Attorney-Advisor (International) Public Notice Flyer

Summary

The Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the Office of General Counsel, U.S. Department of Commerce, is seeking an individual with exceptional analytical, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills to join our team of Attorney-Advisors to provide legal and regulatory technical assistance to foreign countries and sovereign Tribes to accelerate the development of new energy and data center infrastructure, diversify energy supply chains, and advance shared prosperity.

Duties

CLDP's mission is to advance U.S. business interests and national security objectives around the world by providing technical assistance, advisory services, and sector planning support to improve the legal and regulatory conditions for trade and investment. For more about CLDP and specifically the Energy and Minerals team and what we do, please see our website https://cldp.doc.gov/areas-expertise/energyandminerals. This Attorney-Advisor position on the Energy and Minerals team would engage in cutting-edge legal and regulatory reform work advising foreign and Tribal governments around the world on the policies, laws, regulations, contracts, and standards for them to rapidly adopt new competitive power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure; incorporate new generation and storage resources into a grid; and structure financeable power generation and transmission projects in accordance with international best practice. As an Attorney-Advisor (International) Public Notice Flyer, you will perform the following duties: - Consult with senior foreign and Tribal government officials; assess development needs and barriers to investment; and design, implement and evaluate legal reform technical assistance programs that meet the policymakers and regulators' economic development needs and are in line with U.S. energy policy goals. - Organize and deliver expert legal advice for host countries to increase investment into energy infrastructure. - Collaborate across U.S. government agencies in the power and data center spaces, work with outside experts in energy/power law, and support the efforts of the U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Energy. - Engage foreign and Tribal governments in protecting the public interest in structuring procurement of new energy sources. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Attorney-Advisor (International) Public Notice Flyer GS-0905-13/14 14 positions within the Office of the Secretary in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Must be a law school graduate with a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. AND Must be able to verify ACTIVE BAR MEMBERSHIP in good standing in one of the 50 United States, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. 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. For this position, the candidate should meet the following criteria: This position is based in Washington D.C. This position may be filled at the GS 13 or 14 grade level depending on experience. Starting Salary Range is $121,785 to $143,913 with promotion potential to GS-14/10 ($187,093). To qualify for GS-13, applicants must possess a J.D., active U.S. state/territory bar membership, and a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience. To qualify for a GS-14, applicants must possess a J.D., active U.S. state/territory bar membership, and a minimum of 6 years of relevant professional experience. To qualify for a GS-13, applicants must possess a J.D., active U.S. state/territory bar membership, and a minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience as listed below.- Prior legal experience in the energy sector, most helpfully power generation, storage, and transmission. In this position, Attorney-Advisors will be expected to be able to converse with a variety of stakeholders on the structuring of rules relating to investment into power and energy, including generation, storage, and transmission infrastructure projects. Prior experience with the drafting or review of transactional documents in the energy sector, in particular the power sector. Examples include power purchase agreements, PILOT agreements, ROWs for transmission, utility franchise agreements, host government instruments in the power, energy or other related sectors, as well as project finance documents. Prior experience and/or familiarity with working with foreign governments, Tribal governments, and/or development finance institutions is strongly preferred. Regular international and domestic travel will be required, averaging around 6-8 trips per year, to global and occasionally domestic destinations. CLDP Attorney-Advisors in this position carry out many of their programs in the host countries around the world and on the Trust lands of sovereign Tribes, and also bring delegations from foreign countries to the U.S. for study tours. Knowledge of another language is not required but is preferred. Must be able to verify active bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

Education

Must be a law school graduate with a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. See Qualifications Above.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process. There are no numerical rating systems through which to apply veterans preference; however, the Office of the General Counsel favorably considers veterans preference eligibility in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume. If selected, additional information may be required.

Required Documents

A complete application consists of the following: Cover letter. Address demonstrated interests and qualifications as it relates to the position. Resume showing relevant experience. Your resume should list your educational and work experience, including the dates (mm/dd/yyyy) and provide the hours per week, if less than 40. For work in the Federal Service, please include the pay plan and grade level for the position(s). Copy of law school transcript. (Unofficial copy is sufficient, but official copy must be submitted before appointment). You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient. Certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing. Prior to receiving an offer, you will be asked to provide a certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing. Failure to provide documents, if selected, may result in lost consideration. Please DO NOT put your SSN on pages within your application package. Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

How to Apply

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING RESUMES AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION To be considered, please submit a current resume (up to 2 pages), law school unofficial transcript (if selected an official transcript is required), and cover letter to kweaver@doc.gov AND cldpjobs@doc.gov. Please use the subject line: Attorney-Advisor (Power and Data Centers) For more information about CLDP and our work, visit cldp.doc.gov. Agency Contact: Kenyon Weaver, Senior Counsel - kweaver@doc.gov

What to Expect Next

Once your application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your eligibility. You will only be contacted if you are found eligible and if you are selected for an interview. Applicants selected for interviews may be requested to provide a legal writing sample. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for OGC to share your application with others in OGC for similar positions. By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).

Additional Information

This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Must be a law school graduate with a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. AND Must be able to verify ACTIVE BAR MEMBERSHIP in good standing in one of the 50 United States, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. 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. For this position, the candidate should meet the following criteria: This position is based in Washington D.C. This position may be filled at the GS 13 or 14 grade level depending on experience. Starting Salary Range is $121,785 to $143,913 with promotion potential to GS-14/10 ($187,093). To qualify for GS-13, applicants must possess a J.D., active U.S. state/territory bar membership, and a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience. To qualify for a GS-14, applicants must possess a J.D., active U.S. state/territory bar membership, and a minimum of 6 years of relevant professional experience. To qualify for a GS-13, applicants must possess a J.D., active U.S. state/territory bar membership, and a minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience as listed below.- Prior legal experience in the energy sector, most helpfully power generation, storage, and transmission. In this position, Attorney-Advisors will be expected to be able to converse with a variety of stakeholders on the structuring of rules relating to investment into power and energy, including generation, storage, and transmission infrastructure projects. Prior experience with the drafting or review of transactional documents in the energy sector, in particular the power sector. Examples include power purchase agreements, PILOT agreements, ROWs for transmission, utility franchise agreements, host government instruments in the power, energy or other related sectors, as well as project finance documents. Prior experience and/or familiarity with working with foreign governments, Tribal governments, and/or development finance institutions is strongly preferred. Regular international and domestic travel will be required, averaging around 6-8 trips per year, to global and occasionally domestic destinations. CLDP Attorney-Advisors in this position carry out many of their programs in the host countries around the world and on the Trust lands of sovereign Tribes, and also bring delegations from foreign countries to the U.S. for study tours. Knowledge of another language is not required but is preferred. Must be able to verify active bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.