General Attorney (Civil Rights) GS-12/13/14 FPL GS-14

Summary

This position is located in the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Program Legal Group (PLG) in Washington, DC. The office operates under the jurisdiction of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Acts of 1975, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act.

Duties

• APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 200 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 200 application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first. We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application. This is an Excepted Service position. The job will be filled by alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position are subject to a one-year trial period. Join our Team! The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is looking for the best and brightest to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation. As a General Attorney (Civil Right), GS-0905-12, you will be responsible for: Serving as a legal and policy advisor the the Assistant Secretary (AS), Deputy Assistant Secretaries (DASs), Enforcement Directors (EDs), PLG Director and Deputy Director, and serves as an expert resource for other managers within OCR. Developing or review policy issuances, legal standards, legal memoranda, guidelines, and proposed regulations pertaining to civil rights compliance, the conduct of investigations and compliance reviews and the provision of technical assistance. Developing policy issuances, guidelines, and legal standards for OCR regional enforcement offices, the Department, recipients of Federal financial assistance, and the general public. Assignments may involve legal and policy matters of significant complexity. Developing training materials and manuals and presents training to stakeholders and other OCR staff on significant policy and legal issues, complex statutory and regulatory standards, changes in case law, new policy developments, and other related matters. Coordinating and assisting in administrative proceedings and Federal Court litigation in coordination with other components of OCR and the Department. As a General Attorney (Civil Right), GS-0905-13, you will be responsible for: Reviewing and assessing case resolution documents, investigative reports, and compliance findings to ensure they meet established legal and policy standards for civil rights enforcement. Formulating and presenting recommendations regarding program management and legal policy matters, including alternative approaches, amendatory language, or new provisions to resolve conflicts between state and federal law or to improve civil rights compliance. Performing comprehensive legal research and analysis on moderately to significantly complex civil rights issues, including statutory and regulatory interpretation, case law review, and policy development to resolve novel or precedent-setting problems. As a General Attorney (Civil Right), GS-0905-14, you will be responsible for: Serving as a legal and policy advisor to senior leadership and other managers, offering expert guidance and interpretation of federal civil rights statutes and implementing regulations, including Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, the Age Discrimination Act, Title II of the ADA, and the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act. Performing advanced legal research and analysis to address complex civil rights compliance issues, formulates recommendations, and negotiates resolutions to significantly complex matters affecting program operations and enforcement activities. Translateing organizational goals into operational objectives, develops strategies for improving program effectiveness and efficiency, and contributes to the development and implementation of major civil rights policy initiatives.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications Requirements for GS-12: A. Is an active member in good standing in the Bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. AND B. Has obtained the first professional law degree or training which is permitted in some states in lieu of attendance at the law school. AND Two years of professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility at the next lower grade level or equivalent. AND Specialized Experience for the GS-12 One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-11 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: 1. Experience evaluating the legal adequacy of case resolution documents and reports on civil rights compliance. 2. Experience drafting training materials and planning conferences. 3. Experience developing recommendations on program management and legal policy issues. Minimum Qualifications Requirements for GS-13: A. Has obtained the first professional law degree or training which is permitted in some states in lieu of attendance at the law school AND B. Is an active member in good standing in the Bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. AND Specialized Experience for the GS-13 One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: 1. Experience evaluating the legal adequacy of case resolution documents and reports on civil rights compliance. 2. Experience developing recommendations on program management and legal policy issues. 3. Experience conducting extensive research to solve complex problems. Minimum Qualifications Requirements for GS-14: Four years professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled. AND Specialized Experience for the GS-14 One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-13 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: 1. Experience with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, and their implementing regulations.. 2. Experience with researching analytical techniques, problem-solving, formulating recommendations, negotiating resolutions to significantly complex issues. 3. Experience providing operational task objectives and develop strategies for improving program effectiveness and efficiency. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement). GS-12 1. Ability to apply the civil rights laws and regulations. 2. Knowledge of investigative, analytical, negotiation, mediation, and resolution techniques. 3. Skills in oral and written communications and ability to analyze and resolve legal problem using civil rights legal research. GS-13 1. Knowledge of federal civil rights statutes, regulations, and enforcement principles necessary to evaluate the legal adequacy of investigative findings, resolution documents, and compliance reports. 2. Skill in conducting extensive legal research; analyzing complex statutory, regulatory, and policy issues; and preparing clear, well-reasoned recommendations to support program management and legal policy decisions. 3. Ability to synthesize large volumes of legal information, identify issues, apply legal standards, and formulate solutions and recommendations for complex or novel civil rights compliance challenges GS-14 1. Knowledge of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, and their implementing regulations, as well as the principles and practices of civil rights compliance. 2. Skill in conducting advanced legal research, applying analytical techniques, solving complex legal and policy problems, and formulating recommendations and negotiating resolutions for significantly complex issues. 3. Ability to translate organizational goals into operational task objectives, develop strategies for improving program effectiveness and efficiency, and contribute to the implementation of major civil rights policy initiatives.

Requirements

Condition of Employment: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a probationary period or 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 OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. If you are a current federal employee, you must meet all time-in-grade and time-after competitive appointment qualifications within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. To verify that you meet these requirements, we will review your responses to the core eligibility questions on the occupational questionnaire, as well as your submitted resume and required documents. To make an accurate determination, you will need to include on your resume your federal position title, pay plan, occupational series, grade level, agency, dates for which you held the grade level (stated as MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY, OR MM/YYYY to PRESENT), and total hours worked per week. 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). Key Requirement - Relocation will not be paid. Key Requirement - Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service. Key Requirement - You may be subject to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period. Key Requirement - Must be a US Citizen Key Requirement -You may be subject to serve a one-year trial period.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience for this position and grade level. Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, please click Foreign Education.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.