Supervisory Attorney Advisor

Summary

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) seeks a highly qualified and experienced attorney to serve as a Supervisory Attorney Advisor. In this role, the incumbent acts as a senior legal advisor to agency leadership and provides supervisory and managerial oversight of attorneys delivering legal counsel and services across a broad range of internal and governmentwide programs affecting more than 8 million Federal employees, retirees, and family members.

Duties

The Supervisory Attorney Advisor provides authoritative legal advice on complex and sensitive matters and is responsible for directing legal work, managing staff performance, establishing priorities, and ensuring high-quality legal services that support the agency's mission and strategic objectives. OGC Attorneys provide legal counsel and services across a diverse range of matters that support OPM's mission and operations. While candidates are not expected to have expertise in every area of OGC's practice, competitive candidates will demonstrate experience in two or more of the following areas: Federal employee benefits, compensation, leave, and retirement programs, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, other federal insurance and health benefits programs, and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) Internal and governmentwide labor relations matters, including advising agency leadership and human resources officials on collective bargaining and related labor-management issues Personnel law and administrative litigation, including handling complex, high-impact, and novel matters before the MSPB, EEOC, and FLRA, as well as mentoring and advising attorneys throughout all stages of litigation Contract and procurement law, including government contracts, acquisitions, interagency and intergovernmental agreements, and representation before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) Fiscal and appropriations law matters, including bona fide needs, augmentation, interagency funding arrangements, and authorization issues Federal ethics law and standards of conduct, including conflicts of interest, post-government employment restrictions, outside activities, gifts, financial disclosure requirements, employee counseling, and ethics training Information and technology law, including the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act, cybersecurity, information security, artificial intelligence, and related legal issues Supporting the Department of Justice in federal court litigation involving agency interests Oversight, compliance, and investigative matters, including advising agency officials in connection with inquiries, audits, and investigations conducted by Congress, Inspectors General, the Government Accountability Office, and other oversight entities.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation May be required to successfully complete a probationary period. You will be required to report to an OPM assigned office. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, political affiliation or national origin. This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be serving in a position in Schedule Policy/Career of the excepted service. Employment in this position will be at-will. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals of adverse actions concerning performance, discipline, and other matters arising under chapters 23, 43, and 75 of title 5, United States Code will not be available to an individual serving in this position. Prohibitions on prohibited personnel practices will be enforced by the Office of General Counsel or agency equivalent position and not the Office of Special Counsel. As described in Executive Order 14171 dated January 20th, 2025, this position is covered by the Schedule Policy/Career. Any questions should be sent to the email address identified in the agency contact information of the Job Opportunity Announcement.

Qualifications

A J.D. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; Active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and At least one full year of experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-14 level in the Federal service. Preferred Qualifications Prior supervisory or leadership experience; Experience reviewing, revising and commenting on written legal work products by other staff, including but not limited to, motions, briefs, discovery, pleadings, advisory memoranda, and client advice; Demonstrated excellence in written and oral advocacy, including the ability to produce high-quality work under demanding time constraints; Proven ability to analyze and resolve complex legal issues and provide practical, well-reasoned legal advice; Strong customer service orientation and sound judgment in handling sensitive or challenging matters; Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; Superior legal research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, including the capacity to synthesize facts and law and reach legally supportable conclusions within compressed timeframes; Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-demand environment; Openness to diverse viewpoints and adaptability in responding to evolving priorities and circumstances; Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments and competing priorities simultaneously; and Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders both within and outside OGC. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This position has a basic education requirement listed under the Qualifications section of this announcement

How you will be evaluated

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.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Your Resume, no greater than 2 pages (or 1 page front and back) in length that includes your bar number and issuing state. Other supporting documents, as applicable: Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, OPM considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Performance Appraisals: Current Federal employees must submit their last three performance appraisals or explain why three are not available (e.g. employed in the government for fewer than three years). Responses to four Merit Hiring essay questions described below (optional) Merit Hiring Questions: Applicants may choose to submit responses to the four essay questions below. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with these responses is not permitted. By submitting responses, you certify that the essays are your own work and were completed without the use of AI. 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.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above to the following email address: [email protected]. Please include in the subject line your last name and the job announcement number for which your are applying. For example: Smith, 27-RG-13091276-ATT. You will receive an email acknowledgment when your application has been received. This is not an indication as to the completeness of your application; you are responsible for ensuring that you submit a complete application.

Other information

Incentive payments may be considered. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may have to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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.

What to expect next

References, Writing Sample, and Other Supporting Documents: If you advance in the selection process, you may be required to: (1) submit three professional references; (2) submit a writing sample not more than 15 pages in length; and/or (3) complete one or more assessments. Deliberate attempts to falsify information in your application may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. An agency may not request, orally, in writing, or electronically through the USA Jobs website or other electronic means, that an applicant for appointment for a position in the civil service disclose criminal history record information before the appointing agency extends a conditional offer of employment. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit https://www.opm.gov/about-us/careers-at-opm/opportunities/