Senior Attorney Advisor (Presiding Official).

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is seeking an experienced attorney to preside over administrative hearings and manage legal proceedings related to pipeline safety. The role requires a law degree and at least 4 years of professional experience.

Candidates should possess strong legal writing skills and experience in environmental law and administrative enforcement. This position involves conducting legal research, preparing draft decisions, and managing case files.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date to be considered.

Qualifications

• At least 4 years of professional attorney experience.
• Experience in pipeline safety, administrative enforcement, litigation, and environmental law.
• Strong legal writing skills in drafting decisions, opinions, briefs, and memoranda.

Responsibilities

• Preside over informal administrative hearings with counsel representation.
• Manage proceedings from hearing request to draft decisions.
• Conduct legal research and analysis related to pipeline safety.
• Prepare draft decisions and maintain case files.

Skills

Oral Communication

Written Communication

Legal Knowledge

Problem Solving

Education

Law degree

Job description

Responsibilities

• Preside over informal administrative hearings involving parties represented by counsel and conduct pre‑hearing conferences to improve efficiency and narrow disputed issues.
• Manage proceedings from the initial hearing request through preparation of draft decisions for review and issuance by the Associate Administrator.
• Conduct legal research and analysis to interpret applicable statutes, regulations, and agency precedent related to pipeline safety and compliance.
• Prepare draft decisions based on the administrative record, resolving complex issues of fact and law, determining operator compliance, and ordering corrective actions where necessary.
• Maintain case files and manage the hearing docket to ensure timely case progression while addressing matters with significant public safety, property, and environmental implications.

Qualifications

• Grade 15: A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least 4 years of professional attorney experience.
• Experience in pipeline safety, administrative enforcement, litigation, and environmental law, including researching and analyzing legal issues and applying legal principles, precedents, statutes, and rulings.
• Experience presiding over hearings and/or representing clients in administrative and legal proceedings, with strong legal writing skills in drafting decisions, opinions, briefs, and memoranda.
• Experience briefing executives and senior leadership and providing legal advice and counsel in support of organizational programs, operations, and regulatory activities.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs)

• Oral Communication – effectively conveys information to individuals or groups, makes clear and convincing oral presentations, listens and responds appropriately.
• Written Communication – writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
• Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence – knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Problem Solving – identifies and analyzes problems, evaluates alternative solutions, makes recommendations.

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen and eligible for consideration.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• This is an Excepted Service position.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered.
• Background Investigation: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals.
• Government Travel Card: If the position requires travel, a government contractor‑issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• Trial Period: This job may be subject to a two‑year trial period.
• Ethics/Conflict of Interest Statement: Employees must comply with federal ethical conduct standards and financial disclosure requirements.

Additional Information

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its operating administrations from requesting an applicant’s criminal history record before a conditional offer of employment.

Candidate selection may be based on performance and conduct during a 2‑year trial period and on the extent to which continued employment advances the public interest, organizational goals of the agency, and the efficiency of the Federal service.