Attorney-Advisor (Contract).

Defense Logistics Agency; Whitehall (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Defense Logistics Agency in Columbus, OH seeks an Attorney-Adviser (Contract) to serve as Senior Contracts Counsel and Team Leader for a contract team. You will advise on large-scale acquisitions, provide risk assessments, and support litigation before GAO and Federal Courts.

The role requires bar licensure and a JD or LLB with at least 3 years of equivalent experience. This Excepted Service position offers exposure to DoD procurement, supervision of complex matters, and collaboration with

Qualifications

• Must have a J.D. or LLB from an accredited law school.
• Licensed and in good standing with the bar of a U.S. state, D.C., commonwealth, territory, or the highest court.
• Certificate of good standing dated within 6 months of the closing date (or equivalent documentation).

Responsibilities

• Serve as Senior Contracts Counsel for DLA General Counsel - Weapons Support (Columbus).
• Lead contract team attorneys as Team Leader (non-supervisory).
• Advise on acquisition of supplies and services (solicitation, negotiation, award, administration, modification).
• Provide risk assessments on complex procurements with high-level visibility and funds expenditure.
• Review contracting officers' decisions on claims and terminations; re-procurement after default.
• Provide litigation support before GAO, ASBCA, and Federal Courts.
• Manage workload distribution and mentor junior attorneys; support training and development.
• Review local acquisition policies for legal sufficiency and compliance with FAR, DFARS, and guidance.

Skills

Analytical/legal ability

Oral and written communication

Interpersonal skills

Federal acquisition law knowledge

Leadership

Training junior attorneys

Team coordination

Education

J.D. or LLB (first professional law degree)

Job description

Duties

As an Attorney-Adviser (Contract), you will be responsible for the following duties:

• Will serve under the supervision of the Acquisition Counsel as a Senior Contracts Counsel for DLA General Counsel - Weapons Support (Columbus).
• Will also serve as a Team Leader (non-supervisory) for contract team attorneys.
• As senior legal advisor and subject matter expert for a DLA Acquisition Supply Chain Directorate in all matters related to the acquisition of supplies and services (e.g., legal issues relating to solicitation, negotiation, award, administration, modification).
• Provides advice and risk assessments on special procurements characterized by extensive discussions with high level officials, negotiation of special terms and provisions, high-level visibility, and/or substantial funds expenditure.
• Reviews and coordinates on decisions by contracting officers concerning contract claims (contractor or Government) and terminations, breach of contract actions, revocation of acceptance of defective material, and re-procurement after default.
• Provides advice and litigation support for contract challenges, overseeing, handling directly, or supporting the assigned DoJ attorney in contract related actions before the GAO, ASBCA, and/or Federal Courts.
• Manages the distribution of work among contract team attorneys and assures that work is accomplished in an accurate, responsive, and timely manner. Provides guidance and assistance to junior attorneys on complex and unusual or precedential issues and assists in training and development of junior attorneys.
• Reviews and advises on local acquisition policies, procedures, and instructions for legal sufficiency, consistency, and compliance with applicable law, including the FAR, DFARS, and agency-level guidance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 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 FOR ATTORNEY-ADVISER (CONTRACT), GS-0905-14:

• 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-14 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

• Analytical/legal ability (including issue identification, legal research, analysis of options, risk analysis, creative problem-solving).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and client relationships, and the ability to interact well with senior officials on controversial and sensitive issues.
• Demonstrated Federal acquisition law knowledge and experience, preferably with the Department of Defense (DoD).
• The ability to lead team members toward achievement of organizational goals.
• The ability to train and assist in the development of junior attorneys.
• The ability to work effectively with a breadth of colleagues and geographically dispersed clients.

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

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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.

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.