Job summary

About the Position: You will serve as Senior Counsel for Civil Works and advises senior military and civilian officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on legal authorities of the Corps relating to the civil works program.

Major duties

Serve as Senior Counsel for Civil Works and advises senior military and civilian officials of the US Army Corps of Engineers on legal authorities of the Corps relating to the civil works program. Serve as senior legal advisor to the Corps Water Infrastructure (CWIFP) Financing Program under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, P.L. 113-121, Title V (33 USC Chapter 52) and all related laws, regulations, and policies. Provide legal advice and services to the CWIFP Program Director, Director of Loan Operations, and other CWIFP staff on all aspects of the CWIP program. Confirm legal and policy compliance of eligibility determinations made by the CWIFP regarding applicants and proposed projects. Provide legal services to CWIFP team in structuring, reviewing, guiding, and documenting credit transactions. Conduct extensive research into legal authorities of the Corps and those of other Federal agencies that relate to the Corps' civil works program and identifies and recommends to senior staff needed new legislation. Coordinate with the Army General Counsel, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), OMB, and other Federal agencies on all legal issues relating to the CWIFP and other aspects of the Corps of Engineers civil works program.

Qualification

Who May Apply: US Citizens The minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration: Bar membership: Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Experience: For GS-15 or equivalent - Applicant must have three or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Graduation from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class or an advanced law degree such as an LLM may substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience. ****APPLICANTS WILL BE EVALUATED ON THE FOLLOWING KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:**** a. Technical Knowledge: i. Experience and/or knowledge in the specialized body of law applicable to civil works authorities, military programs, fiscal law, environmental law, ethics, information law, and general law. This includes extensive experience with and knowledge of Federal, DoD and Department of the Army regulations, guidelines, and policies. ii. Experience and/or knowledge of Federal Credit Reform Act lending programs, as well as other public (federal, municipal), corporate, or project finance programs and authorities. iii. Experience and/or knowledge in developing, evaluating and reviewing credit analysis, financial restructuring, financing, and credit agreements and documents, including as they might pertain to infrastructure projects. iv. Experience and/or knowledge of Federal compliance requirements (such as Davis-Bacon, American Iron and Steel requirements, etc.) and industry/government standard procedures as any of those requirements and procedures might apply to infrastructure projects. v. Experience and mature judgment in handling legal problems including statutory interpretations, preparing legal documents, and reviewing document for legal soundness and accuracy sufficient for accomplishment of difficult, complex and varied legal work relating to complex procurements, litigation, civil works, military construction, regulatory, ethics, fiscal law, and interagency agreements, administrative and international law. b. Management skills and leadership abilities: Workload and/or staff direction and management experience. Experience in establishing goals, executing processes, and leading staff to implement and adjust objectives to meet regional mission requirements. c. Other indicia of knowledge, skills, and abilities: Ability to advise and communicate effectively with senior leadership at all levels. Experience in recruiting, managing, and evaluating attorneys; ability to lead and manage complex legal issues, including reviewing work of legal subject matter experts. Credentials as indicated in the résumé and other application materials (e.g., awards, support for diversity and EEO, performance ratings, educational achievements). Time in Grade Requirement: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government you must have completed 1 year at the next lower level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade as the position being filled.

Education

An applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD). Only a degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education acceptable to meet positive education requirements, or to substitute education for experience. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Evaluations

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation. NOTICE OF VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (for example, DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. The SF 15 will identify the supporting documentation required along with a list of the types of 10-point preference. The SF 15 is available from the OPM at https://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/type/sf/." Attorney spouses of active duty military may apply for available positions in accordance with the military spouse program, as identified in DODI 1500.25 Volume 315.us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.