Public Notice for Attorney Advisor (Direct Hire)

Transportation Security Administration•Springfield, VA

About The Position

The Attorney Advisor is located in the Regulations Division of the Transportation Security Administration’s Office of Chief Counsel, within the Department of Homeland Security. The position provides legal counsel on regulatory law, security standards, compliance, and the interpretation and application of statutes, regulations, policies, and agency requirements affecting TSA and transportation security. The role advises policymakers, managers, executive-level staff, and external stakeholders on complex and sensitive legal issues, including policy and regulatory development, implementation, compliance, and threats to transportation security. It develops legal analyses and briefings, recommends legally supportable approaches to emerging issues, and coordinates with other federal entities. The position also drafts and reviews regulations, security standards, and related legal and administrative documents. The announcement covers multiple pay bands, from SV-G through SV-K. Qualification requirements vary by band and include an ABA-accredited law degree, active bar membership in good standing, and—in applicable bands—specialized legal experience. Higher bands require progressively greater experience in regulatory counsel, risk assessment, enforcement or administrative litigation, national security or transportation matters, and mentoring junior attorneys. The successful applicant must complete a favorable background investigation and obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.

Requirements

Graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; a J.D. or LL.B. is acceptable.
Active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a state, U.S. territory or commonwealth, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
Must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
Must complete a favorable background investigation.
Must obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
Must comply with Selective Service registration requirements.
Must submit a law school transcript and a certificate of bar membership with proof of good standing.
For SV-G: one year of specialized experience equivalent to SV-F/GS-09, including legal research and analysis with written legal work, and preparing legal documents for review by a senior attorney; or graduation from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing.
For SV-H: one year of specialized experience equivalent to SV-G/GS-11, including legal research and written legal work, preparing legal documents for senior attorney review, and reviewing legal precedents and preparing written recommendations.
For SV-I: one year of specialized experience equivalent to SV-H/GS-12, including complex legal research and factual investigation, writing complex legal opinions or guidance interpreting laws or regulations and assisting with drafting regulations or orders, and advising on regulatory compliance.
For SV-J: one year of specialized experience equivalent to SV-I/GS-13, including regulatory legal counsel and policy guidance, regulatory legal risk assessment and recommendations, and handling regulatory enforcement, administrative litigation, hearings, or appeals.
For SV-K: one year of specialized experience equivalent to SV-J/GS-14, including regulatory counsel concerning intelligence, national security, transportation infrastructure, or threats to the traveling public; risk assessment and recommendations; enforcement or administrative litigation matters; and training, mentoring, or guiding junior attorneys.

Nice To Haves

Practical experience with rulemaking, compliance, enforcement, and administrative procedures.
Familiarity with the Administrative Procedure Act, Federal Register process, and agency rulemaking procedures.
Effective communication skills when advising clients across organizational levels.
Extensive experience with regulatory drafting and review in a federal agency.
Experience with emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and implementing administration priorities.

Responsibilities

Provide expert legal guidance on administrative law, regulatory and security standards, and compliance to TSA and external stakeholders on complex and sensitive issues.
Advise policymakers and managers on the development, implementation, and compliance implications of new or sensitive policies, programs, regulations, and security standards.
Communicate legal advice and agency positions clearly to varied audiences, incorporating stakeholder input as appropriate.
Propose preventive actions and legal approaches to maintain the legal sufficiency and compliance of TSA regulations, standards, policies, and practices as requirements evolve.
Recommend legally supportable solutions to complex regulatory and security standards issues involving emerging interpretations or changing operational needs.
Serve as a primary legal authority on major regulatory law, security standards, and compliance issues affecting the transportation industry.
Develop briefings and legal analyses conveying TSA’s regulatory and security standards positions to stakeholders and decision-makers.
Support policymakers in coordinating legally sound regulatory, compliance, and security countermeasures with federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities.
Draft and review regulations, security standards documents, and related legal actions, including policy-decision documentation, administrative records, Memoranda of Understanding, Privacy Impact Assessments, Paperwork Reduction Act documents, System of Records Notices, legal opinions, and guidance documents.
Serve as a lead legal advisor to executive-level staff on regulatory law, security standards compliance, and administrative policy related to transportation security policies, strategies, and plans.
Depending on pay band, conduct legal research and factual investigations; analyze legal and factual issues; write legal opinions, memoranda, recommendations, and guidance; review precedents; assist with drafting regulations or orders; advise on regulatory compliance; handle enforcement matters, administrative litigation, hearings, or appeals; and train or mentor junior attorneys.