Counsel to the Inspector General

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Legal Services (OLS) within the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (OIG). OLS provides legal advice and covering the full range of activities within the OIG, including investigations, audits, inspections, and evaluations. The office also advises on the Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act of 1974, records management, congressional reports, Controlled Unclassified Information, the government ethics program and employee conduct.

Duties

Serves as the Counsel to the Inspector General. At the request of the Inspector General, serves as a representative of OIG before Federal agencies, councils, state and local governments, and other organizations. and provides authoritative legal representation for the Inspector General. Speaks for the Inspector General on legal opinions concerning all OIG related issues. Primary source for legal advice in the OIG. Directs the review and analysis of new laws and regulations affecting the IG Act and its amendments. Directs the formulation of policies resulting from new laws, regulations, the setting of precedents, and the continual analysis of the IG Act and its amendments. Responsible for interpretations and evaluations, often without legal precedent. Provides litigation support. Directs the legal program of the OIG. Activities of the legal staff include: the management of Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act and Ethics; provision of litigation support services to the Department of Justice; representation of OIG employees in civil and administrative proceedings. Coordinates with representatives from the Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, Department of Justice, etc. Manages and directs the full range of professional legal services through a staff of attorneys. Manages and directs a legal program which provides expert and independent legal counsel to the Inspector General and staff both in the national and regional/field offices.

Qualifications

You must meet the Basic Requirements listed in the Education Requirements section and the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications to qualify for Counsel to the Inspector General, as described below. As a minimum requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications. Candidates must have had experience at a major management level (normally equivalent to the GS-15 level in the federal service). To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes must use a font size no smaller than 10-point, and margins no smaller than one inch. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Technical Qualifications (TQs) or the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. TQ 1: Demonstrated experience in addressing legal issues relating to audits and evaluations of federal programs and operations, and legal issues relating to criminal, civil, and administrative investigations of federal programs, employees, contractors, and grantees. TQ 2: Demonstrated experience in addressing legal issues relating to federal ethics, procurement, appropriations, litigation procedures, employee relations, whistleblower retaliation, Freedom of Information Act, and the Privacy Act. TQ 3: Demonstrated experience in providing sound legal advice and counsel to senior executives and management officials in analyzing complex legal problems, in making sound legal decisions, and in supervising and managing highly skilled attorneys and support staff. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position. There are five ECQs: ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Applicants must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school AND be an active member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the U.S., District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. You must submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent and proof of bar certification. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your application will be evaluated based on your 2-page resume and how well it demonstrates the required qualifications. Your resume must clearly substantiate the ECQs and TQs; if it does not, your application will be deemed ineligible. Current/Former Career SES or SES Candidate Development graduates who have been certified by OPM must submit a Standard Form 50 that documents your SES Career appointment or a copy of your OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program certificate. Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (MTQ) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

Required Documents

Thoroughly review the following list to determine the documentation you need to submit. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date (08/14/2026) to receive consideration. If you fail to submit the required documentation before the announcement closes, you will be rated ineligible. A complete application includes items described below. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible). Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. 1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs. PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER. 2. TRANSCRIPTS: You must submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. NOTE: The OFFICIAL Transcript(s) MUST BE RECEIVED, if you are selected, and prior to receiving the firm offer with a start date. 3. BAR CERTIFICATION: You will be required to submit documentation verifying that you are an active member of the Bar in Good Standing of any State, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any Territorial Court under the U.S. Constitution. 4. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable: CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEMBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility. SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification. CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Most recent performance evaluation

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete this application and submit any required documents specified in the Required Documents section and submit by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select and upload your resume and/or other required documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the "Include Personal Information" section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. It is applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and uploaded, (i.e., resume and other required documents) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail.

What to Expect Next

To verify the status of your application, sign in to your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The Division of Executive Resources will review all applications to determine if applicants meet the qualifications of this position. A subject matter expert may be consulted in the initial review. Those who meet the qualifications will be referred to a panel of SES members for rating and ranking to determine the best qualified candidates. The panel will make a recommendation to the selecting official about the top candidates that s/he should interview. Once a selection is made, the selectee's application will be forwarded to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for approval by an OPM independent Qualificat...

You must meet the Basic Requirements listed in the Education Requirements section and the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications to qualify for Counsel to the Inspector General, as described below. As a minimum requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications. Candidates must have had experience at a major management level (normally equivalent to the GS-15 level in the federal service). To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes must use a font size no smaller than 10-point, and margins no smaller than one inch. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Technical Qualifications (TQs) or the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. TQ 1: Demonstrated experience in addressing legal issues relating to audits and evaluations of federal programs and operations, and legal issues relating to criminal, civil, and administrative investigations of federal programs, employees, contractors, and grantees. TQ 2: Demonstrated experience in addressing legal issues relating to federal ethics, procurement, appropriations, litigation procedures, employee relations, whistleblower retaliation, Freedom of Information Act, and the Privacy Act. TQ 3: Demonstrated experience in providing sound legal advice and counsel to senior executives and management officials in analyzing complex legal problems, in making sound legal decisions, and in supervising and managing highly skilled attorneys and support staff. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position. There are five ECQs: ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.