SUPERVISORY ATTORNEY ADVISOR (Investigations Division Director)

About the role

This position is located in the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Inspector General. The Office of Inspector General is an independent office within EPA that helps the agency protect the environment in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. We consist of auditors, program analysts, investigators, and others with extensive expertise.

Although we are a part of EPA, Congress provides us with our funding separate from the agency, to ensure our independence.

What you will do

• The Administrative Investigations Directorate (AID) within the Office of Special Review and Evaluation (OSRE) conducts administrative investigations of allegations of misconduct by senior agency employees and complaints of whistleblower reprisal by agency employees, or employees of agency contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees or personal services contractors.
• The office also manages the OIG's Hotline which serves as the main point of contact for agency employees and members of the public to report fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in agency programs and operations, and violations of law, regulations and policies by EPA and CSB employees, grantees, contractors and program participants.
• The position serves as Director of the Investigations Division within OSRE's AID.
• The successful candidate will provide professional leadership and management of AID's senior employee misconduct and whistleblower reprisal investigations.
• As an Investigations Division Director you will: Recruit, train, and motivate a multi-disciplinary team of high performing oversight personnel, including investigative attorneys and noncriminal investigators.
• Provide day-to-day supervision of investigative staff and issue and monitor work assignments.
• Identify and address skill gaps within the division and develop staff to support directorate succession planning.
• Manage and conduct timely and complex noncriminal investigations concerning serious and often sensitive misconduct and mismanagement allegations involving senior-level employees at the EPA, EPA OIG, and CSB and allegations of reprisal for whistleblowing by EPA or CSB employees or employees of EPA or CSB contractors, subcontractors, grantees, or subgrantees or personal services contractors.
• Includes conducting regular case reviews with investigative staff to monitor investigative progress, evaluate resources, identify potential challenges, and develop creative strategies to mitigate or overcome issues.
• Prepare and review legal documents and other materials in connection with ongoing investigations, including investigative plans, subpoenas and document requests, analytical memoranda, interview outlines and transcripts, and reports of investigation.
• Manage and conduct research on complex legal issues, interpret statutes, regulations, and legal decisions, prepare written or oral legal opinions, and review analysis for legal sufficiency of operations, policies, regulations, directives, memoranda and correspondence relating to AID.
• Manage the timely intake, review and processing of hotline complaints concerning allegations of senior employee misconduct and whistleblower reprisal for the investigations division.
• Ensure complainant information is kept confidential consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and OIG directives.
• Coordinate closely with the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Administrative Investigations and internal and external stakeholders to advance the division's investigative work and priorities and foster information sharing.
• Formulate, recommend, and implement innovative policies, procedures, and processes to support the division's investigative work.

Education

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with an LL.B. or J.D., if selected an official transcript will be required.

In addition, the selectee will be required to provide proof of an active bar membership.

How you will be evaluated

Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed.

Applicants passing "Phase I" will move on to the "Phase II" of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents).

Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible. Phase III: Applicants who successfully pass Phase II may be invited to participate in a structured interview. A designated interview panel will conduct the structured interview and evaluate applicants based on their responses to questions designed to assess the required competencies.

The panel will assign a score for each competency based on the applicant's responses.

You will be assessed on the following competencies: Resilience Problem Solving Decision Making Customer Service Interpersonal Skills If you are referred for consideration, you may be subject to additional assessments by the selecting official (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, job knowledge test, case scenario analysis, scientific data assessment, structured interview, etc.).

NOTE: If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change, or you may be removed from employment consideration.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Offices within the OIG community who have vacancies with the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s).

Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. You may choose to opt in of having your information shared with other agencies when applying for this position. If an agency requests a copy of a certificate, you are on, you will be notified.

Documents you must provide

• You should ensure your social security number, date of birth, and any other personal information are redacted.
• Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages.
• If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement.
• The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position.
• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, and social).
• Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
• You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
• Proof of current and active bar association membership.
• Copy of Law School Transcripts.
• Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, (optional) Most Recent Performance Appraisal (optional) Current SF-50 (if external government employee)

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

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.

Additional information

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms oSelectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment.

False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.f identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The system confirms employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about e-verify, including your rights and responsibilities. Upon appointment, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450.

You will need to provide the information annually.

You must meet time in grade requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

EPA OIG provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement. Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized.

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking reference and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.