General Attorney-Region IV-Atlanta GS-11/12/13/14 (Telework)

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently seeking applications for General Attorney position in its Region IV-Atlanta office.

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

Duty Station: Atlanta, GA

Salary Range: $76,671 – $167,876

Series & Grade: GS-0905-11/12/13/14

Promotion Potential: GS-14

Open Period: October 23, 2024 – October 30, 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 Region IV-Atlanta provides comprehensive litigation services, legal advice, counseling, and negotiation services to many Department programs, with an emphasis on services to those HHS agencies that have a presence in Region IV.  Most of our work supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).   Our workload is divided between litigation and advice.  Most of our administrative litigation is before the Departmental Appeals Board (DAB), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).

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: http://www.hhs.gov/ogc/index.html

Duties:

The attorney will provide legal advice and litigation services to the client agencies within HHS. Attorneys in OGC Region IV advise and represent the Department in complex matters requiring extensive research and sophisticated analysis of administrative law, judicial decisions, and statutes and regulations.

This announcement may be used to fill a General Attorney position with significant employment law duties and some procurement law duties.  The attorney will represent the Department and its components in procurement, personnel, employment, and labor relations matters.  Legal advisory experience in such matters and/or litigation experience before the GAO, EEOC, MSPB and FLRA is preferred. 

This announcement may be used to fill a General Attorney position with significant health and human services law duties, including representing the agency in administrative and federal court litigation against hospitals, nursing homes, other health care providers and HHS grantees to enforce compliance with federal requirements, and aid in the recovery of misspent Medicare, Medicaid, and federal grant funds.

We are seeking to fill the position at the GS-11/12/13/14 level ($76,671 – $167,876) depending on experience and qualifications: Attorneys must be able to work independently and demonstrate experience or familiarity with federal court or administrative litigation. Attorneys must be competent in a wide range of legal skills, including analytical and problem-solving skills, experience preparing legal briefs and/or memoranda, experience in applying statutes, regulations, and policies, and experience providing oral and written advice, and the ability to relate effectively with clients.

The position is located in Atlanta. GA, 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.

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 excellent legal writing and research ability; organizational and time management skills; commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility and public service; interpersonal skills and the capacity to work with diverse individuals and groups.
  • 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 R4OGCHiring@hhs.gov  using the subject line “Atlanta General Attorney Application” in the forwarding email. To receive full consideration, submit all materials by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement.

  • Cover letter detailing your interest in the position and highlighting relevant experience, addressed as follows, but sent to the email above:

    Constance Kossally
    Chief Counsel
    Office of the General Counsel, Region IV
    Department of Health and Human Services
    61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 5M60
    Atlanta, Georgia 30303
  • Resume (must include education, including name of undergraduate and law school, degrees received, and dates graduated; date admitted to bar and jurisdiction; a general description of all past employment (full and part time) relevant to the practice of law, including dates of employment and supervisor’s name and telephone number.
  • Writing sample that contains a statement of facts and legal argument.
  • If you are a current Federal employee, provide a copy of your last performance appraisal.
  • Proof of active bar status in good standing and eligibility to practice law in a state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  • Names and contact information for at least three professional references.
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