Attorney Advisor

Federal Communications Commission•District of Columbia, DC

17h•Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Enforcement Bureau (EB) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, DC. Selectees will be assigned to a division within EB; relocation expenses will not be paid. The vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional positions within 90 days. The Attorney Advisor supports the Commission’s enforcement of the Communications Act and FCC rules across regulated industries. The role provides legal advice to division leadership on complex, policy-oriented enforcement matters, including fraud, waste, and abuse involving FCC-administered funds; equipment authorization rules and 911 system failures; formal complaints against common carriers and utility pole owners; administrative hearings; and national security risks. Attorneys may serve in the Investigations & Hearings Division, Fraud Division, Market Disputes Resolution Division, or Spectrum Enforcement Division. The position handles complex legal cases involving difficult factual situations, limited clear precedent, potentially conflicting interests, significant industry and public impacts, or intense public interest. The Attorney Advisor analyzes issues, makes recommendations to supervisors, and supports investigations and legal actions. Legal conclusions are developed in conjunction with a supervisor, with the attorney identifying, researching, and communicating accurate and timely information for informed decisions. Duties may include making factual findings based on audits, investigations, complaints, or compliance reports; researching applicable law and policy; drafting Memorandum Opinions and Orders for Commission approval; resolving litigation between parties and mediating pre-complaint disputes; preparing charging documents for Commission approval; negotiating settlements; developing evidentiary records for administrative hearings; and devising and implementing policies to advance enforcement goals. The Attorney Advisor interprets the Communications Act, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and Commission rules, regulations, and policies, including those affecting telecommunications services. The incumbent keeps current on relevant legal developments by reviewing court and Commission decisions, professional publications, trade press, Congressional actions, and other agencies’ regulations.

Requirements

Professional law degree: JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M.
Bar membership documentation is required upon selection.
GS-11: No specialized experience is required beyond the educational qualification requirements.
GS-12: At least one year of full-time professional law experience gained after admission to the bar, including at least one year of directly related specialized experience at a difficulty and responsibility level equivalent to a GS-11 attorney. Specialized experience includes in-depth legal research, drafting legal documents, and providing input regarding resolution of legal issues.
GS-13: At least two years of full-time professional law experience gained after admission to the bar, including at least one year of directly related specialized experience at a difficulty and responsibility level equivalent to a GS-12 attorney. Specialized experience includes in-depth legal research, preparing complex legal documents, developing research strategies for legal issues, and making oral presentations to communicate legal information.
GS-11 competencies: Ability to identify and analyze complex or novel legal issues arising from regulatory filings, petitions, contested proceedings, licensing matters, or enforcement actions; and conduct in-depth legal research on statutes, regulations, legislative history, case law, and/or administrative law principles.
GS-12 competencies: GS-11 competencies, plus skill in providing written and oral recommendations to senior attorneys, leadership, or senior-level officials on proposed courses of action.
GS-13 competencies: GS-12 competencies, plus ability to assess and provide guidance on technical and policy implications of laws and regulations.
Must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the announcement closing date; current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by that date.
U.S. citizenship is required.
Must be suitable for federal employment as determined by a background investigation.
Must serve a one-year probationary or trial period, if applicable.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or have an exemption.
A financial disclosure statement may be required upon assuming the position.
Applicants must submit a resume no longer than two pages that meets the required format criteria and supports their responses to vacancy questions.
Current FCC employees and current federal employees must submit a legible SF-50 verifying status and highest permanently held grade; current FCC employees must provide an SF-50 verifying grade and status, and an SF-50 documenting one year of time in grade is required.
A transcript is required upon selection if it was not provided with the application.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and the ideals of the American republic.

Responsibilities

Provide authoritative legal advice to the Division Chief, Deputy Division Chief, and other supervisors on complex, policy-oriented enforcement issues.
Identify, research, and communicate legal information to support well-reasoned conclusions and informed decisions by division managers.
Analyze complex legal cases and make recommendations to division supervisors.
Execute tasks needed to complete investigations and issue legal actions.
Make findings of fact based on audits, investigations, complaints, or compliance reports.
Research applicable law and policy.
Draft Memorandum Opinions and Orders for Commission approval resolving litigation between parties, and mediate pre-complaint disputes.
Prepare charging documents, including Notices of Apparent Liability, Citations, and Forfeiture Orders, for Commission approval.
Negotiate settlements with targets of division investigations where appropriate.
Develop evidentiary records for adjudicative administrative hearings.
Devise and implement policies to advance the Commission’s enforcement goals and objectives.
Interpret the Communications Act, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and Commission rules, regulations, and policies.
Keep abreast of legal developments affecting enforcement and broadcast or telecommunications regulatory matters by reviewing court and Commission decisions, publications, trade press, Congressional actions, and other agencies’ regulations.