Assistant Legal Adviser

About the role

The Office of the Legal Adviser (L) provides legal advice and services to the Secretary of State and other senior officials, Department offices, diplomatic and consular posts abroad, and other U.S. government agencies on all legal matters, domestic and international, arising in the course of the Department's activities.

The incumbent of this position will serve as an Assistant Legal Adviser and reports directly to a Deputy Legal Adviser.

What you will do

• The Assistant Legal Adviser for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (L/PD) provides legal advice and services on matters of particular importance to United States foreign policy interests.
• This includes providing advice on the legal implications of contemplated actions (frequently in international situations that present novel issues), including, for example, the consistency of the action with respect to domestic and international law and the practice of the Department and what consequences might result in relations with other nations.
• Responsibilities of the Assistant Legal Adviser (L/PD) include but are not limited to the following: Provides timely, effective, and expert legal advice for Department and interagency actions, including international negotiations, regarding: international educational, cultural, and information exchanges and activities conducted pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Fulbright-Hays), the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (Smith-Mundt), and other legislation, including with respect to the Exchange Visitor Program, international exchange agreements, international expositions, restrictions on the domestic dissemination of public diplomacy program materials, and international broadcasting; cultural property issues, including bilateral agreements pursuant to the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act; the immunity from judicial seizure statute; issues concerning informing and influencing the international public about U.S. policy and American society; the Department's overall public communication strategies, including the preparation of materials for public release in the United States and related press, copyright, and rights clearance issues; and other public diplomacy issues.
• Handles related litigation, administrative proceedings, and witness requests arising from the office's areas of practice.
• Directs and supervises the work of approximately 6-7 attorneys and other staff assigned to the office.
• Reviews their work products to ensure that accurate and timely advice and services are provided.
• Discharges office management and administrative responsibilities.
• Promotes the Department's human resources policies and encourages employee development through varied work assignments, continuing legal education, and other means.

Requirements

• This position is a drug-testing designated position subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• Appointment will be subject to the applicant's completion and favorable adjudication of a background security investigation.
• The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521 requires the applicant selected for the this position submit a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278, prior to assuming the SES position, annually and upon termination of employment.

Education

See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements.

How you will be evaluated

Veterans' Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service. You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications stated in this vacancy announcement. A multi-step process is used to evaluate and refer applicants: 1.

Minimum requirements: Your application package must show that you meet all the requirements including the education and/or experience required for this position. You will be rated “not qualified” if you do not possess the qualification requirements for the position. If your application is incomplete, you may be found “ineligible”.

2. Rating and Ranking: A panel of subject matter experts will review your application and evaluate your qualifications for this position based on the information in your application. Your application will be evaluated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of this position.

3. Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for consideration for interview. The DOS Executive Resources Board (ERB) will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the appointing authority where final interviews and reference checks may occur.

Your supporting documents are an integral part of the process for determining your qualifications for the position. If your responses are not supported by your resume limited to two pages, you will be eliminated from consideration.

After reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, if a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Incomplete or late applications will not receive further consideration. The application process to recruit for this position is the RESUME BASED method.

You must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED two (2) pages.

Resumes exceeding the two (2) page limit will not reviewed and will be disqualified. 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 ECQs or MTQs.

Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Unless you have already been certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) previously, your Executive Qualifications must be certified by OPM's QRB before an appointment can occur.

The selected individual's application will be forwarded to OPM for review and certification by their QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SES CDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

For more information regarding the SES, go to *** You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• All required documents listed below must be submitted to our automated system "Gateway to State" prior to the closing date of this announcement, which is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
• Applicants who do not submit the required documentation WILL NOT be considered for this position.
• A complete application includes items described below.
• Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
• Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit.
• Some documents may not apply to all applicants.
• RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience which demonstrates the ECQs and MTQs listed in the Qualifications section.
• Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and MTQs.
• PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER.
• Include start and end dates for each position (e.g., month and year; month, day, and year).
• VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy.
• ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (if applicable): Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable: CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee.
• FORMER SES MEMBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
• If you are a former career SES member, you may be eligible for reinstatement if you successfully completed the SES probationary period (or were exempt from the probationary period because you were converted to the SES as a career appointee when the SES was established) and left the SES for reasons other than misconduct, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or less than fully successful performance, or resignation after receipt of a notice proposing or directing removal for such reasons.
• SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRD certification.
• PROOF OF HOLDING A FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE POSITION: If you work(ed) for an agency that does not provide an SF-50—for example, the United States Postal Service—provide documentation that confirms you currently hold or previously held a position in the Federal civil service.
• STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Most recent performance evaluation IMPORTANT: Failure to meet or demonstrate each ECQs and MTQs in the two (2) page resume may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete applications package.
• It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
• Please do not submit any additional information not requested above.

What to expect next

After all application packages are received, we will review applications and evaluate applicants' qualifications. Then, in approximately two weeks after this announcement closes, we will refer candidates, as described in the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section, to the hiring manager for selection consideration.

Your application status will be updated up to four times during the following hiring phases: After applications are received. After applications are assessed to determine qualifications. After candidates are referred to the hiring manager.

After a selection is made. For the selected candidates who receive a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability review and/or security background investigation that generally takes an average of at least two to six months.

Additional information

For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at ***. Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of State requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy.

To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartment Information clearance as a condition of placement in this Special Sensitive position.

This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.