Senior Counsel For Legal Advice

Duties

This position is located in the Office of General Counsel (OGC), Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and reports to the Deputy General Counsel for Operations. OGC provides legal opinions, advice, and services with respect to all departmental programs and activities. OGC has primary responsibility for the development of HUD program regulations and assists in the development of HUD programs and policies.
The Senior Counsel is responsible for providing Legal Advice to the immediate Office of the General Counsel, OCHCO and Departmental Leadership on labor and personnel matters that are of a sensitive nature, involve national import or otherwise assigned by the Deputy General Counsel of Operations, the Principal Deputy General Counsel or General Counsel. As a result, the Senior Counsel must maintain a working knowledge of the law in the areas of labor law, personnel law, including all applicable civil rights laws and federal human resource policies of the Department and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The Senior Counsel must maintain a working knowledge of, including but not limited to decisions of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), and the Office of Special Counsel, as well as decisions by the Federal Courts.
The Senior Counsel will furnish Legal Advice and guidance with respect to various phases of Department administrative procedures involving human resources and equal employment opportunity, including assistance in drafting, and reviewing Departmental policies and regulations. The Senior Counsel will review and provide input for the Department, when requested, by OPM, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Congress, the White House, or other federal agencies on personnel, equal employment opportunity and human resource policies.
The Senior Counsel will advise on Special Projects as assigned by OGC Leadership. The Senior Counsel has considerable latitude and authority to advise the Secretary and the Immediate Office of General Counsel independent of other members of the Office of General Counsel. In addition, the Senior Counsel serves as an independent counsel to the Immediate Office of the General Counsel for cross cutting matters and other policy and research questions identified by the General Counsel.
The Senior Counsel will provide Legal Advice to the General Counsel and his immediate staff on matters determined to require cross cutting review and advice on questions with serious Departmental implication and implementation challenges.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Ability to complete personnel security vetting (i.e., investigation, evaluation, and adjudication).
• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• Males must be registered with the Selective Service System. Visit www.sss.gov
• Financial Disclosure may be required.
• Will be required by P.L. 104-134 to have federal payments made by direct deposit.
• Selected candidate must be located near a HUD Regional Office.

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Benefits

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
  1. Resume: In addition to your written statements fully addressing the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) and other qualifications as applicable, submit a resume to describe your qualifications. Information about your paid and non-paid work experience related to the position including:

  • Job title (including series and grade, if Federal job)
  • Duties and accomplishments
  • Employer's name and address
  • Supervisor's name and telephone number (indicate if we may contact your current supervisor)
  • Starting and ending dates of employment (month/year)
  • Hours per week
  • Annual salary
  • Information about honors, awards, and special accomplishments
  • Country of citizenship

  2. Written statements fully addressing each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs).
  
  3. Proof of graduation of an accredited law school with an LLB or J.D., or equivalent; active member in good standing of the Bar in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.
  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED DOCUMENTS:
  1. SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action. If you are a current or former Federal employee, you must submit a Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that that reflects your grade/step (e.g., a Within-Grade Increase or Promotion/Reassignment), and career or career-conditional tenure in the competitive service.
  If you are a former Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility, you must also submit your separation SF-50 showing your separation was not for performance or conduct reasons.
  If you are a current member of the SES, you must provide an SF-50 documenting your appointment, as well as an SF-50 showing satisfactory completion of the SES Probationary Period. You must also provide an SF-50 demonstrating proof of previous career/career conditional appointment in the competitive service.
  2. Most Recent Performance Appraisal. If you are a current Federal employee, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal. You must also include an explanation if you have changed agencies and have not yet received a performance appraisal from your new agency. If you are a new Federal employee who has not yet received a performance rating, you must upload an explanation.
  NOTE: If you are a current Federal employee applying under VEOA, you must submit a performance appraisal or explanation(s) as required above.
  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 (5) years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Noncareer SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information on your resume.
  VETERANS: Veteran eligibility documentation (DD-214, VA Letter, Standard Form (SF) 15 as applicable). If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred). If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.
  If you are a current active duty military member who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency which will allow you to apply under the (Veterans Opportunity to Work) VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. Submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.
  VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACT (VEOA) The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) includes those eligible for veterans' preference OR have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 or more years of continuous service, including veterans who were separated shortly before completing the required 3-year period.
  INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) If you are applying for selection priority under ICTAP, you must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility: a separation notice; a Notice of Personnel Action (SF-50) documenting your separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated.

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  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.

• How to Apply

  Applicants must submit all the required information. Please follow the instructions listed for submitting your complete application package. Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all instructions before you begin. To begin the process, click the APPLY button at the right side of this screen to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the SUBMIT MY ANSWERS button at the end of the process. If you have never applied through USA Jobs for a position with the Federal Civil Service, you will need to create a USA Jobs account. To change or update your application, simply reapply through My USAJOBS, before the closing date. New or updated resumes are considered "incomplete" applications until the required virus scan is cleared. To check the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account USA Jobs Account Login, select Application Status and click on the more information link under the application status for this position. It is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and sent is received and is accurate. Your complete application package (including required documents) must be received no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Standard on 04/17/2024.
  
  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: HUDprovides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Office of Executive Resources listed in this vacancy. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
  Notice Concerning Materially False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent StatementsAnything you claim in the occupational questionnaire or in your resume may be subject to verification. By completing the electronic application process, you are certifying that any statements you make are true, complete, and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations are subject to disciplinary action.
  Extraneous documents provided with your application package will not be considered.

  Agency contact information

  Office of Executive Resources

  Email

  executiveresources@hud.gov

  Address

  Office of General Counsel
  451 7th Street SW
  Washington, DC 20410
  US

  Next steps

  You will receive notification that your application has been received. Applicants who meet the mandatory requirements for the MTQs will be considered qualified for this position. Rating and ranking to determine the "Best Qualified" will be conducted by a panel of experts and will be based upon consideration of the degree to which applicants meet the mandatory requirements as described in the vacancy announcement. Interviews and qualifications inquiries may be required. To check the status of your application for this position, please login to your USAJOBS account, select the "Applications" tab section and click on the vacancy that you have already applied to.
  Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Clarification from the agency

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Applicants will be considered under Delegated Examining and/or Merit Promotion procedures based upon eligibility.