General Counsel

Summary

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities.

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Duties

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If selected, the incumbent serves as General Counsel of the IMLS. The incumbent will serve as the Counselor to the Director and Senior Policy Advisor. The incumbent renders advice to the Director, Deputies of the Offices of Museum and Library Services, and the management and staff of the IMLS. Typical work assignments will include but are not limited to the following:

• Represents the IMLS by presenting, to various audiences, the legal position of the agency;
• Renders legal opinions on behalf of the IMLS including interpretation of the IMLS' enabling legislation, conflicts of interests and ethics questions, constitutional issues, First Amendment issues, appropriations law, civil rights law, administrative law, contracts law, and other matters;
• Serves as the principal legal advisor to the Director, the National Museum and Library Services Board (NMLSB), and other IMLS officials;
• Serves as the Secretary of the presidentially appointed board; - Coordinating agency responsibilities under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA);
• Supervising subordinate attorney(s) and support staff within the Office of General Counsel;
• Serves as Designated Agency Ethics Official.
• Oversees office provision of ethics and Hatch Act guidance and training to agency staff, NMLSB members, and other stakeholders.
• Conducts or participates in discussions with Congressional Committee staff, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials, and other federal officials of private organizations, grantees, etc., concerning legal questions involved in projects or productions sponsored by the IMLS;
• Engages on legislation that best promotes the interests of museums and libraries and the IMLS.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship Required.
• This position requires a background investigation.
• Relocation expenses will not be authorized.
• This employer participates in the E-Verify Program.
• You will be subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
• This is a career position in the SES. Unless you are already a member of the SES with career status or have successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program certified by OPM.
• Executive qualifications must be approved by OPM before appointment. If selected and you do not already have OPM QRB certification, you must complete a structured ECQ interview with OPM before being appointed to the position.
• You must meet the qualification requirements of this position no later than the closing date of the job opportunity announcement.
• You must complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• You must file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).

Your responses to the below MTQs must be incorporated into your two (2) page resume. It is recommended that the corresponding MTQs are annotated in parenthesis. Separate MTQ narratives will not be accepted or considered .

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications below:

TQ1: Demonstrated executive-level experience providing authoritative legal advice and counsel to senior agency officials on complex and sensitive matters involving Federal administrative law and the operations of a Federal agency.

TQ2: Demonstrated executive-level experience directing or overseeing a comprehensive legal program and managing complex legal matters involving Federal programs, grants or financial assistance, regulatory or programmatic operations, and institutional risk.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs:

ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or MTQs.

Education

To qualify for this position of General Counsel, the incumbent must:

• Possess at least the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (if selected official copies of your transcripts will be requested prior to entry on duty) ; AND
• Applicants must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. State, a U.S. Commonwealth, or a U.S. territory.

Additional information

A one-year probationary period must be served by the individual selected if not currently or previously in the career Senior Executive Service.

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure: The Institute of Museum and Library Services inspires public confidence in our work by maintaining high ethical principles. IMLS employees are subject to Federal government-wide regulations and statutes as well as agency-specific regulations described at the IMLS Ethics website. We encourage you to review this information.

This position requires the incumbent to complete a public financial disclosure report as a condition of employment.

Financial Suitability: It is the policy of the government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.

Veteran's Preference: Does not apply to the SES.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.