The Supervisory Attorney Advisor provides authoritative legal advice on complex and sensitive matters and is responsible for directing legal work, managing staff performance, establishing priorities, and ensuring high-quality legal services that support the agency's mission and strategic objectives.
OGC Attorneys provide legal counsel and services across a diverse range of matters that support OPM's mission and operations. While candidates are not expected to have expertise in every area of OGC's practice, competitive candidates will demonstrate experience in two or more of the following areas:
Federal employee benefits, compensation, leave, and retirement programs, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, other federal insurance and health benefits programs, and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
Personnel law and administrative litigation, including handling complex, high-impact, and novel matters before the MSPB, EEOC, and FLRA, as well as mentoring and advising attorneys throughout all stages of litigation
Contract and procurement law, including government contracts, acquisitions, interagency and intergovernmental agreements, and representation before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA)
Fiscal and appropriations law matters, including bona fide needs, augmentation, interagency funding arrangements, and authorization issues
Federal ethics law and standards of conduct, including conflicts of interest, post-government employment restrictions, outside activities, gifts, financial disclosure requirements, employee counseling, and ethics training
Information and technology law, including the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act, cybersecurity, information security, artificial intelligence, and related legal issues
Oversight, compliance, and investigative matters, including advising agency officials in connection with inquiries, audits, and investigations conducted by Congress, Inspectors General, the Government Accountability Office, and other oversight entities.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
- Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
- You will be required to report to an OPM assigned office.
- Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
- This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit
Qualifications
Active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and
Preferred Qualifications
Superior legal research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, including the capacity to synthesize facts and law and reach legally supportable conclusions within compressed timeframes;
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
This position has a basic education requirement listed under the Qualifications section of this announcement.
Incentive payments may be considered.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may have to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume that includes your bar number and issuing state.
2. Other supporting documents, as applicable:
- Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related
documentation; VA letter.) There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, OPM considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.
- Performance Appraisals: Current Federal employees must submit their last three performance appraisals or explain why three are not available (e.g. employed in the government for fewer than three years).
- Responses to four Merit Hiring essay questions described below (optional)
Merit Hiring Questions: Applicants may choose to submit responses to the four essay questions below. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with these responses is not permitted. By submitting responses, you certify that the essays are your own work and were completed without the use of AI.
1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.
