Fresh Listing

Posted: March 11, 2026 (0 days ago)

This job was posted recently. Fresh listings typically have less competition.

Senior Counselor

Office of Inspector General

Department of Health and Human Services

Fresh

Location

Salary

$151,661 - $228,000

per year

Closes

March 26, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job is for a senior attorney in the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General, where you'll provide expert legal advice on government spending, contracts, employment, and health programs to help ensure the agency runs efficiently and follows the law.

It's ideal for experienced lawyers who enjoy tackling complex policy issues, leading teams on legal matters, and working with government officials to support the agency's goals.

The role emphasizes strong judgment, communication, and a commitment to public service without any bias in hiring.

Key Requirements

  • Active membership in good standing of a state, territory, District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico bar
  • Extensive experience as an attorney advising on complex legal and policy issues in appropriations, contracting, employment, and health/human services programs
  • Sophisticated analytical skills with superior written and oral communication abilities
  • Proven leadership in planning, directing, and evaluating legal work, including managing or supervising others (up to 25% of time)
  • Expertise in interpreting federal appropriations and budget laws to advise senior leadership on strategic and operational implications
  • Experience providing legal advice on federal operations like contracting and human resources, resolving complex issues and shaping strategies
  • Demonstrated ability to build coalitions with external stakeholders such as Congress and executive partners on high-impact matters

Full Job Description

This is a Senior Level attorney position in the Excepted Service.

The Senior Counselor position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Immediate Office. This position is located in the Washington D.C.

Headquarters Office or any HHS OIG office in the United States. Location determined upon selection.

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.

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Bar Membership: Currently an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

To qualify for this Senior Level position, you must have experience as an attorney advising agencies, individuals, or entities on matters concerning complex legal and policy analysis of appropriations, contracting, employment issues, health and human services programs, program integrity policies and legal authorities.

In addition, highly qualified applicants will have sophisticated analytical skills, superior written and oral communications skills, good judgment, and experience in interacting with government and non-government officials.

Finally, highly qualified applicants will have been responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating work, either in a managerial capacity or in another leadership role.

This specialized experience includes leadership, direction, management and conduct of a full range of administrative and advisory services including directing the work of others as it pertains to matters of legal sufficiency.

At this level, you would have typical responsibility for planning, directing, and evaluating work that included managing and/or supervising other managers not more than 25% of time.

In addition, you must show that you possess the mandatory Technical Qualifications (TQs) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES.

Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience and accomplishments applicable to the below TQs.

If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the TQs.

TQ1: Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of and expertise in the legal principles and technical subject matter related to Federal appropriations and budget, including the ability to interpret complex legal and policy issues, develop agency positions, and advise senior leadership on strategic, operational, and legal implications.

TQ2: Demonstrated experience providing expert legal and policy advice on Federal operational matters-such as contracting, human resources, and agency administrative authorities-including resolving complex or precedent setting issues, coordinating with internal stakeholders, and shaping operational strategies that support the agency's mission.

TQ3: Demonstrated experience building and sustaining coalitions with external stakeholders-including Congress and executive branch partners-such as by representing agency positions, negotiating on sensitive or high impact issues, and developing strategic approaches to engagement on appropriations, budget, and other mission critical matters.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional philanthropic, religious, 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.

Note: This position is being filled using the excepted service, Schedule A, hiring authority, 5 CFR 213.3102(d). Major Duties:

The Senior Counselor provides the Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), and particularly the Immediate Office (IO), with policy, operational, and legal expertise and coordinates oversight development related to operational issues, such as appropriations, budget, contracting, and human resources issues.

MAJOR DUTIES Reviews and analyzes legal, policy and operational documents, including proposed rules, regulations, correspondence, reports, opinions, including products submitted or forwarded to the Inspector General (IG) and Principal Deputy Inspector General (PDIG) on issues affecting OIG under the incumbent's purview, including but not limited to appropriations, budget, contracting, and human resources.

Provides expert guidance on OIG contracting, including coordinating on the development of strategic contracting plans, ensuring compliance with contracting requirements (in coordination with components), and forming and advancing intra-agency communications and partnership development.

Represents OIG in congressional matters, including engagement with congressional committees, Members of Congress, and their staffs.

Responsibilities include providing technical assistance on legislation, providing recommendations to OIG and stakeholders on potential and existing legislation, providing strategic input and feedback on congressional outreach strategies, preparing OIG representatives for congressional interactions, preparing background materials for congressional audiences, briefing congressional audiences, and testifying before Congress.

Provides advice and counsel on communications matters, including reviewing strategies, materials, and presentations to ensure accuracy, consistency, legal sufficiency, and completeness of OIG messaging and the preparedness of OIG representatives.

Provides advice and counsel on appropriations and budget formulation, including legal research, development of strategic messaging and supporting materials, and forming and advancing intra-and inter-agency communications and partnership development.

Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes

Browse Similar Jobs

Posted on USAJOBS: 3/11/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/12/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: HHS-OIG-SL-0905-26-12903092