Attorney Advisor (Assistant General Counsel - Employment Law)

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The U.S. National Science Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for an Attorney Advisor (Assistant General Counsel) position specializing in federal employment law, including employee relations, within the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Office of the Director (OD), in Alexandria, VA.

For more information on OGC please click here.

For more information on OD please click here.

This announcement will close on 07/24/2026 or once 150 applications are received, whichever occurs first.

Please refer to the Qualifications section.

If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, please also submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency. The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice and representation to ensure Foundation programs and operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders, including those addressing merit-based employment, accountability, and effective workforce management.

OGC seeks an attorney to serve as Assistant General Counsel for federal employment law.

The Assistant General Counsel will:

• Provide legal advice on federal personnel law, including employee relations, performance management, discipline, adverse actions, and workplace conduct, consistent with merit system principles and applicable Executive Orders.
• Advise on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) matters, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, ensuring compliance with federal nondiscrimination requirements.
• Counsel management on workplace issues, including harassment, misconduct, whistleblower protections, and professional standards of conduct.
• Represent the agency in administrative litigation, including matters before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Office of Special Counsel (OSC); perform discovery, draft motions, prepare witnesses, and conduct hearings and appeals.
• Advise supervisors and leadership on personnel actions and strategies to promote compliance, accountability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Support implementation and interpretation of workforce policies aligned with Executive Orders and federal guidance.
• Collaborate with Human Capital, civil rights, and other agency offices to ensure consistent legal interpretation and application of personnel policies.
• Monitor legal and policy developments in federal personnel law and provide timely guidance to leadership.
• Conduct legal research; analyze complex issues; and deliver clear written and oral legal advice.
• Participate in interagency efforts and working groups on personnel and workforce policy matters.
• Provide support on related legal areas, as needed, to meet OGC and agency mission requirements.

Candidates must have a J.D. from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), plus 6 or more years of professional legal experience gained after completion of the pertinent degree.

Candidates must have expertise related to the areas of law relevant to the position for which they wish to be considered, as articulated in the Duties and Experience section above.

Bar Membership: Member in good standing of the bar of a State, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Also, desirable, but not required, is experience and/or interest in other areas of Federal government legal practice, such as intellectual property, federal property, and/or environmental law.