Summary Serves as an Attorney-Adviser at the senior level within the Employment and Labor Law Division representing the agency concerning all aspects of class action litigation. Responsibilities Recognized as an expert on a major aspect of the law pertinent to important FAA programs and missions. Leads highly complex, highly visible and challenging activities. Applies expertise to identify and resolve highly complex problems that often cross organizational boundaries. Work directly affects the objectives of AGC and other FAA organizations, and often affects major components of the aviation industry and other external organizations. Formulates and recommends legal positions to senior agency managers who accept opinions and work products as authoritative. Applies considerable legal knowledge and experience, expert knowledge of FAA programs, and the aviation industry to assignments. Reports to the Deputy Assistant Chief Counsel for Employment and Labor Law. Handles all aspects of class action, collective action, multi-plaintiff, and complex and sensitive employment litigation matters, including class certification, class decertification/modification, discovery, motion practice, trial, and appeal with a significant amount of independence. Responsible for drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, appeals, and any other related written documents, with minimal oversight. Interacts with high-level Headquarters and Regional agency management officials, to provide expert legal advice and strategy regarding any and all matters assigned to the practice area. Provides advice and counsel to agency leadership in anticipation of future litigation, and on the impact of current cases. Represents the agency in employment and labor law matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and other administrative fora; and, in conjunction with the Department of Justice and US Attorney's Offices, in federal courts. Works in conjunction with AGC leadership, assesses the need for outside counsel to support FAA class action, collective action, multi-plaintiff, and employment litigation cases. Establishes and maintains a high level of trust with executive-level management within the Office of the Chief Counsel, and with other agency executives, senior managers or officials of the FAA, the DOT, and other federal agencies. Manages complex and difficult legal questions or factual issues that may require original and creative legal thinking to resolve. Mentors a team, in a non-supervisory capacity, of support staff and attorneys who also assist in handling class action, collective action, multi-plaintiff, and employment litigation. Conducts thorough legal research by appropriately identifying and analyzing relevant legal and factual issues and arguments. Assesses legal strengths and weaknesses of available arguments to provide accurate, complete, and practical legal advice and conclusions. Identifies and learns emerging issues, principles, and practices relevant to the legal practice area. Produces communications that are well-organized, clear and persuasive. Consistently puts forth effort needed to accomplish tasks and produce work that is timely and of professional quality. Provides advice tailored to the client and requirements of the agency, and maintains an appropriate balance. Effectively adjusts communications and/or advice to meet audience expectations and level of understanding. Keeps practice area and AGC management informed of client issues and activities that may or should be discussed at a higher management level. Keeps supervisor timely informed of developments on the legal matters. Educates clients about efficient and effective use of legal resources. Delegates work to the appropriate level for competent and timely completion. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications To qualify for this position, ALL applicants MUST meet the following criteria: (1) have a JD Degree from an accredited law school; (2) be admitted to practice before the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction or within the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico; (3) be an active member of that bar; and (4) demonstrate at least one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to the next lower grade/pay band (FG/GS-14/FV-J) that is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: Experience litigating and providing expert legal advice and counsel concerning class action, collective action, multi-plaintiff, and complex and sensitive employment litigation matters. You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered. Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification. Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; or (3) alphabetical, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration. NOTE: As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate. Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. Education This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page). Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration. Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation. Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence at the time of application. For additional information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Applicants who are not currently in the 905 occupational series (Attorney) in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 905 occupational series (Attorney), you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it. Additional Information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family. Leave Enhancement: FAA organizations may offer enhanced annual leave accrual to newly appointed or reappointed employees. In order to receive consideration for such a benefit, applicants' prior non-Federal service or active duty uniformed service must directly relate to the duties of the position to which appointed. Granting enhanced annual leave is at the sole discretion of the hiring organization, and granting such benefit is not an entitlement nor guaranteed to any newly hired employee. NOTES: 1) This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: http://jobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm. 2) Some, all, or none of the referred applicants may be interviewed. 3) The base salary range above will be adjusted to include the applicable locality pay: Anchorage, AK: $162,365-$221,900 (31.96% for Alaska area) El Segundo, CA: $167,139-$221,900 (35.84% for Los Angeles, CA area) Washington, DC: $163,964-$221,900 (33.26% for Washington, DC area) Miramar, FL: $153,088-$210,740 (24.42% for Miami, FL area) College Park, GA: $151,894-$209,097 (23.45% for Atlanta, GA area) Des Plaines, IL: $160,458-$220,886 (30.41% for Chicago, IL area) Burlington, MA: $162,377-$221,900 (31.97% for Boston, MA area) Kansas City, MO: $145,988-$200,967 (18.65% for Kansas City, MO area) Atlantic City, NJ: $158,169-$217,735 (28.55% for Philadelphia, PA area) New York, Queens, NY: $168,861-$221,900 (37.24% for New York, NY area) Oklahoma City, OK: $143,736-$197,867 (16.82% for Rest of U.S. area) Fort Worth, TX: $156,151-$214,958 (26.91% for Dallas, TX area) Des Moines, WA: $160,950-$221,563 (30.81% for Seattle, WA area) This is not a bargaining unit position. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA