Summary About the Position: Serves as an Attorney-Advisor (Labor) with Department of General Counsel Field Legal Services (DRO). This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. Responsibilities Assist in the administration of the office of the Defense Health Agency Office of General Counsel, rendering strategic, specialized, and expert advice on issues that can have significant impact on civilian personnel issues. Serve as legal counsel for all employment-related matters including those affecting civilian personnel and labor relations. Provide legal advice to the Defense Health Agency Assistant Directors, management officials, supervisors, and servicing civilian personnel offices pertaining to civil service personnel laws, rules, and regulations. Serve as a senior agency labor counsel with the final and authoritative labor and employment legal advice where there is a dispute with the Agency legal offices. Work directly with the agency Equal Employment Opportunity Director on monitoring cases, issues, and trends. Represent the Defense Health Agency as trial attorney before Administrative Judges of the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, other agencies. Negotiate settlements and stipulations with employees and their attorneys or other representatives. Advise or participate on management negotiating teams before and during union contract negotiations. Assist with the requirements involved in the administration and management of Defense Health Agency labor attorneys and labor paralegals in dispersed geographic locations. Ensure compliance with Agency Equal Employment Opportunity program policies, directives, and related affirmative action plans. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and on the extent to which their application shows possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position: Skill in identifying legal issues and conducting relevant legal research within Administrative Law, Labor Law, or Health Law. Skill in administrative hearings practice. Skill in oral and written advocacy. Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs NOTICE OF VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Defense Health Agency considers veteran's preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veteran's preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documents (e.g., 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. (SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at http://www.opm.gov/). TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government must have completed 52 weeks at the next lower grade 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. Time-in grade may be waived for current federal employees at management's discretion. The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration: 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). Bar Membership: Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the Bar of a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or the District of Columbia. Document should be dated within three (3) months of the date the application is submitted. Experience Required for the GS-15: Applicant must have three (3) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the Bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Education 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. A two-year trial period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances are not authorized. You may claim military spouse preference. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.