Head of Ethics and Employment Law

About the role

The Head of Ethics & Employment Law/Deputy General Counsel provides legal and advisory services to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Chief of Law & Policy/General Counsel, and all subordinate organizational components of SSA.

These services reflect the Agency's attorney role as a full participant in program development to administer the Agency's benefit program responsibilities.

What you will do

• The Head of Ethics & Employment Law/Deputy General Counsel provides a full range of legal and advisory services to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Chief of Law & Policy/General Counsel (Chief), and all subordinate organizational components of the Social Security Administration in connection with the operation and administration of the Agency.
• These services reflect the Agency's attorney role as a full participant in the process of program development to administer the Agency's benefit program responsibilities, in the drafting of the legislation to establish these programs, and in the counseling of program and administrative managers and other senior officials whose responsibility it is to develop and carry out these programs.
• The Head of Ethics & Employment Law/Deputy General Counsel is responsible for the following: Advising the Chief concerning all aspects of programs managed, their interrelationships and their relationships with other Agency programs/operations.
• Collaborating and sharing responsibility with the Chief and the Head of Program Policy & Data Exchange for all functions of Law & Policy including planning, formulation, and execution of policies, objectives, and goals.
• As required, the incumbent may represent sector counterparts/organizations. the Chief and the Agency at meetings or on workgroups with various Federal or private Assisting the Chief by providing legal services in matters relating to general law, program law, and labor management and employee relations.
• The incumbent has oversight and responsibility for all legal practice areas and direct oversight of Ethics & Employment Law, and assists in the oversight of Program Litigation; Labor Management & Employee Relations; Program, Fiscal & Disclosure Law; and Privacy & Disclosure Policy practice areas.
• Serves as the Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) and provides legal services on ethics and standards of conduct and SSA's confidential reporting system regarding financial interests and outside activities, and liaison with the Office of White House Counsel and the Office of Government Ethics.
• Participates with the Chief in the resolution of the most difficult and important legal problems submitted to the component.
• The incumbent may be required to perform confidential and sensitive assignments for the Chief.
• Developing, directing, and overseeing litigation strategy for the most complex and difficult employment cases, including challenges to statutes, regulations and/or administrative policies, as well as complex procedural (e.g., jurisdictional) and substantive (e.g., statutory and/or constitutional) issues, and may be responsible for conducting and overseeing the conduct of such litigation in administrative and court tribunals.
• Leading the development and implementation of critical infrastructure protection, security measures, and other controls to prepare for and mitigate negative consequences.

Requirements

• To be considered minimally qualified for this position, candidates must have had responsible professional experience at a senior level (equivalent to the GS-15 in either the General Schedule (GS) or a comparable pay plan).
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Subject to a 1-year supervisory 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 Must file a Public Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e 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).

How you will be evaluated

Do not list a Social Security Number or Date of Birth on any attachment.

Once the application process is complete, a Human Resources Specialist will conduct a review of your resume and supporting documentation. 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.

The ECQs and TQ 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, including reference checks.

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your accomplishments and experience. Your application will be rated and ranked by an SES Rating Panel, comprised of at least three SES members, using only the information submitted within the application package.

Applicants determined to be Highly Qualified must demonstrate sufficient possession of the ECQs andTQs, and will be referred to the hiring component for further consideration.

Upon selection, if you have not provided evidence of noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible), you must participate in a Structured Interview assessment based on the ECQs conducted by an OPM QRB prior to appointment.

Your application will be forwarded to OPM for review and certification by the QRB. 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, and by the closing date of the announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
• Resume (2-page maximum) - 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.
• 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 Assessment Questionnaire Responses - Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs/Application Manager when you apply to this vacancy.
• Additional Required Documents - Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation, if applicable: PROOF OF BAR MEMBERSHIP: You will be required to provide the state(s) in which you are licensed, your license/bar number (if applicable), and month/year of your licensure as part of the online assessment questionnaire.
• You may also upload documentation that reflects your active bar membership, but this is optional and must be in addition to providing the information requested on the assessment.
• In order to be eligible for consideration, you must be an active member in good standing of a Bar of a State, Commonwealth or Territory of the United States or District of Columbia and authorized and eligible to practice law.
• Judicial status is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in States that prohibit sitting judges from maintaining "active" status to practice law.
• Being in "good standing" is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in States where the licensing authority considers "good standing" as having a current license to practice law.
• 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.
• Failure to provide the proper documentation may result in the rating and ranking of your application under competitive procedures, which requires you to demonstrate possession of the ECQs within your 2-page resume.
• CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES: If you are a current Federal employee, you must submit a recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) to substantiate your minimum qualifications eligibility.
• You must provide an SF-50 that reflects your current position, grade, step, tenure, and type of service (e.g., a Within-Grade Increase or Promotion/Reassignment).
• You may need to provide more than one SF-50 to substantiate your eligibility.
• Heavily redacted documents that do not contain the required information may result in an ineligible rating.
• Strongly Recommended: Most recent performance evaluation If you are a current or former political appointee within the last five (5) years, including Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES, please submit documentation of your appointment, including a copy of your SF-50.
• Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the announcement (09/25/2026) will result in your removal from consideration for this position.

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

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.

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: *** Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: *** All application materials are subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act and become property of SSA.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact ***.