Attorney Advisor (Assistant General Counsel - Employment Law)

Summary

The U.S. National Science Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for an Attorney Advisor (Assistant General Counsel) position specializing in federal employment law, including employee relations, within the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Office of the Director (OD), in Alexandria, VA. For more information on OGC please click here. For more information on OD please click here. This announcement will close on 07/24/2026 or once 150 applications are received, whichever occurs first.

Duties

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice and representation to ensure Foundation programs and operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders, including those addressing merit-based employment, accountability, and effective workforce management. OGC seeks an attorney to serve as Assistant General Counsel for federal employment law. The Assistant General Counsel will: Provide legal advice on federal personnel law, including employee relations, performance management, discipline, adverse actions, and workplace conduct, consistent with merit system principles and applicable Executive Orders. Advise on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) matters, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, ensuring compliance with federal nondiscrimination requirements. Counsel management on workplace issues, including harassment, misconduct, whistleblower protections, and professional standards of conduct. Represent the agency in administrative litigation, including matters before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Office of Special Counsel (OSC); perform discovery, draft motions, prepare witnesses, and conduct hearings and appeals. Advise supervisors and leadership on personnel actions and strategies to promote compliance, accountability, and organizational effectiveness. Support implementation and interpretation of workforce policies aligned with Executive Orders and federal guidance. Collaborate with Human Capital, civil rights, and other agency offices to ensure consistent legal interpretation and application of personnel policies. Monitor legal and policy developments in federal personnel law and provide timely guidance to leadership. Conduct legal research; analyze complex issues; and deliver clear written and oral legal advice. Participate in interagency efforts and working groups on personnel and workforce policy matters. Provide support on related legal areas, as needed, to meet OGC and agency mission requirements.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a J.D. from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), plus 6 or more years of professional legal experience gained after completion of the pertinent degree. Candidates must have expertise related to the areas of law relevant to the position for which they wish to be considered, as articulated in the Duties and Experience section above. Bar Membership: Member in good standing of the bar of a State, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Also, desirable, but not required, is experience and/or interest in other areas of Federal government legal practice, such as intellectual property, federal property, and/or environmental law.

Education

Please refer to the Qualifications section. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, please also submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, expertise, education, and research activities relevant to the duties of the position. In some cases, additional assessment processes may also be used. We strongly encourage you to specifically address the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) below. This will ensure that you receive full consideration in the evaluation process. Quality Ranking Factors Demonstrated expertise in federal employment law, including employee relations, performance management, and adverse actions, with the ability to apply merit system principles and advise management on complex workplace matters. Experience advising on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and requirements, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and handling issues involving harassment, misconduct, and workplace compliance. Litigation experience in federal employment law matters, including representation before administrative bodies such as MSPB, EEOC, OSC, or FLRA, with demonstrated skills in discovery, motion practice, witness preparation, and hearings. Ability to provide strategic legal advice to senior leadership and management officials, including translating complex legal requirements into practical guidance that supports accountability, effective workforce management, and compliance with Executive Orders. Strong analytical, research, and communication skills, including the ability to assess complex legal issues, develop policy guidance, and deliver clear, concise written and oral advice in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Required Documents

All applicants are required to submit a legible resume that is no longer than two (2) pages. IMPORTANT NOTE: Only the two-page resume will be reviewed to determine if your technical qualifications for this position meet the requirements listed in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement. Additional information beyond your two-page resume (e.g., cover letters, links to additional information, a Curriculum Vitae) will not be reviewed to determine if the basic qualification requirements are met. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience. You must submit proof of your active Bar Membership in order to be considered for this vacancy. Applicants may also submit an optional cover letter. Applicants may submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) as a supplemental document. In addition, applicants may choose to submit responses addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) with their application. While not required, submission of these responses is strongly encouraged, as they may be used to further assess candidates during the evaluation process, post referral. Applicants are encouraged to submit professional references with their application. References will not be contacted during the initial review process and will only be contacted if requested by the hiring official as part of the selection process. Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your resume. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, you MUST submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency. In order to be considered for federal appointments, Non-Citizens must affirm that they meet the Appropriations Law eligibility criteria by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered. Non-Citizens who are exempt from the Appropriations Law requirements due to their status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on December 16, 2009 must provide a statement with their application noting their exemption with documentation of proof of status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on that date. All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.

How to Apply

Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement. Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application. If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, visit the USAJOBS Help Center. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS. As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact on this job opportunity announcement. IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DATE OF BIRTH ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS. WARNING! Applications submitted online must have a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

What to Expect Next

You may check the status of your application at any time on the USAJOBS website. Applicants should click 'Track this Application' in the Applicant Dashboard to receive application updates.

Additional Information

Relocation expenses WILL NOT be paid. This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Candidates must have a J.D. from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), plus 6 or more years of professional legal experience gained after completion of the pertinent degree. Candidates must have expertise related to the areas of law relevant to the position for which they wish to be considered, as articulated in the Duties and Experience section above. Bar Membership: Member in good standing of the bar of a State, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Also, desirable, but not required, is experience and/or interest in other areas of Federal government legal practice, such as intellectual property, federal property, and/or environmental law.