Supervisory Attorney Advisor

Federal Transit Administration; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Office of Chief Counsel seeks a Supervisory Attorney Advisor to lead the Litigation and Regional Operations team. You will supervise Regional Counsels, coordinate with the Chief Counsel and DOT leadership, and manage complex litigation and regulatory matters across FTA regions.

Ideal candidates have extensive experience in government contracts, environmental, grant agreements, and civil rights law, with a track record of cross‑agency collaboration and

Qualifications

• Requires a law degree from an ABA-accredited school and active bar admission.
• Experience in government contracts, administrative procedure, grant agreements, real property, ethics, environmental, safety, and civil rights law.
• Proven ability to supervise and direct regional legal staff and coordinate with DOT and other agencies.

Responsibilities

• Direct and supervise Regional Counsels across ten regional offices.
• Ensure consistency in legal interpretations across FTA regions.
• Advise on environmental and historic preservation law and grant administration.
• Represent FTA in complex federal litigation and coordinate with DOJ and DOT counsel.
• Serve as primary contact for the OIG on criminal matters and investigations.

Skills

Laws, Regulations & Guidelines

Oral Communication

Administrative Law

Government Jurisprudence

Education

ABA-accredited law degree

Bar admission in good standing

Job description

Summary

The Federal Transit Administration’s Office of Chief Counsel is seeking a supervisory attorney to perform the tasks and duties of the Assistant Chief Counsel for Litigation and Regional Operations.

The Federal Transit Administration’s Office of Chief Counsel is seeking a supervisory attorney to perform the tasks and duties of the Assistant Chief Counsel for Litigation and Regional Operations.

Duties

Help

As a Supervisory Attorney Advisor, you will:

• Direct and supervise the work of Regional Counsels for FTA’s ten Regional Offices who are responsible for providing legal advice and assistance on matters relating to FTA’s annual multi-billion-dollar grant-making program, with a focus on grant administration, including administrative law, contract law, and environmental law.
• Carry out the legal directives and policy initiatives of the Chief Counsel and FTA and DOT leadership, ensuring consistency in legal interpretations and application across all FTA regional offices.
• Manage programmatic matters in the areas of environmental and historic preservation law, providing advice regarding compliance for implementation by FTA’s Regional Counsels and other FTA personnel, and coordination of development of regulations and guidance with the Legislation and Regulations Division of the Office of Chief Counsel, the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Office of the Secretary, and other Federal agencies.
• Represent FTA’s interests in complex Federal litigation, including environmental and other high‑profile litigation matters, in coordination with the Office of the Secretary and Department of Justice.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) on criminal matters, includingqui tam actions, criminal referrals by FTA, and criminal investigations by the OIG.

The ideal candidate must have experience in general law, including the following areas: government contracts, administrative procedure, grant agreements, real property, Federal ethics, environmental, safety, and civil rights law.

Requirements

Help

• You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• This is an Excepted Service position.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.

Conditions of Employment

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
• TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period.
• ETHICS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 2635, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 263.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor‑issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.

Qualifications

To qualify, your experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following:

GRADE 15

GRADE 15 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least 5 (five) years of professional attorney experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines: Knowledge of principles, laws, regulations, policies, practices, and guidelines (for example, Executive Orders, Code of Federal Regulations, OMB circulars) of transportation, environmental, and fiscal law, including their order of precedence.
• Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence: Knowledge of laws, regulations, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Executive Orders, agency guidance, government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.
• Administrative Law: Knowledge of State and Federal administrative laws, including statutes, regulations, guidelines, and precedents related to case preparation and settlements.
• Oral Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, confidential, technical and sensitive); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

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.

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

Education

MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Additional information

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your 2-year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code9202(c) and 5 C.F.R

• 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, [e-mail]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

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.

Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

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.