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Duties

This JOA is for the position of Labor and Employment Law Attorney and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program Manager in the DLA Headquarters Labor and Employment Law Division located at Fort Belvoir, VA.

This position performs any or all of the following duties:

• Specializes in Labor and Employment Law advice and litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
• Serves as trial attorney and litigates before EEOC, MSPB, FLRA, and arbitrators and engages in ADR when appropriate.
• Coordinates and assists the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney's in the preparation and presentation of cases in Federal court. Represents the Agency before the Office of Special Counsel (OSC).
• Conducts all activities related to litigation including but not limited to completion of litigation reports; processing requests for Government witnesses and documents needed in litigation; reviews and drafts pleadings, agency responses, motions, briefs, and other required documents.
• Negotiates and drafts settlement agreements; conducts discovery including taking and defending depositions, requesting documents and drafting interrogatories. When appropriate, obtains representation for Government officials sued in their individual capacities.
• Consults with the Chief, Labor and Employment Law on matters of major importance and keeps the Chief informed of significant issues and developments.
• Reviews disciplinary and performance-based actions for legal sufficiency.
• Advises on legal matters related to collective bargaining, the application and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements, and negotiability. Advises on responding to and filing unfair labor practice charges.
• Conducts legal review of grievance responses, and responses to other employee complaints, claims, and allegations.
• Serves as the Agency's ADR Program Manager.
• As ADR Program Manager, provides third party neutral services throughout DLA using DLA ADR specialists and DLA mediators, ensures ADR specialists and mediators are trained, chairs the DLA Office of General Counsel ADR practice group, and prepares required ADR reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• This is an Excepted Service position.
• Tour of Duty: Flexible (https://www.dla.mil/Careers/Join-Our-Team/Benefits/#Work)
• Security Requirements: Non-Critical Sensitive with Secret Access
• Appointment is subject to the completion of a favorable suitability or fitness determination, where reciprocity cannot be applied; unfavorably adjudicated background checks will be grounds for removal.
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
• Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Bargaining Unit Status: No
• Financial Disclosure Requirement: Required
• Selectees are required to have a REAL ID or other acceptable identification documents to access certain federal facilities. See https://www.tsa.gov/real-id for more information.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• The first professional law degree (LLB. or J.D.);
• Proof that you are licensed and a member in good standing with the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Annual bar certification cards issued from your state of licensure are not considered acceptable. Proof is a "certificate of good standing" issued by your state of licensure dated within 6 months of the closing date of this announcement or a screenshot of your bar status taken from your state of licensure website that is dated within 6 months of the closing date of this announcement or sworn statement to that effect. If there is not a date on the screen shot, you must provide a statement signed by you on the date that the screen shot was created. The successful applicant selected for employment must provide a "certificate of good standing" issued by their respective bar showing they are in good status and in active status prior to appointment.
• In addition to 1 and 2 (listed above), each grade level has the following qualification requirements:

To Qualify At The GS-15 Level

You must possess professional legal experience in excess of 3 years commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

In accordance with DoDI 1442.2 (Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys), promotion for this position is based on the individual's time, performance, and mastery of skills at the required grade level and only with approval of the designated official (DLA General Counsel) in accordance with the applicable regulation.

The legal experience described in your application package or resume will be evaluated and screened for competencies required to perform the duties of the position as described in the Major Duties section of this announcement. The QUALITY of experience will be evaluated and screened to determine how closely or to what extent your experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Your application package or resume must demonstrate you have the competencies and quality of experience necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate grade level.

Principal Selection Factors

The following factors will be used to evaluate the suitability of candidates for this position:

• Labor and Employment Law experience. At least one year of relevant experience at the next lower federal grade is mandatory. Equivalent military, state or private law experience may be substituted for Federal service.
• Demonstrated expert knowledge in the following areas: (1) EEO, MSPB, FLRA, arbitration and Federal court litigation and ADR (2) providing authoritative legal advice on a broad range of complex labor and employment law issues and problems.
• Excellent analytical ability, including issue identification, legal research, analysis of options, risk analysis, and creative problem solving.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written).
• Excellent legal and business judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and client relationships, and the ability to interact well with senior officials on controversial and sensitive issues.

Security Clearance : This position is designated Non-Critical Sensitive. If selected, you must obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. If you are unable to obtain this level of security clearance (as a result of undisclosed or disclosed background issues), within a reasonable period of time (as defined by the agency), the employment offer may be withdrawn. In addition, incumbent is subject to periodic re-investigation to maintain security eligibility in accordance with DoD 5200.2-R.

Education

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at time of application.

FOREIGN EDUCATION : If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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.

Additional information

Excepted Service Position: This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.

Veterans Information : There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of 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. (SF-15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov).

As of 23 December 2016, Military retirees seeking to enter federal service in the Department of Defense now require a waiver if they would be appointed within 180 days following their official date of retirement.

Reemployed Annuitants: This position does not meet criteria for appointment of Reemployed Annuitants. The DoD criteria for hiring Reemployed Annuitants can be found at:

Drug-Free Workplace Policy

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is committed to maintaining a safe, drug-free workplace. All DLA employees are required to refrain from illegal drug use on and off duty. DLA conducts pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, and random drug testing.

Applicants tentatively selected for employment in testing designated positions will undergo a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Refusal to undergo testing or testing positive for illegal drugs will result in withdrawal of the tentative job offer and a six-month denial of employment with DLA from the date of the drug test. Employees in drug testing designated positions are subject to random drug testing. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment. You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

The DLA drug testing panel tests for the following substances: marijuana, cocaine, opiates, heroin, phencyclidine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, fentanyl, norfentanyl, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and opioids.

ADVISORY: Use of cannabidiol (CBD) products may result in a positive drug test for marijuana. DLA employees are subject to Federal law and under Federal law, Marijuana is illegal .

Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at:

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.

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.

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.