Deputy Associate General Counsel for Benefits

First Roles; Washington; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Deputy Associate General Counsel (Benefits) at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the General Counsel, Washington, DC, leads a fast-paced legal team advising on veterans' benefits, health care operations, loan guaranty programs, revenue collections, and related administrative law issues.

The role helps shape national policy, oversees appellate strategy before the CAVC and Federal Circuit, and provides counsel on eligibility, fiduciaries, garnishment, and related governance,

Responsibilities

• Legal Program Leadership - Plans, directs, and supervises a professional staff furnishing legal, legislative, and litigation services across VA on veterans' benefits matters, including compensation and pension, life insurance, education, vocational rehabilitation, and burial/memorial affairs.
• National Litigation Strategy - Manages national policy and litigation strategy before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
• Benefits Policy & Compliance Oversight - Provides legal counsel on eligibility questions, character of discharge, domestic relations, regulation of representatives, fiduciaries, garnishment, forfeiture, and judicial review of benefits decisions
• Medical Care & Research Counsel - Leads counsel on medical care administration and operations (including eligibility and access), Homeless Programs, Veterans Canteen Service, patents and intellectual property, non-profit research corporations, and medical research and development programs.
• Loan Guaranty & Real Property Oversight - Oversees loan guaranty programs (Home Loan Guaranty, NADL, SAH) and related real-property legal matters.
• Revenue, Collections & FTCA Leadership - Directs legal strategy for revenue and third-party collections activities and provides leadership on Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) issues.

Job description

The Deputy Associate General Counsel (Benefits) serves in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Office of the General Counsel, located in Washington, DC. The position operates in a fast-paced executive legal environment providing legal, legislative, policy, and litigation support on matters affecting benefits, health care operations, loan guaranty programs, revenue collections, and related administrative law issues. The incumbent works closely with senior VA leadership, Congressional committees.

1. Legal Program Leadership - Plans, directs, and supervises a professional staff furnishing legal, legislative, and litigation services across VA on veterans' benefits matters, including compensation and pension, life insurance, education, vocational rehabilitation, and burial/memorial affairs.
2. National Litigation Strategy - Manages national policy and litigation strategy before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
3. Benefits Policy & Compliance Oversight - Provides legal counsel on eligibility questions, character of discharge, domestic relations, regulation of representatives, fiduciaries, garnishment, forfeiture, and judicial review of benefits decisions
4. Medical Care & Research Counsel - Leads counsel on medical care administration and operations (including eligibility and access), Homeless Programs, Veterans Canteen Service, patents and intellectual property, non-profit research corporations, and medical research and development programs.
5. Loan Guaranty & Real Property Oversight - Oversees loan guaranty programs (Home Loan Guaranty, NADL, SAH) and related real-property legal matters.
6. Revenue, Collections & FTCA Leadership - Directs legal strategy for revenue and third-party collections activities and provides leadership on Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) issues.