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This position is located in the Office of General (OGC), General Law Office (GLO), Information Law Practice Group (ILPG), Washington, DC. For more information on this office, visit their website: http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-general-counsel-ogc
The GLO is one of eight law offices that comprise OGC and consists of three practice groups, one of which is the ILPG. This practice group provides legal counsel to the Agency on information law issues. Issues/statutes covered include the: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act, Federal Records Act, Trade Secrets Act, Confidential Business Information (CBI), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars, and various other statutes, including the Toxic Substances Control Act, and regulations.
This position is in the excepted service. Selection under this appointment authority does not confer civil service competitive status; however, this position is covered for the purpose of federal retirement and benefits.
Except in special circumstances, those new to the federal government will be hired at the starting salary (step 1) of the applicable grade range listed above.
If you are selected, you will be expected to report to work as soon as practical but no later than thirty (30) days from the date you receive a final job offer. Extension of this reporting requirement may be granted only under extraordinary circumstances.
07/13/2018 to 07/27/2018
$68,036 - $106,012 per year
GS 11 - 12
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Occasional Travel - You may be required to travel 1 to 5 days per month.
No
Permanent
Full-time - Full time
14
No
No
EPA-OGC-2018-0011
504962400
At the entry level of this position, you will:
Under the administrative supervision of the Associate General Counsel, provide legal advice to Agency managers and supervisors on information law issues arising under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act, Federal Records Act, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Trade Secrets Act, and EPA’s Confidential Business Information (CBI) and other laws and regulations, including:
- assisting with litigation under the FOIA, Federal Records Act, and the Privacy Act;
- providing counseling and training on a host of information law issues;
- drafting final CBI determinations, including determinations arising under TSCA;
- drafting administrative appeals under the FOIA;
- reviewing guidance documents and rulemakings on information law issues;
- responding to appeals of fee waiver and expedited processing determinations under the FOIA;
- drafting and reviewing Privacy Act system notices and other documents;
- counseling on regulations implementing the information law requirements of TSCA;
- addressing records management issues; and
- processing of initial requests under the FOIA and the Privacy Act.
When entering a Federal job at a grade level lower than the highest promotion potential level, you may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses.
Applicant must have an LL.B. or J.D. degree from an accredited law school; must be admitted to practice before the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Pico; and must maintain active status as a member of the bar of one of these jurisdictions. Incumbent must have experience in providing legal advice and counsel at EPA, other federal, state or local agencies, or in private practice.
If you are selected, you must complete a one-year trial period.
The ideal candidate will possess litigation experience, as well as a comprehensive knowledge of information law, particularly Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act, Federal Records Act, Trade Secrets Act, and CBI. Please explain any specialized experience working under these statutes in your written statement of interest, if applicable.
If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form prior to your first day of employment and annually thereafter.
This position is designated as a Moderate Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation.
These positions are in the bargaining unit.
EPA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: http://www.epa.gov/careers/epa-job-vacancy-announcements-policies-and-procedures
If you have part-time work experience, read this: http://epa.gov/ohr/ezhire/vacancy_requirements.htm
If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.
Position has portable work and selectee may be eligible to telework.
It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual’s employment experience will be used only to determine the person’s qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual’s personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination. For more information, visit https://hru.gov/Studio_Recruitment/tools/Mythbuster_on_Federal_Hiring_Policies.pdf .
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Initially, you will be evaluated based on the information contained in your resume packet. If an interview is granted, you will be evaluated based on the responses you provide during an interview. In responding to interview questions, you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did and the outcome.
There is no numerical rating system for applying veteran’s preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Office of General Counsel considers veteran’s preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.
To preview questions please click here.
Documents to be submitted online:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please completely read through this announcement before applying. Please do not mail in your information. All required documents must be uploaded to this job vacancy announcement by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement.
The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 60 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified of the outcome.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/504962400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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