Chief Counsel

About the role

The U.S. Department of Energy seeks an exceptional executive leader to serve as Chief Counsel. Drive legal excellence across landmark financing initiatives for next-generation American energy and manufacturing. Help anchor U.S. energy independence, fortify grid resilience, and deliver lower energy costs nationwide.

Join DOE and build America's energy future.

What you will do

• Lead at the Intersection of Energy Security, Law, and Transformative Finance Are you an innovative, seasoned executive ready to direct legal strategy for landmark federal financing initiatives?
• The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking an exceptional legal leader to serve as Chief Counsel for the Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF).
• In this Senior Executive Service (SES) leadership role, you will be the final legal authority guiding monumental federal financing, loan guarantee, and direct loan programs-including Title XVII clean energy initiatives and Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) loans.
• You will lead a high-performing legal team at the forefront of national infrastructure development, protecting U.S. energy security, strengthening grid reliability, and driving down costs for all Americans.
• Major Duties & Responsibilities As Chief Counsel, you will serve as the principal legal advisor to EDF senior leadership and report to the General Counsel of the Department of Energy, exercising full legal and managerial direction over EDF's legal operations.
• Executive Legal Counsel & Strategic Leadership: Serve as the principal legal advisor to EDF senior leadership and the final legal authority on all legal matters arising within EDF.
• Direct organizational legal activities, set strategic plans, establish internal control standards for efficiency and risk mitigation, and evaluate organizational policy, program, and project viability.
• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of senior project finance attorneys, contract specialists, and technical experts.
• Project Finance, Loan Guarantees & Transaction Oversight: Provide comprehensive legal counsel on multi-million/billion-dollar loan transactions, loan guarantees, credit facilities, and project financing under Title XVII of EPAct 2005 and Section 136 of EISA 2007 (ATVM).
• Review all loans issued, direct legal due diligence, and advise on the development and execution of loan agreements and credit policy.
• Advise key governing bodies and boards, including the Credit Review Board (CRB), on the legal status, risk, and effectiveness of loan portfolios.
• Procurement, Acquisition & Commercial Contracting: Serve as senior legal authority on federal procurement law, fiscal law, and acquisition policies.
• Review contracts awarded by EDF, guide contracting officers and negotiators through complex legal principles, and oversee the negotiation of specialized commercial and contract terms.
• Direct EDF's program for the detection, reporting, investigation, and remediation of contract fraud and antitrust violations.
• Litigation, Disputes & Interagency Representation: Supervise EDF's participation in adversarial proceedings, determine settlement positions on pending litigation, and serve as the primary liaison with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
• Represent EDF before the Comptroller General of the United States (GAO) and the General Services Administration Board of Contract Appeals on pre- and post-award bid protests.
• Provide counsel on environmental compliance, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/Privacy Act matters.
• Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs: Direct EDF's legislative program, including drafting proposed statutory language, analyzing pending legislation and Executive Orders, and preparing reports to Congress.
• Represent EDF in high-level consultations and negotiations with congressional committees, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), other federal agencies, and international partners.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Subject to a 1-year SES probationary period (unless already completed).
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
• File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278 within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty.
• Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations.
• Please read and retain these documents: Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights, for those who undergo an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check for personnel vetting, which includes Rap Back, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation), and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov), (applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information)

Education

Attorney positions require a positive education. ALL Candidates must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with a: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree Must be a current member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

You must provide a copy in your application. **This position has a positive education requirement.

Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.

An official transcript will be required if you are selected.** A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

How you will be evaluated

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) listed above.

ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position.

The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP 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 ***

Documents you must provide

• 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.
• A minimum of 10-point font is required.
• Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs.
• PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER.
• VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy.
• ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable: CURRENT OR 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.
• SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification.
• CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee.
• Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable depicting a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
• It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
• An official transcript will be required if you are selected.
• Document depicting current member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

What to expect next

To verify the status of your application, sign in to your USAJOBS account (***), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: ***

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.

Additional information

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES. Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders.

Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: *** Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: *** Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see ***) OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch.

If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.