Attorney Advisor

Full Job Description

This position is a staff attorney in FTA's Office of Chief Counsel, Litigation and Regional Operations Division, and functions, specifically, as the Regional Counsel in Region 5.

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 all legal requirements pertaining to the regional office's administration of FTA's grant and loan programs, and the agency's related authorities.

To qualify, your experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following: GRADE 13 - A second law degree (LL.M) AND at least two (2) years of professional legal work experience, OR at least three (3) years professional legal work experience of a progressively responsible nature.

GRADE 14 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least FIVE years of professional attorney experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines - Knowledge of principles, laws, regulations, policies, practices, and guidelines (for example, 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 - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Major Duties:

As an Attorney Advisor, you will: Serve as counsel to the agency and as a member of the Chief Counsel's staff.

Serve as a legal resource, respond to questions posed by FTA Regional staff and others within and outside the Federal Government and prepare necessary documentation to support the agency's position on matters for which the incumbent has 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, as needed, which may include compiling the administrative record; performing legal research; reviewing/editing litigation papers; and working 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, ascertaining whether the Regional Administrator has an adequate basis upon which to make the findings and determinations that are a prerequisite to grant approval.

Following the execution of grant agreements by FTA's grant recipients, the candidate assists in ensuring proper execution of the projects.

Provide legal advice relating to public safety and security of transit agencies in FTA Region 5, 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.

Timely review of draft environmental documents under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to ensure supporting documentation is adequate for an administrative record.

Ensure that agency decisions are supported by adequate administrative records and supporting legal rationale, including compliance with environmental and historic preservation requirements.

The ideal candidate is the ideal candidate is one with experience in general law, including the following areas: government contracts, administrative, grants agreements, real property, Federal ethics, environmental and/or civil rights law.