Attorney (Alternative Dispute Resolution)

About the role

This position is located in the DoW Office of Inspector General (DoW OIG), Deputy Inspector General for Administrative Investigations (DIG-AI), Whistleblower Reprisal Investigations (WRI) Directorate.

The incumbent serves as a mediator and expert on whistleblower reprisal complaints appropriate for resolution under the Administrative Dispute Resolution Acts of 1990 and 1996 and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 1998.

What you will do

• Reviews and evaluates complaints of whistleblower reprisal in concert with their supervisor and WRI management to determine whether appropriate for the alternative dispute resolution process.
• Serves as a neutral professional under the confidentiality provision of the Administrative Dispute Resolution Acts of 1990 and 1998 (ADRA) and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 1998 (ADR Act) in reaching resolution of disputed matters.
• Advises principal parties in the preparation and conduct of ADR processes.
• Initiates contact with principal parties to the dispute, obtains information pertinent to the issues at question, guides parties through ADR process.
• Advises on or prepares legally supportable resolution agreements that fully resolve the open complaint.
• Participates in the design and implementation of training to ensure Agency attorney, investigative staff, and management effectively use ADR processes and retain neutral professionals.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at this level.

How you will be evaluated

Once the announcement has closed, your résumé and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your résumé and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience.

If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics). Criminal History Inquiries- If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer.

If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency @ ***.

Documents you must provide

• where you worked, job title, series and grade, if applicable, duties and accomplishments, employer's name and address, supervisor's name and phone number, starting and end dates (Mo/Yr), hours per week and salary.
• PLEASE NOTE: A two-page maximum resume is required.
• Applicant guidance on the two-page resume requirement may be found at: Learn more about the new resume requirements.
• SF-50(s): If you are a current or former federal employees you must submit a SF-50.
• If your SF-50 does not show you meet time-in-grade requirements or competitive status eligibility, you must submit additional SF-50s for verification.
• If you fail to provide the required documentation, by the closing date of this announcement, you will not receive consideration.
• Performance Appraisal: Current Federal employees must submit a copy of their most recent completed annual performance appraisal received within the past 18 months.
• The performance appraisal must include the final rating.
• If a completed performance appraisal does not exist, is incomplete or unavailable, you must submit an explanation as to why it is not available at the time of your application submission.
• Mid-year progress reviews will not be accepted.
• Current Bar Certificate: indicating active membership, in good standing, excluding current agency employees.
• If a certificate is not available by the closing date of the announcement, you may certify to your status as an active member in good standing in responding to the assessment questionnaire.
• You will be required to submit a current Bar Certificate prior to appointment.
• Transcripts and/or Certifications: All applicants to include current agency employees, must submit proof of education if the job announcement requires education to meet the basic qualification requirements.
• For additional information on acceptable documents, click here *** .
• All applicants to include current agency employees/contractors must also document your education and/or certifications in your resume. *NOTE: You do not need to submit proof of bar membership if you have recently graduated from law school and have yet to receive confirmation of bar exam passing and subsequent admittance to the bar of a State, the District of Columbia, a U.S. Territory, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Applicants must have taken a bar exam by the closing date of this announcement.
• Failure to submit a complete application package including any required documentation by the closing date of the announcement or at the time of application for announcements with an extended closing date, may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration.
• To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and More Information.
• The Details page will display the status of your application.
• It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, or faxed is received, legible and accurate.
• HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill similar positions in other organizations within the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General.

Additional information

NOTICE OF VETERANS' PREFERENCE There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of War considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring.

Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (see below) to their submissions. - You must submit a copy of your DD Form-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing the dates of active duty service, type of discharge and the character of service.

Alternatively, if you are a current military member in active duty service and do not have a copy of your DD Form-214, you must submit a written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application for this position.

The certification should also include your rank, dates of active duty service and what they condition of discharge is thought to be. - If claiming 10-point preference and/or are a 30% or more Disabled Veteran, you must submit both a DD Form-214 or expected discharge documentation as described above AND a copy of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or your branch of service certifying the presence of service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of disability. - If you are claiming eligibility based on 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e. a spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a veteran claiming veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it), you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) "Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference" and any required documents indicated on the SF-15 to substantiate the claimed preference. - If you do not have a copy of your VA letter, you can download it at VA.gov. ***

Submission of a resume alone is NOT a complete application. This position may require the completion of additional form/s and/or supplemental materials.

Failure to provide the required information and/or materials will result in your application not being considered for employment.

Military retirees seeking to enter civil service in the Department of War now require a waiver if they are within 180 days following their official date of retirement (5 United States Code 3326.). All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact *** for assistance.