U.s. Army Communications Electronics Command

Summary
About the Position: This position is located with the Headquarters Communications Electronics Command, U.S. Army Materiel Command Legal Center, Business Law Division at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
If you are currently serving in a permanent, competitive service appointment in the Federal service, and are selected for this position, the appointment will remove you from the competitive service while you occupy this position.
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Duties
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• Provides acquisition legal guidance, counsel and support to the Command and to a multitude of Program Managers, the Research and Development Center and Laboratory Directors.
• Conducts extensive research, analysis and evaluation of highly particularized areas in support of the acquisition process.
• Provides legal advice on a variety of complex legal matters that involve contracts in excess of $100 million with unique legal problems and controversies.
• Assists DA and Department of Justice counsel in presentation of cases before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, U.S. Court of Federal Claims and U.S. District Court.
• Provides oral and written advice concerning post-award contract matters including claims, disputes, bankruptcies, terminations, appeals, PL 85-804 and litigation.
• Advises on cases that consistently involve matters and issues of interest to the entire DOD contracting community, Congressional Committees, the Department of Justice, and the Department of State, as well as foreign governments.
• Provides oral and written advice concerning civilian personnel law, employment discrimination law and all labor relations matters.
• Supports DA, Department of Justice and criminal investigative agencies in cases related to procurement fraud.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance for access for the duration of employment.
• This position requires the incumbent to maintain an active bar membership that permits the representation of the Federal Government in the courts of their jurisdiction to the extent that private practice attorneys are able to for their clients.
• A two-year trial/probationary period may be required.
• This position is subject to a Temporary Duty or business travel requirement of 25% or less of the time.

Qualifications
Who May Apply: Current and former Federal employees and US Citizens.
Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and on the extent to which their application shows possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position. KSA's:

• Skill in legal research, analysis, and interpretation to render authoritative opinions on complex, novel, or controversial legal issues with little to no precedent.
• Skill in providing legal counsel and guidance on complex and difficult matters .
• Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to provide clear and concise legal advice, draft legal documents, present briefings to senior leaders, and advocate on behalf of the Agency.

Qualification Requirements: The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration:
1) Education: Assignments require the first professional law degree (Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctorate (J.D.)). Applicants for initial appointment into attorney positions must be graduates of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association at the time of the applicant's graduation. The Army General Counsel may make an exception upon a showing that a candidate possesses superior qualifications and that no well-qualified candidates from accredited law schools are available.
2) Bar Membership: Applicants must be active members in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of a State, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
3) Professional Legal Experience
NH-03: Applicants must possess two (2) years of professional legal experience after admission to the bar commensurate with the duties of the position. The Attorney Qualifying Authority may grant an exception to this requirement when an applicant possess special qualifications.
NH-04: Applicants must possess more than three (3) years of professional legal experience after admission to the bar commensurate with the duties of the position.
4) Time in Grade (current Federal employees): Candidates selected for advancement will normally have completed at least one year of service that is one grade lower than the position to be filled. The selecting official may request a waiver of the one year requirement in cases where hardship or inequity exists.
NOTICE OF VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the Defense 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 (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions.
Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference", and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. The SF 15 will identify the supporting documentation required along with the list of the types of 10-point preference. The SF 15 is available from the OPM at https://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/type/sf/.
Education
Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Education websites at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications and http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.
Additional information

• To ensure compliance with Army Materiel Command (AMC) regulation, we will consider internal candidates to the agency that are qualified by AMC before considering external applicants (all US Citizens).
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 2 year trial period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is a Professional Services Career Field position.
• Management has the prerogative to select at any grade.
• This is a DoW Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo) position in the NH-03/04 broadband with an advertised pay range from GS-12/Step 1 to GS-15/Step 10. The NH-03 broadband includes the General Schedule grades equivalent to GS-12/13. The NH-04 broadband includes the General Schedule grades equivalent to GS-14/15. The position's maximum salary is covered by control points to account for variances in position responsibilities within the broadband. In the NH-04 broadband, this position is a non-supervisory professional/analyst with a control point of GS-14/Step 10. Management will set the selectee's pay for this position within the control point salary range consistent with the qualifications of the selectee and the expected contribution for the position.
• If selected at the NH-03 grade, after a year or more of service you may be non-competitively promoted to the grade of NH-04 if management determines at that time that you meet the qualifications/professional legal experience requirements set forth in relevant regulations, including Army Regulation (AR) 690-300. Promotion to NH-04 however, is NOT automatic. You must meet the minimum qualifications set forth in the regulations before you can be considered for promotion.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.