Attorney Advisor-Public Health Division/Indian Health Services GS-11/12/13/14

The Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is currently seeking applications for an Attorney Advisor position in the Indian Health Service Branch.

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

Duty Station: Bethesda, MD

Salary Range: $82,764 – $ 181,216

Series & Grade: GS-0905-11/12/13/14

Open Period: September 17, 2024 – until filled; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, next official review scheduled for October 18, 2024.

Job Summary:

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is the legal team for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), providing quality representation and legal advice in a wide range of highly visible national issues. OGC supports the development and implementation of the Department’s programs by providing the highest quality legal services to the Secretary of HHS and the organization’s various agencies and divisions.

OGC is comprised of three principal subcomponents: the Immediate Office, the Headquarters Divisions and the Regional Offices. Each Headquarters Division is led by an Associate General Counsel and each of the ten Regional Offices is led by a Chief Counsel. The eight (8) Headquarters Divisions consist of the following: the General Law Division (GLD), Children, Families and Aging Division (CFAD), Ethics Division (ETH), Civil Rights Division (CRD), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Division (CMSD), Food and Drug Division (FDD), Legislation (LEG) and the Public Health Division (PHD).

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:

The IHS branch provides legal advice to the Indian Health Service (IHS) as it delivers health care to American Indians/Alaska Natives through more than 500 health care facilities. For more information, please see the IHS website at http://www.ihs.gov. IHS legal matters can be grouped into four major areas. First, attorneys provide legal advice on the implementation and operation of various health care and health care facility construction programs. Second, attorneys work closely with agency staff who negotiate contracts with tribes for health program administration. Third, attorneys defend challenges to agency actions before administrative law judges and assist the Department of Justice with cases brought in Federal court. Fourth, attorneys review the implications of proposed legislation on the IHS health delivery program.

The Office of the General Counsel for the Department of Health and Human Services seeks to hire an Attorney to fill a vacancy in the Indian Health Service Branch of the Public Health Division. The Attorney must have excellent written communication skills, a demonstrated interest in administrative law, litigation, appropriations, or government contract law and the ability to work in a cross-cultural environment. The Attorney must have excellent organizational skills and be able to manage a large administrative claims workload while tracking numerous litigation deadlines. The applicant must be licensed to practice law in at least one state. Experience in Indian law, including any of the following Acts is considered helpful, but is not required: the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, the Public Health Service Act, and the Contract Disputes Act.

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 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.

The position will be located in Bethesda, MD., and reimbursement for relocation expenses is not available.

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.
  • Candidates must also 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.
  • 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.
  • Telework Eligible: Yes - as determined by the agency policy.
  • 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 Gail.Williams2@ihs.gov. To receive full consideration, please submit all materials by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement:

  • Cover letter (must include (1) their interest in public service and the client agency, (2) their experience in health, Indian, government contract law, appropriation, or administrative law
  • 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 and supervisor name(s) and telephone number(s)
  • Legal writing sample (no more than 10 pages)
  • Law school transcripts, if graduated from law school within the past five years
  • Proof of bar status and standing. You must provide proof that you are a current, active member of a bar of the highest court of a State, U. S. commonwealth, U. S. territory, or the District of Columbia
  • References (at least three professional)
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