NAELA's CareerCenter

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Agency Information:

Become part of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)! DFC is America's development bank. DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today. We invest across sectors including energy, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and technology. DFC also provides financing for small businesses and women entrepreneurs to stimulate the creation of jobs in emerging markets. DFC investments adhere to high standards and respect the environment, human rights, and worker rights. Notably, the DFC moved from 16th place in 2021, up to the ninth spot for the 2022 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings.

Summary:

You will serve as an Assistant General Counsel in the Administrative Law group, Office of General Counsel (OGC), providing advice on the legal and policy aspects of DFC's operations as an independent federal agency and government corporation. We are looking for attorneys who can assess legal risk and identify ways to prevent, mitigate, or internalize it as appropriate, often in areas where there is no precedent.

Major Duties:

The Administrative Law group provides definitive legal advice on administrative law matters impacting the agency and advises on risks associated with the actions DFC undertakes in its unique role as the U.S. Government's development finance bank. Depending on expertise and team assignments, the incumbent:

• Identifies and analyzes problems and renders legal and strategic opinions on complex legal questions including questions which implicate multiple areas of law or for which there is often little or no legal precedent, including appropriations and fiscal law; the BUILD Act; federal employment and labor law; procurement; IT and cybersecurity; federal government ethics; legislative initiatives; congressional requests for information and other stakeholder reporting; and miscellaneous matters requiring interpretation of federal laws and regulations affecting DFC.
• May be called to render advice and recommendations to all levels of the organization, including to the General Counsel, other Vice Presidents, the CEO, and the Board of Directors. The incumbent is responsible for building and maintaining good working relationships with internal clients and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Leads, actively participates in, and contributes to the development of protocols, procedures and policies on all matters affecting DFC programs and administration, taking into account various interests and goals to achieve favorable outcomes.
• May be called to serve as subject matter expert in one or more specific areas of practice and to oversee the running of the agency's FOIA and/or ethics programs, providing related training, and holding related designations.
• May be called to represent the agency in administrative litigation, and provide related legal opinions and advice based on established legal precedent to officials in OGC and throughout the Corporation to resolve complex administrative and judicial litigation with minimal or no supervision. The incumbent may also represent DFC in its capacity as employer in appeals before administrative agencies such as the EEOC, the MSPB, and arbitrators.

The ideal candidates will possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Expert knowledge of multiple areas of administrative law and practice with an interest to learn and master additional areas of legal practice;
• Knowledge, skill, and ability to work as a general attorney, providing advice and counsel to internal clients and to senior management across functional areas;
• Ability to communicative effectively and succinctly, both orally and in writing, and to provide practical, clear, and convincing legal advice and opinions that are easy to understand by non-lawyers and by different audiences, including senior management, private sector counterparties and the interagency;
• Ability to interact and negotiate with individuals and groups of varied technical, cultural, and professional backgrounds;
• Apply customer-service oriented approach to legal practice; think outside of the box on legal questions; and be willing to take on new tasks and responsibilities.
• Knowledge of fiscal law, federal procurement, federal labor and employment, federal ethics, and/or small independent agencies and government corporation.

Conditions of Employment:

• The position is in the excepted service
• Must be a U.S. Citizen, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. is required
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation
• The incumbent will be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a secret security clearance
• This position may require travel

Additional Information:

• Salary will be based upon the locality pay areas, as defined by OPM, and will be adjusted based upon the selectee’s duty location.
• Applicants are encouraged to select "location negotiable" as their preferred duty station if they are interested in a remote opportunity. The option to work out of the DFC's office in downtown Washington, DC is available to candidates who are interested. If applicants select Washington, DC as their preferred duty station, the selectee may be expected to report to the office and follow the agency's telework policy.
• The duty location may be negotiable upon selection, but must reside within the U.S.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
• Telework Suitability: The duty of this position is suitable for telework. The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.
• Stipulations of Employment: Selection may require completion of a 2-year trial period.
• Work Schedule: This position allows for a flexible work schedule.
• Miscellaneous: DFC uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.
• If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.
• This is an open continuous announcement and applications will be extracted as vacancies occur. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies at DFC.
• This is not a Bargaining unit position.

Qualifications:

Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements at the time of submitting your application.

Basic Requirements: Applicants must (1) be a graduate of an accredited law school with an LL.B. or J.D.; (2) be a current member of a bar with a valid license to practice law in a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and (3) meet all specialized experience requirements as described below. An official transcript will be required if selected.

Specialized Experience:

You may qualify at the GS-14 level, if you meet the following qualification requirement: At least three years of full-time professional legal specialized experience gained after being admitted to the bar that is directly related to the position being filled. As least two of the three years of specialized experience must be at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the GS-13 level.

You may qualify at the GS-15 level, if you meet the following qualification requirement: At least five years of full-time professional legal specialized experience gained after being admitted to the bar that is directly related to the position being filled. At least three of the five years of specialized experience must be at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the GS-14 level.

Specialized experience is experience advising on legal and policy matters impacting federal agencies, including statutory and case law, executive orders, rules, regulations, and policies in various areas of administrative law. Experience working in international relations, international development, private sector finance or investments, and/or experience living or working in emerging markets are strong advantages.