Attorney Advisor - SV-0905-I/J/K - Transportation Security Administration - Arlington, Virginia - EXPIRED

The Attorney for Regulations and Security Standards in the Office of Chief Counsel advises all levels of TSA management, including senior executives, on matters pertaining to regulations and security standards, to reduce the probability of a successful terrorist or other criminal attack to the transportation system through application of the threat assessment methodologies that are intended to identify known or suspected terrorist threats working or seeking access to the Nation’s transportation system. The incumbent interacts with all levels of TSA management, including senior executives, in client organizations with regard to rulemaking and security standards. Additionally, the incumbent performs extremely complex and difficult legal work that impacts the mission of the agency. The incumbent independently provides specialized legal and policy counsel and advice for developing, coordinating, and communicating organizational policies, procedures and guidelines in relation to transportation security.

The Attorney Advisor:

• Functions as Attorney (Transportation Security Law) and provides legal counsel on all activities and matters involving immediate and long-term Homeland Security initiatives, operations, programs, and policies. Advises and serves as liaison to DHS and TSA staff, as appropriate.
• Is recognized as a lead legal expert in a particular subject matter area. Serves as legal consultant to the highest levels of TSA management, including the Chief Counsel, recommending approaches to legal issues where precedents and prior interpretations must be innovatively adapted.
• Advises clients at the Assistant Administrator (AA) level and is responsible for responding directly to the AAs/Deputy AAs and their staffs with immediate assistance. Possesses the ability to be persuasive and, as necessary, persistent with senior executive clients while deftly balancing the most sensitive political, operational and situational ramifications. Recognizes issues with national and/or international import and is responsible for providing relevant information directly to the Chief Counsel, the AAs and/or other senior staff.
• Oversees legal work directly impacting the mission of the HQ organizations and regularly having national and/or international implications on national/transportation security or the transportation industry. Has situational awareness regarding the impact of legal approaches and recommendations on multiple internal and external parties, and transportation or national security.
• Provides written and oral counsel, legal reviews, opinions, security standards, regulations or decisions in the application of the U.S. Constitution, Federal laws, legislation, or policies to programs conducted or assisted by DHS components, and to DHS policies.
• Develops, or oversees the development of, legal opinions, legislative proposals, regulatory documents, policies and operations that involve significant broadening or restricting of agency activities affecting the agency’s security posture and the public interest and recommends legal approaches regarding novel issues for which the importance of the legal action/position as precedent is highly significant.
• Develops legally sound approaches regarding sensitive matters, such as national security issues, privacy and civil rights and liberties of the traveling public, and personnel and other matters involving senior executive officials.
• Develops legal arguments and recommendations for policy positions and operational decisions that have a substantial level of government and/or public interest. Provides legal guidance on issues garnering high levels of media visibility.
• Provides advice and guidance to attorneys in TSA and DHS component agencies and contributes to the formation of DHS-wide policies.

The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower Pay Band (I andJ band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex.

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-H Pay Band or GS-12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience includes progressively responsible legal experience of sufficient scope, complexity, and quality to be able to carry out effectively the duties of the position. Specific experience for this position is defined as applying knowledge of U.S. Constitution, Federal laws, statutes, policies, and case decisions; and providing legal counsel and policy guidance to clients.

To qualify for the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to GS-14), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-I Pay Band or GS-13 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as addressing diverse and complex legal issues; and providing comprehensive legal counsel and policy guidance to clients who manage programs related to regulatory matters (promulgation of regulations or compliance), intelligence, national security, or threats to transportation infrastructure and the traveling public.

To qualify for the SV-K Pay Band (equivalent to GS-15), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-J Pay Band or GS-14 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully form the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as overseeing legal work that has cross organizational impact; and providing expert legal counsel and policy guidance to clients who manage programs related to regulatory matters (promulgation of regulations or compliance), national security, or threats to transportation infrastructure and the traveling public.

All applicants MUST (1) hold a first-level law degree (e.g., J.D. or L.L.B.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; and (2) be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. For consideration, this information, including both dates, must be reflected in your application. Failure to include this information may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

NOTE: Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.