Attorney-Advisor (General)

This position is located in the Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA) and the duty station is at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the Office of General Counsel. Under the supervision and oversight of the DARPA General Counsel and the Deputy General Counsel the Assistant/Associate General Counsel provides a full range of legal support to assigned DARPA offices and programs. The Assistant/Associate General Counsel also serves as a designated ethics counselor.

This is a Career Ladder Position. If selected at the GS-13 level (Assistant General Counsel) the incumbent may be noncompetitively promoted to the GSlevel (Associate General Counsel) and ultimately to the target position GSlevel (Associate General Counsel) without further competition once time-in-grade training satisfactory performance and other requirements of the higher grade level are met. The duties listed below are examples of full performance at the GSlevel.

The duties for levels GSand GSare similar or the same as those for the GS-15 level except for the volume and/or complexity of work and level of assistance and oversight provided.

As an Attorney-Advisor (General) you will be responsible for the following duties and other duties as assigned:

• Serves as a legal advisor to assigned DARPA offices and programs providing legal advice counsel and guidance on the full range of DARPA operations across multiple practice areas including federal procurement intellectual property fiscal civilian personnel environmental ethics and Standards of Conduct international space cyber and privacy law.
• Provides advice to DARPA contracting officials regarding the administration of DARPA contracts including contract drafting negotiation interpretation termination and disputes. Provides similar legal services for non-procurement instruments such as Other Transaction Agreements grants cooperative agreements Cooperative Research and Development Agreements and Partnership Intermediary Agreements.
• Advises on ethics/standards of conduct issues such as conflicts of interest seeking employment outside activities and post-government employment.
• Represents DARPA and as applicable assists the Department of Justice in litigation matters. Litigation matters include: patent infringement claims copyright claims and other intellectual property disputes; protests and claims before the Government Accountability Office and Court of Federal Claims; harassment/discrimination complaints before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and appeals of personnel actions before the Merit Systems Protection Board.
• Assists DARPAs Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) team in reviewing and responding to FOIA requests including advising on FOIA litigation matters.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Application materials must be received by 11:59PM EST on the closing date.
• This is a drug testing designated position.
• This is an Excepted Service position.
• Work Schedule: Full Time
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized at managements discretion.
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is eligible for situational telework only.
• Occasional Travel
• Males born after December 31 1959 must be registered for Selective Service:
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information Clearance
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period

Applicants will be evaluated on: (1) depth breadth and quality of recent and relevant professional legal experience with an emphasis on FAR-based contracting and non-procurement instruments such as Other Transaction Agreements grants cooperative agreements Cooperative Research and Development Agreements and Partnership Intermediary Agreements; (2) analytical research and writing skills; (3) oral communication; (4) ability to establish relationships with clients; and (5) ability to provide timely accurate practical and responsive legal advice.

To qualify at the GS-13 level applicants must have recent and relevant professional legal experience in excess of two (2) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

To qualify at the GS-14 levelapplicants must have recent and relevant professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

To qualify at the GS-15 level applicants must have at least five (5) years recent substantial and relevant professional legal experience that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the addition to qualify at the GS-15 level applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform with substantial independence even when working on the most complex or difficult matters. Knowledge of and experience with DoW is highly desirable but not mandatory. Applicants with experience advising senior officials or clients are desired.

Salary will be set within the range specified in this vacancy announcement based on the complexity of work to be performed the applicants experience education training and availability of funds.

Qualification standards for attorney positions may be found in DoD Directive 1442.02 Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys at DoD Instruction 1442.02 April 13 2023 ().