Attorney Advisor-Public Health Division/Public Health and Science Branch GS-11/12/13/14 - (Telework)

The Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is currently seeking applications for one or more Attorney Advisor positions in the Public Health Division’s Public Health and Science Branch.

Who May Apply: This vacancy announcement is open to all US Citizens and may be used to fill multiple positions.

Duty Station: Rockville/Bethesda, MD (Flexible telework is available)

Grade: GS-0905-11/12/13/14

Salary Range: $82,764 - $181,216  

Open Period: September 13, 2024 - until filled; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, next official review scheduled for October 11, 2024.

Job Summary:

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking one or more attorneys to join the Public Health Division’s Public Health and Science Branch. Public Health and Science Branch attorneys provide an array of legal services to a number of HHS public health agencies. This work includes providing legal advice relating to agency authorities, appropriations, grants, rulemaking, regulatory oversight, and administrative law. In addition, for some programs, duties may involve supporting the Department of Justice (DOJ) in federal court litigation or handling litigation before the Departmental Appeals Board, for which a background or interest in litigation would be useful.

OGC is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. At OGC, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are. We’re always growing our network of people, programs, and tools to allow our staff to do their best work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. OGC is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

For additional information about OGC’s mission, please visit our website at: https://www.hhs.gov/ogc/index.html

Duties:

Attorneys at the Public Health Division’s Public Health and Science Branch provide an array of legal services to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), the Office of Minority Health (OMH), and/or the Program Support Center’s (PSC) Federal Property Assistance Program. Attorneys in the branch frequently work in teams advising various HHS client programs in these agencies. Much of this work involves providing legal advice relating to agency authorities, appropriations, grants, rulemaking, regulatory oversight, and administrative law. It may also involve serving as agency counsel supporting DOJ in federal court litigation or handling litigation before the Departmental Appeals Board, for which a background or interest in litigation would be useful.

These positions offer a broad range of experience, significant responsibility, intellectually engaging work, and require creative legal thinking and strong communication skills. Attorneys will have direct client contact, interact with colleagues throughout OGC and officials at other government agencies, and, for some programs, negotiate or engage with outside counsel. Interested applicants should provide evidence of excellent communication and analytical skills.

We are seeking to fill the position at the GS-11 to GS-14 level ( $82,764 - $181,216) depending on experience and qualifications. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in public health law; federal financial assistance (grants) law; administrative law including rulemaking and regulatory oversight; or appropriations law.

Preferred Qualifications: Background or interest in federal court litigation or handling litigation in administrative proceedings.

Qualifications Required:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed on this announcement. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

At the GS-11: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school and possess active bar status in good standing.

At the GS-12: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school, active bar status in good standing, and one year of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to the GS-11 level.

At the GS-13: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school, active bar status in good standing, and two years of professional legal experience post bar admission, with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 level.

At the GS-14: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school, active bar status in good standing, and three years of professional legal experience post bar admission with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 level.

The following are required qualifications:

Conditions Of Employment:

  • You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited ABA law school.
  • Have at least one year (for GS-12); two years (for GS-13) three years (for GS-14) of experience after law school as a practicing attorney.
  • Proof that bar status is active, in good standing and eligible to practice in the highest court of a State, U. S. commonwealth, U. S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
  • Candidates must also have exemplary legal writing, oral advocacy abilities, possess excellent interpersonal skills, and displays a capacity to work with diverse individuals and groups.
  • Strong consideration will be given to candidates with excellent written communication skills; a demonstrated interest in health, Indian, government contract law, appropriation, or administrative law; and the ability to work in a cross-cultural environment; outstanding organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills; a demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service.
  • Outstanding organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills.
  • A demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service. Must maintain active bar membership in good standing and the eligibility to practice law in the highest court of a state, territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia throughout employment in the Office of the General Counsel.
  • Upon final job offer from HHS OHR, the successful candidate must submit official law school transcripts.
  • Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees.  Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.  Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action.  In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time.  Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation.  False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
  • E-Verify:  If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.  Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.
  • Direct Deposit:  All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
  • Financial disclosure statement may be required. 
  • Two-year trial period may be required. 
  • Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.
  • This position may be in a bargaining unit.
  • This is a telework position.
  • Multiple selections may be made from this announcement.

In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The Federal government, as the largest employer in the Nation, can and should show the way towards achieving drug-free workplaces through programs designed to offer drug users a helping hand, and at the same time demonstrating to drug users and potential drug users that drugs will not be tolerated in the Federal workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public. Applicants tentatively selected for this position may be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. If required to submit to urinalysis, the appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative applicant drug test result. In order to demonstrate commitment to the HHS goal of a drug-free workplace and to set an example for other Federal employees, employees not in a testing designated position may volunteer for unannounced random testing by notifying their Drug-free Federal Workplace Program Point of Contact upon hiring.

Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.

Instructions To Apply:

Please submit the following documents to Public_Health_and_Science_Attorney@hhs.gov. To receive full consideration, please submit all materials by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement. We will continue to accept applications for consideration for positions as they are available and until they are filled.

  • Cover letter.
  • Resume (must include education, including name of undergraduate and law school, degree received and date graduated; date admitted to bar and jurisdiction; a general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law, including dates of employment (full time or part time) and supervisors name and telephone number(s).
  • Two legal writing samples.
  • Law school transcripts.
  • Proof that bar status is active, in good standing and eligible to practice in a state, territory of the US, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  • Names and contact information for at least three professional references.
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