Attorney Advisor

This position is a staff attorney in FTA's Office of Chief Counsel, Litigation and Regional Operations Division, specifically as the Regional Counsel in Region 9. You will provide a wide range of legal services involving all functional areas assigned to the Office of Chief Counsel, including research and counseling on legal requirements pertaining to the regional office's administration of FTA's grant and loan programs, and the agency's related authorities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as counsel to the agency and as a member of the Chief Counsel's staff.
• Act as a legal resource, respond to questions from FTA Regional staff and others within and outside the Federal Government, and prepare documentation to support the agency's position on matters for which you have primary responsibility.
• Advise on questions of law or administrative policy involved in the operation of FTA and in its contacts with industry, private and professional associations, State and local governments, and the public.
• Provide litigation support in cases involving the Agency, including compiling the administrative record; performing legal research; reviewing/editing litigation papers; and collaborating with attorneys from FTA, DOT, the Justice Department, and other Federal agencies on case strategy and legal positions.
• Evaluate pending grant applications for legal sufficiency, ensuring the Regional Administrator has an adequate basis for findings and determinations prerequisite to grant approval. Assist in ensuring proper execution of projects following grant agreement execution.
• Provide legal advice relating to public safety and security of transit agencies in FTA Region 9, including compliance oversight and enforcement.
• Draft legal opinions and perform legal services concerning the negotiation, drafting, execution, and administration of Federal grants and cooperative agreements regarding various agency programs.
• Conduct timely review of draft environmental documents under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to ensure supporting documentation is adequate for an administrative record.
• Ensure agency decisions are supported by adequate administrative records and legal rationale, including compliance with environmental and historic preservation requirements.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible for consideration.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• This is an Excepted Service position; required documents must be submitted by the closing date.

Conditions of Employment

• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected will serve a 2-year trial period.
• All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties.
• Some employees, such as those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements.
• This position involves travel; a government-issued travel card will be provided and must be used for official business only.

Qualifications

To qualify, your experience should include:

• Grade 13: A law degree, active bar membership in good standing, and either three years of professional attorney experience OR one year of professional attorney experience plus a second professional law degree (LL.M) requiring one full year of graduate study.
• Grade 14: A law degree, active bar membership in good standing, and at least five years of professional attorney experience.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social).

Education

Mandatory education requirements: Successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), a professional law degree, and current membership in good standing of the bar of a State, Territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Skills

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your level of knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:

• Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines: Knowledge of principles, laws, regulations, policies, practices, and guidelines (e.g., Executive Orders, Code of Federal Regulations, OMB circulars) of transportation and fiscal law, 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.
• Administrative Law: Knowledge of state and Federal administrative laws, including procedures, regulations, guidelines, and precedents related to case preparation and settlements.
• Oral Communication: Ability to express information effectively to individuals or groups, considering the audience and nature of the information; make clear and convincing oral presentations; listen to others, attend to nonverbal cues, and respond appropriately.

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 designed to make your federal career rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.