Clarification from the agency

Open to the Public-All US Citizens

Incumbent is responsible for providing legal advice and assisting in the implementation of projects related to various Commission programs and initiatives, such as the Build America Agenda, FCC Council on National Security, 5G leadership, and Fighting Robocalls and Spoofing. Incumbent provides oral and written legal advice, guidance, interpretation, opinions and assistance on a wide range of legal and policy matters; performs legal research; determines implications of novel and complex legal issues; develops factual, legal, and precedent-setting positions on disputed matters.

Responds to leadership inquiries, as applicable, at the Division, Bureau, and/or Commission level, as well as from other components of the Commission and other government agencies, Congress, and the public; addresses novel legal questions pertaining to communications issues under the purview of the FCC, particularly as related to new and developing programs and initiatives; prepares memoranda or opinions outlining the facts and legal issues involved in disputed matters, and fully justifies conclusions and recommendations.

Interfaces with interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, engineers, economists, and specialists and synthesizes complex technical and legal matters.

Reviews and evaluates proposed legislation, regulations and policies to analyze their effect on existing laws and regulations and on Division/Bureau/Commission programs, policies, regulations and overall operations.

Identifies facts, applies analysis, develops policy, and prepares rule making orders and decisions assuring that documents adhere to Division/Bureau/Commission policy while evaluating objectives and clearly identifying all available options. Ensures that Commission-level documents submitted for review are: legally and demonstrably supported by accurate facts, comprehensive and internally consistent, and in conformance with existing policy, precedent, decisions, processes and procedures.

Resolves legal questions and addresses issues that may have no precedents or no clearly applicable precedents, requiring significant, independent legal research and coordination, and determining when to brief matters to leadership. Identifies major policy issues requiring interpretation by higher legal authority and develops and prepares recommended interpretation outlining the facts and applicable law.

Performs extensive research; determines implications of novel and complex legal issues; develops factual, legal, and precedent-setting positions on disputed matters. The scope of legal problems encountered is broad, highly complex and technical. Keeps abreast of legal developments affecting the agency by reviewing court and Commission decisions, congressional actions, professional publications, and trade press; researches legislation, decisions, opinion and regulations. Maintains perspective of Division/Bureau/Commissioner functions and activities and advises on how such matters impact agency functions.

Represents the agency and/or Division/Bureau leadership on major matters and issues pertaining to project assignments at conferences, seminars, workshops, committees meetings, and before the public.

Conditions of employment

• Bar Membership Documentation Required Upon Selection.
• Education-Transcripts Required Upon Selection.
• US Citizenship.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Financial disclosure statement may be required upon assuming the position.
• Current FCC employees must provide SF-50 verifying grade & status
• SF-50 Documenting One Year of Time in Grade Required.
• Resume must not exceed two pages and must meet resume format criteria.

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions. Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.

SF-50 Required: ALL FCC EMPLOYEES AND CURRENT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST provide a legible Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade. If an SF-50 is not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible. To request a copy of your SF-50 please send an email to PersonnelRecordsRequest@fcc.gov

Qualifications

Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

In order to be deemed as "BEST QUALIFIED" candidates must meet both the educational requirements AND the Specialized Experience.

A. Education

You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions. Education requirements include: a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M.

NOTE-If you do not provide a transcript at the time of application, a transcript will be required to be provided at the time of selection.

AND

B. Specialized Experience

GS-11

No specialized experience required according to FCC internal Attorney Advisor recruitment procedures; only educational qualification requirements are required to be met. Education requirements include: a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M.

GS-12

Applicants must have at least one year of full-time professional law experience gained after being admitted to the bar. The minimum one-year work experience requirement includes at least one year of specialized experience that is directly related to the position being filled and that is at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is defined as follows:

1) Experience conducting in-depth legal research.
2) Experience drafting or assisting with drafting of legal documents.
3) Experience analyzing rules and other proposals of a legal nature and commenting and providing input on the impact of those proposals.

GS-13

Applicants must have a minimum of two years of professional law experience after being admitted to the bar, one year of which is required to demonstrate the following specialized experience requirements. Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:

1) Experience conducting in-depth legal research.
2) Experience drafting complex legal documents, including documents such as rulemaking proposals and orders with analyses and recommendations.
3) Experience analyzing legal issues including weighing implications, identifying potential problems, and proposing solutions.
4) Experience making oral presentations and communicating research results.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: 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, 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Optional Four Essay Questions

At the time of application, applicants have the option of answering the following four short, free-response essay questions.

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Applicants will be required to certify that they are using their own words, and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question.

All candidates will be considered without regard to political or religious affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap, age, or any other non-merit factor. THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

All applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position. Applicants who do not submit a supporting resume will be rated ineligible.

There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:

1. the core questions
2. supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, transcripts, bar membership); and
4. your resume.

Applicants will be rated ineligible, if they do not respond to job specific questions provide supplemental documents and submit resume. For more information, please click on Rating Process

Subject matter experts will review your application to determine if you meet the following required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's); note these are KSA's which are required at the full performance level (GS-13).

• Ability to draft rule-making proposals and orders, adjudicatory orders, public notices, memoranda, and other relevant materials.
• Ability to present legal proposals and findings to management, other Bureaus and Offices, and Commission leadership.
• Ability to work on complex legal projects which may include issues which are noval and complex in nature.
• Ability to review legal records and prepares opinions and orders in adjudicatory cases for senior level attorneys.

If you are deemed to be qualified by the Subject Matter Experts, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for hiring consideration. Alternatively, if your application is not deemed as qualified by the Subject Matter Experts, your application will not be referred to the hiring manager for hiring consideration.

Merit Hiring Plan Resume Requirements

In compliance with Executive Order 14170, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service resumes must not be longer than two pages in length. The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement.

Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below:

Contact Information

Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number.

Relevant Work Experience

• Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
• Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 –08/2022)
• The number of hours you worked per week

Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement.

Resumes must be formatted as outlined above. If the two page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration.

The FCC is providing the following applicant resume resources:

• Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit
• USAjobs-How to Write a Federal Resume

Your application MUST be received by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement.

You must submit a resume at the time of application. Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for the vacancy. Current Federal employees must also submit a copy of an SF-50 documenting one year of time in grade. If an SF-50 is not submitted to verify time in grade, the applicant will be rated as ineligible.

This position may require the submission of supplemental documents before selection.

• Law academic transcripts (unofficial is acceptable).
• Proof of current, active bar membership.
• Writing sample demonstrating the ability to analyze complex legal and/or policy issues.
• Professional references.

Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload supporting application documentation. If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.

Supplemental Documents Required:

• Current Federal employees should submit a copy of an SF-50 documenting one year of time in grade. If an SF-50 is not submitted to verify time in grade, the application will be rated as ineligible.
• Transcripts
• Bar Membership

If transcripts and proof of bar membership are not provided at the time of application, this documentation must be provided at the time of selection.

Veterans must submit a legible Member 4 copy of the DD-214 which reflects the manner of discharge. Please refer to OPM's VetGuide for further information about veterans' preference via the following link: VetGuide

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