SUPERVISORY ATTORNEY ADVISOR (Investigations Division Director)

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Office of Inspector General. The Office of Inspector General is an independent office within EPA that helps the agency protect the environment in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. We consist of auditors program analysts investigators and others with extensive expertise. Although we are a part of EPA Congress provides us with our funding separate from the agency to ensure our independence.

Duties

The Administrative Investigations Directorate (AID) within the Office of Special Review and Evaluation (OSRE) conducts administrative investigations of allegations of misconduct by senior agency employees and complaints of whistleblower reprisal by agency employees or employees of agency contractors subcontractors grantees subgrantees or personal services contractors. The office also manages the OIGs Hotline which serves as the main point of contact for agency employees and members of the public to report fraud waste abuse and mismanagement in agency programs and operations and violations of law regulations and policies by EPA and CSB employees grantees contractors and program participants.

The position serves as Director of the Investigations Division within OSREs AID. The successful candidate will provide professional leadership and management of AIDs senior employee misconduct and whistleblower reprisal investigations.

As an Investigations Division Director you will:

• Recruit train and motivate a multi-disciplinary team of high performing oversight personnel including investigative attorneys and noncriminal investigators. Provide day-to-day supervision of investigative staff and issue and monitor work assignments. Identify and address skill gaps within the division and develop staff to support directorate succession planning.
• Manage and conduct timely and complex noncriminal investigations concerning serious and often sensitive misconduct and mismanagement allegations involving senior-level employees at the EPA EPA OIG and CSB and allegations of reprisal for whistleblowing by EPA or CSB employees or employees of EPA or CSB contractors subcontractors grantees or subgrantees or personal services contractors. Includes conducting regular case reviews with investigative staff to monitor investigative progress evaluate resources identify potential challenges and develop creative strategies to mitigate or overcome issues.
• Prepare and review legal documents and other materials in connection with ongoing investigations including investigative plans subpoenas and document requests analytical memoranda interview outlines and transcripts and reports of investigation.
• Manage and conduct research on complex legal issues interpret statutes regulations and legal decisions prepare written or oral legal opinions and review analysis for legal sufficiency of operations policies regulations directives memoranda and correspondence relating to AID.
• Manage the timely intake review and processing of hotline complaints concerning allegations of senior employee misconduct and whistleblower reprisal for the investigations division. Ensure complainant information is kept confidential consistent with applicable laws regulations and OIG directives.
• Coordinate closely with the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Administrative Investigations and internal and external stakeholders to advance the divisions investigative work and priorities and foster information sharing.
• Formulate recommend and implement innovative policies procedures and processes to support the divisions investigative work.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born aftermust be registered for Selective Service
• Résumé and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
• Suitability for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a TWO YEAR period.
• This position is in the excepted service.
• Selectee will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-450 annually.
• You will be required to submit proof of your active Bar membership
• Graduation from an American Bar Association-accredited law school
• A copy of your most recent performance appraisal (optional)

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements: Applicants must be (1) a graduate of an accredited law school with an LL.B. or J.D.; and (2) a current member of a bar with a valid license to practice law in a state territory of the United States District of Columbia or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. If selected an official law school transcript and proof of an active bar membership will be required.

AND

To qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal sector or the equivalent in the private sector. Applicants must have a minimum of 7 years post-JD experience engaged in the active practice of law and at least 5 years of experience as a litigator (in civil or criminal cases) or investigative attorney or other relevant experience. Applicants must also show they possess the required technical qualifications related to this position on their resume.

Technical Qualifications:
TQ1: Demonstrated knowledge of and experience interpreting and applying Federal laws rules regulations and court decisions involving employee misconduct retaliation or poor performance; whistleblower retaliation; and/or whistleblower rights and protections within the Federal system.
TQ2: Demonstrated experience in supervising managing planning or conducting complex administrative or similar investigations that involve violations of federal law rule regulation and/or policy and result in timely high-quality investigative findings that are relied upon to take further action.

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills knowledge and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers we will not allow credit for your response(s).

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.

Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position within thirty (30) days of the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with an LL.B. or J.D. if selected an official transcript will be addition the selectee will be required to provide proof of an active bar membership.

Additional information

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms oSelectees will be required to complete a Declaration of Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action including removal from Federal service.f identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employees identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about e-verify including your rights and responsibilities.

Upon appointment you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-450. You will need to provide the information annually.

You must meet time in grade requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

EPA OIG provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized.

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application by checking reference and through other means such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience false statements or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

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.

Required Experience:

Director