Attorney-Advisor (Regulatory & Legislative Affairs)

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The Attorney-Advisor in the Regulatory and Legislative Affairs division of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration serves as the legal counsel to agency regulatory development teams and provides legal advice, document drafting, and legal sufficiency review of regulatory instruments including rulemaking notices involving motor carrier and driver safety; hazardous material transportation; and motor carrier licensing, operations, and commercial regulations.

MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

As an Attorney-Advisor (Regulatory & Legislative Affairs), you will:

• Provide legal services for implementing and overseeing the national motor carrier safety policy and the national goals of FMCSA to promote and regulate commercial motor vehicle safety in accordance with Title 49, U.S. Code.
• Research and prepare legal documents (rulemakings, opinions, guidance, interpretations, orders, etc.) implementing FMCSA’s statutory authorities and regulations and correspondence interpreting statutes and regulations applicable to the motor carrier safety programs and policies of FMCSA.
• Research complex and policy-sensitive legal issues to develop or support the agency's position on matters within the Office of Chief Counsel's responsibility.
• Serve as legal counsel to the agency’s regulatory development teams to assist in the formulation of legally sound and defensible regulations, provide drafting support, and conduct full legal sufficiency review of agency rulemaking work products.
• Review and assesses for clarity, accuracy, and legal sufficiency policy guidance, correspondence, and other documents prepared by agency program offices.

The ideal candidate for this position will have experience drafting memoranda, correspondence, regulations, guidance documents, and/or legal opinions; experience drafting and evaluating legislative proposals, testimony before legislative bodies (e.g. Congress), or responses to legislative inquiries; strong legal research skills and the ability to interpret complex statutes and regulations, particularly those applicable to commercial motor vehicle safety, (which may include medical, health, and physical qualifications, drug and alcohol testing programs, electronic data systems, or emerging technologies like automation or cyber-security, among others); an extensive working knowledge of the Administrative Procedure Act, statutes related to regulatory evaluation, and executive orders and procedures applicable to the Federal rulemaking process; strong communication skills both orally and in writing (drafting and editing); and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment, as well as the ability to work independently with limited direct supervision.

To qualify, your experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following:

GRADE 13 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least Two years of professional attorney experience working as an attorney handling regulatory, legislative, or compliance matters; practicing administrative law or litigation; or applying and interpreting Federal or State statutes and regulations relating to commercial motor vehicle safety or other Federal statutes.

GRADE 14 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least Three years of professional attorney experience working as an attorney handling regulatory, legislative, or compliance matters; practicing administrative law or litigation; or applying and interpreting Federal or State statutes and
regulations relating to commercial motor vehicle safety or other Federal statutes.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

Administrative Law - Knowledge of state and Federal administrative laws, including procedures, regulations, guidelines, and precedents related to case preparation and settlements.

Interpersonal Skills (‡) - Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.

Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.

Oral Communication (*) - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.