Senior Level Counsel (TEGEDC)

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Learn about our Legal Divisions For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) The Senior Level Counsel serves as the lead technical expert to the Division Counsel and Deputy Division Counsel of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division (TEGEDC) for matters under the jurisdiction of TEGEDC, including employee benefit programs (including qualified retirement plans, deferred compensation arrangements, and health and welfare programs), executive compensation, exempt organizations, federal, state, local and Indian tribal governments, tax-exempt bonds, and employment tax. The Senior Level Counsel leads the effort to assist clients in identifying emerging issues and developing compliance strategies.

The Senior Level Counsel assists senior executives in the formulation of policies and programs for the operation of the Office of Chief Counsel and performs special assignments of the highest complexity and impact on a case or project.

Major duties of the Senior Level Counsel include, but are not limited to the following:

• Acts as a legal and technical expert to Counsel executives on the most difficult, important, and complex professional legal matters arising in the administration of the internal revenue laws.
• Serves as a chief legal advisor to the Division Counsel and Deputy Division Counsel on sensitive and controversial litigation strategies, transactions, and other technical TEGEDC issues and matters such as those involving political campaign activities, churches, or high-profile organizations or entities.
• Analyzes legal and policy matters affecting the IRS Client (i.e., TE/GE, Small Business/ Self-Employed (SB/SE) Employment Tax, and Large Business & International (LB&I) Compensation and Benefits) by interpreting legal principles in a practical manner so that these clients can incorporate those principles into their business practices; harmonizes legal and policy issues; develops new or alternative positions to meet changing business needs; and provides seasoned judgment and advice.
• Serves as a technical expert and liaison for TEGEDC and the Office of Chief Counsel on the most significant litigation and litigation-related matters with the IRS, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of the Treasury.
• Coordinates and collaborates with other Division and Associate offices to maintain a consistent litigation approach within and between Divisions, to support the Division's efforts to sustain continued success of all aspects of TEGEDC's litigation program.
• Provides legal advice and guidance to the IRS on abusive transaction matters involving TEGEDC issues; assists with formulation of compliance efforts, settlement initiatives, and litigation strategies; provides technical expertise to IRS executives, technical advisors, and program managers; and oversees promoter and preparer investigations and suits.
• Directly supports TEGEDC clients and serves as the agency expert and technical lead across Counsel on all matters relating to promoter and preparer investigations.
• Advises on a broad array of activities designed to fulfill Counsel's responsibilities to prepare, review, and assist in the preparation of proposed legislation involving matters under the jurisdiction of TEGEDC.
• Manages complex and significant special projects for TEGEDC, including selecting and reviewing proposals, monitoring work group needs and progress, and facilitating the movement of recommendations regarding these matters through the decision-making process.
• Represents Counsel at top level IRS and Treasury meetings and conferences and in meetings with executives from other agencies where policy is developed and determined. Such representations are for the purposes of furthering, setting forth, and explaining the position of Counsel, the IRS, and Treasury as they relate to matters under the jurisdiction of TEGEDC.
• Performs exhaustive and detailed research on complicated legal problems and prepares recommendations as to the position to be taken by Counsel. Makes such recommendations without review and as appropriate except for cases where the Senior Level Counsel assesses a higher-level review is required or as otherwise specifically directed.

Performs other duties as assigned and/or delegated by the Chief Counsel, Deputy Chief Counsels or Division Counsel.

To qualify for this position of Senior Level Counsel you must meet the following requirements:

• Possess at least the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; AND
• Applicants must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Desired Education/Experience: An LL.M. in Taxation is desired but not required. Seven years of professional legal tax experience is desired.

To meet the minimum requirements for a Senior Level position, candidates must be a recognized subject matter expert with directly related experience. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at the GS-15 or equivalent level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. Candidates must demonstrate their experience meets the Mandatory Technical Qualifications for this position in their two-page resume and this experience must have been at a sufficiently high level of difficulty to clearly show the candidate possesses the required subject matter expertise and technical qualifications set forth below.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To be considered, the resume must not exceed two pages. Written narratives for the Mandatory Technical Qualifications are not required. Candidates must demonstrate their experience meets the Mandatory Technical Qualifications for this position in their two-page resume.

Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs):
All candidates must show evidence in their resume of the following mandatory technical competencies to meet basic qualifications for this position. Written narratives for the Mandatory Technical Qualifications are not required.

MTQs: