.
• Superior legal research and analytical skills developed in either private practice or government service; a demonstrated ability to evaluate pertinent facts; research, analyze, and apply laws, rules, and regulations; and execute legal strategies.
• Demonstrated experience providing timely, accurate, and practical legal advice to enable an organizational mission consistent with applicable law, to include experience: researching and writing opinions on complex and novel ethics issues; identifying, reviewing, and analyzing the impacts of changes in law or regulations on the operations of an ethics program and ethics implications of such changes; and assisting in the drafting and development of ethics program-wide policies, procedures, and guidance.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with clients and colleagues, to include ethics officials throughout the Department of War, Intelligence Community, or Federal Government, on the identification and resolution of ethics related matters.

Education Requirement: A. Education: Juris Doctorate degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. -AND- LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: Must be a member in good standing of a bar of a U.S. state or territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Desirable Qualification Criteria: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

• Superior legal research and analytical skills developed in either private practice or government service; and a demonstrated ability to evaluate pertinent facts; research, analyze and apply laws, rules and regulations; and execute legal strategies.
• Advanced education and training in ethics, labor and employment law, civilian personnel law, or human resources law.
• Experience providing legal advice and counsel in support of the U.S. Military, Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, or other U.S. Government agencies. Prior experience in the Intelligence Community to include work on TS/SCI level assignments.
• Applicant should have practiced law, post licensure, for a minimum of five (5) years.

Additional Information:
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.

Benefits: