Attorney

Office of the Director of National Intelligence • Bethesda, MD

1d

About The Position

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) provides legal advice and counsel to the Director of National Intelligence and other ODNI officials on a broad range of matters. These include intelligence and national security law; procurement and acquisition law; personnel law; government ethics and fiscal law; general administrative law; legislative support; Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act matters; and intellectual property law.

The Attorney provides expert legal advice and guidance on complex issues affecting ODNI and the Intelligence Community (IC), interprets relevant legal authorities, counsels government officials, prepares legal documents, and coordinates legal guidance across agencies. The role also involves legal research and analysis, reviewing planned activities for legal compliance, advising on legislation and congressional testimony, representing ODNI and IC positions before various bodies, assisting the Department of Justice with litigation, and negotiating contracts and agreements.

This is an excepted-service GS-15 position open to the public and eligible current federal employees. A two-year trial period applies to new permanent ODNI appointments. Selected candidates may be eligible for incentive or retention payments of 10% of base salary. The position requires U.S. citizenship and residence in the United States, a background investigation, and the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship and residence in the United States.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance based on a single-scope background investigation, with eligibility for sensitive compartmented information (SCI).
• Expert ability to interpret laws, regulations, judicial decisions, Executive orders, and statutes involving complex concepts and issues.
• Expert-level research, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Expert-level knowledge of one or more OGC practice areas, such as federal taxation, federal employee ethics, Equal Employment Opportunity law, contracts, operations law, administrative law, or litigation.
• Expert interviewing skills and ability to collect relevant information while balancing client needs with professional objectivity and integrity.
• Ability to prepare and edit clear, concise, accurate, persuasive written materials on complex topics that meet applicable legal standards.
• Ability to synthesize facts and law quickly and make legally sound decisions in complex, ambiguous, or ill-defined situations.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts effectively to varied audiences and make sound, timely decisions.
• Superior interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, including the ability to work independently.
• Doctorate of Jurisprudence or Bachelor of Laws degree from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
• Active membership in the bar of the highest court of a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; proof of bar status is required.
• At least 5 years of professional legal experience after bar admission to qualify at the GS-15 level.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• Current federal employees applying must submit their most recent SF-50, dated within 52 weeks of the vacancy announcement closing date, to verify eligibility. Current federal employees at GS-13 and below are not eligible; applicants at GS-15 and one grade below may apply.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert oral and written legal advice and guidance on complex legal matters involving ODNI and IC business.
• Interpret and explain laws, regulations, policies, and other legal authorities.
• Counsel executive-level government officials on complex legal issues and recommend effective courses of action.
• Prepare complex, high-profile, persuasive legal documents for internal and external recipients.
• Coordinate legal guidance across OGC, ODNI, the IC, and the Executive Branch.
• Mediate, negotiate, and resolve inter-agency and intra-agency disputes across legal practice areas.
• Anticipate or prevent legal problems through strategic lawyering.
• Conduct or direct legal research and analysis on complex or sensitive matters, including interviews and investigations, and brief ODNI leadership on findings.
• Review planned ODNI and IC activities for legal compliance; brief leaders on potential legal and policy issues and develop solutions to difficult legal problems.
• Analyze laws, bills, reports, congressional records, and proposed Executive Branch orders, directives, regulations, and policy statements for their effects on ODNI and the IC.
• Advise senior management on ODNI and IC legislative proposals, including congressional testimony.
• Brief and advocate for ODNI and IC positions before judges, administrative bodies, Executive Branch entities, Congress, and private-sector entities.
• Brief senior ODNI and IC management on legal issues related to their activities.
• Assist the Department of Justice with complex civil and criminal litigation by advocating ODNI's position, protecting classified information, and defending IC employees' official actions.
• Negotiate complex contracts and other agreements with government agencies, private-sector entities, and foreign liaison.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families.
• Selected candidates may be entitled to incentive or retention payments of 10% of base salary.
• Relocation reimbursement for new ODNI employees may be available at the agency's discretion, subject to funding.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree