Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Opening at HHS Office of General Counsel

The Office of the General Counsel of the United States Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) is seeking to fill several advisory-attorney
positions (GS 11/12/13/14) for its Ethics Division, which provides legal
services involving federal criminal conflict of interest statutes, standards
of ethical conduct regulations, financial disclosure requirements,
procurement integrity provisions, lobbying rules, and Hatch Act political
activity restrictions.  

Ethics Division attorneys work closely with the White House Counsel’s Office and the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) in clearing new Presidential appointees in the Senate confirmation process and also provide, in consultation with state bar authorities, guidance on legal ethics and professional responsibility issues.  Although the positions will have generalist ethics responsibilities, depending upon staffing needs, the positions may be focused on providing these services to a principal client agency, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).  

The duty station for the positions may be at the HHS headquarters in Washington, DC, or at an Ethics Division satellite office in Silver Spring, MD.

Candidates must have strong writing, oral, and analytical skills and be
adept at working with and advising clients.  Knowledge of federal or state
government ethics law, professional responsibility rules, political activity
restrictions, procurement integrity, or related subjects is preferred, but
recent law graduates and other attorneys with a strong interest in the
subject matter will be considered.  Knowledge of food and drug law, or the
legal framework for health and social services programs, will be considered
a plus.  

Salary currently ranges from $63,091 (Grade 11, Step 1) to
$138,136, (Grade 14, Step 10), depending upon experience.

This is an open continuous announcement.  The first deadline for application
packages will be April 10, 2014.  Review of applications will begin after
this date.  All applications received on or before this date will receive
first consideration.  After this deadline, applications will be considered
as needed on a rolling basis until the vacancies are filled.  To be
considered, applicants must email to OGCEthicsVacancy@hhs.gov
OGCEthicsVacancy@hhs.gov
> the following items: 

(1) a cover letter summarizing relevant experience; (2) a résumé; (3) a list of three
references; (4) law school transcripts (required only if the applicant has
graduated within the last five years); and (5) two writing samples.   Those
individuals who are unable to submit materials electronically may send hard
copies to Elizabeth J. Fischmann, Deputy Associate General Counsel,
Attention: Linda Conte, Operations Specialist, HHS/OGC/Ethics Division, Room
710-E, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave., SW, Washington,
DC 20201.

These career positions are in the Excepted Service under a Schedule A
appointment.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens.  If selected, an applicant
must submit, prior to appointment, (1) an SF 85P, Questionnaire for Public
Trust Positions; (2) a copy of the applicant’s state bar card or a
certificate of good standing from all jurisdictions in which the applicant
holds an active license to practice law; and (3) within thirty (30) days of
entrance on duty, an OGE 450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Form.  HHS is
an equal opportunity employer and a smoke-free workplace.

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