Jobs for People with MS: National MS Society

Summary This position is an Attorney Advisor in the General Law Division of the Office of Chief Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The Attorney Advisor is responsible for rendering legal services and furnishing legal advice on difficult and complex aspects of all areas of responsibility of the division. Such legal services and advice can influence changes in agency policy. Responsibilities As an Attorney Advisor (Grants/Procurement), you will: Provide PHMSA officials and personnel legal advice and support either orally or in writing, as appropriate in the areas of financial assistance, procurement, and appropriations. Provide legal counsel and advice to federal grant and other financial assistance programs during the full lifecycle of a financial assistance award. Provide advice on contract formation matters, to include acquisition planning, solicitation language, evaluation of offers, source selection, preparation of contract award decisions, debriefings, and award documents. Advise on contract administration matters, including advising on contract modifications, disputes, requests for equitable adjustment, claims, and termination actions. Research each statute, legal opinions, policies, regulations, guidance, case law, and historical PHMSA and Department practice, on matters for which the division is responsible, including those involving complex or high-profile issues of law or policy. Recommend revisions of policy and procedural guidance on an ongoing basis thereby ultimately influencing policy and program decisions. Liaise with stakeholders within PHMSA, the Department, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other pertinent stakeholders, on matters for which the Division is responsible. Represent PHMSA in meetings and conferences with representatives of other Federal Government executive departments and agencies, on matters for which the Division is responsible. The ideal candidate will have experience providing legal counsel and advice to federal grant and other financial assistance programs during the full lifecycle of a financial assistance award. The ideal candidate will also have experience researching and applying financial assistance statutes and regulations, including 2 CFR 200. The ideal candidate will have experience providing legal advice on acquisitions and procurements, including reviewing solicitation packages, statements of work, contract specifications, and other contract documents for clarity and legal sufficiency. The ideal candidate will have experience participating as counsel on source selections; providing oral and written advice on pre-award procurement issues such as the adequacy of solicitations, sole source awards, mistake in bids, agency protests, and bid protests filed before the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Requirements Conditions of Employment This is an Excepted Service position. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter. ETHICS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 2635, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 263. TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework. The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. Qualifications To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. GRADE 14 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least 1 year of professional attorney experience to include: Experience providing legal advice on acquisitions and procurement, including reviewing solicitation packages, statement of work, contract specifications, and other documents for legal sufficiency. Experience performing extensive legal research into the statutes, legal opinions, policies, regulations, guidance, case law, and historical PHMSA and Departmental practice, on matters for which the division is responsible, including those involving complex or high-profile issues of law or policy. Experience providing legal advice to federal grants and financial assistance programs, counsel on source selections, provides oral and written advice on pre-award procurement issues such as adequacy of solicitations, sole source awards, mistake in bids, agency protests, and bid protests filed before Government Accountability Office (GAO). KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Administrative Law - Knowledge of state and Federal administrative laws, including procedures, regulations, guidelines, and precedents related to case preparation and settlements. Contracting/Procurement - Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques, or requirements (for example, Federal Acquisitions Regulations) for contracting or procurement, and contract negotiation and administration. Financial Assistance Mechanisms - Knowledge of the differences between acquisition and financial assistance purposes and requirements; knowledge of Federal assistance instruments, techniques, and procedures for grants (for example, block, mandatory, discretionary) and agreements (for example, cooperative, interagency). Grants Management Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines - Knowledge of principles, laws, regulations, policies, practices, and guidelines (for example, Executive Orders, Code of Federal Regulations, OMB circulars) of grant or agreement programs, including their order of precedence. Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process. For all types of consideration, experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. Additional Information How to Apply: To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and proof of bar membership via email to: PHMSA.Attorney.Jobs@dot.gov no later than 11:59 pm (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. Please indicate that you are applying to the Attorney Advisor (Grants/Procurement) job vacancy. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.