Attorney-Advisor - RRLD-Public Assistance Branch

FEMA’s Response and Recovery Legal Division - Public Assistance Branch (RRLD-PA) seeks a highly organized attorney with strong communication and analytical skills, and experience with attorney-client relationships. This position is offered at a full performance level of IC-13 (equivalent to a GS-13). RRLD-PA is responsible for delivering legal advice to the Office of Response and Recovery’s PA program leadership and staff regarding implementation of the PA, Fire Management Assistance Grant, and Community Disaster Loan Programs, as well as providing legal support to our colleagues in the Regional and Field Operations Legal Division. Attorney-Advisors are responsible for analyzing complex and difficult legal issues and assisting clients with legally-sound solutions. The duty station is Washington, D.C. The position is NOT eligible for remote work. The employee may elect to telework under the applicable telework policy.

The candidate’s duties will include:

Providing legal advice regarding the implementation of FEMA’s PA Program to Recovery program leadership and program staff, as well as other Office of Chief Counsel legal divisions. Legal advice may also include issues of grant management, procurement, and non-acquisition contractual arrangements.

As a program subject matter expert, providing training to other OCC staff, outside counsel, and program clients.

Participating in the development of policies and rulemaking, reviewing proposed legislation, and providing technical drafting assistance.

Ensuring coordination with other RRLD branches regarding review of PA policy, regulation, and doctrine.

Working cooperatively to assist other RRLD branches, as requested, on program questions relative to PA appeals and disaster litigation.

Deploying to support disaster field operations, as needed, in response to catastrophic events or during periods of high multiple disaster activity.

The qualified candidate must have a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school; and be a member in good standing of a State (or Commonwealth) Bar. This position is in the Office of Chief Counsel (OCC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and reports to the Deputy Associate Chief Counsel for Response and Recovery Legal Division / Public Assistance Branch.

To qualify for this position at the IC-12 level, you must meet the following requirements:

A J.D. degree and:

At least two (1) year of full-time professional legal experience gained after being admitted to the bar. Legal experience means experience in which the candidate’s job duties required the provision of legal advice or representation, and which required the candidate to be an active member in good standing of the Bar of any state or territory, or the District of Columbia; or

Possess a second professional law degree (LL.M.) which requires one full year of graduate study; or

Possess a first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.), provided the applicant’s record shows superior law student work or activities as demonstrated by one of the following:

i. Academic standing in the upper quarter of the law school graduation class;

ii. Work or achievement of significance on one of his or her law school’s law reviews;

iii. Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif;

iv. Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team which represents the law school or in competition with other schools;

v. Full time or continuous participation in a legal aid program (as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or causal participation); or

vi. Significant law clerk experience with a law firm, federal judge, U.S. Attorney’s or Federal Public Defender’s Office, other federal agency, or other public agency.

To qualify for this position at an IC-13 level, you must meet the following requirements:

At least two (2) years of full-time professional legal experience gained after being admitted to the bar. Legal experience means experience in which the candidate’s job duties required the provision of legal advice or representation, and which required the candidate to be an active member in good standing of the Bar of any state or territory, or the District of Columbia; and

At least one (1) year of specialized experience that is directly related to the line of work of this position, which has equipped the applicant with knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. The one (1) year of specialized experience may be in the federal government, a state or local government, a non-profit organization, or the private sector, but must be at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the IC-12 level. Specialized experience for this position includes:

Independently analyzing and interpreting federal and state statutes, regulations, policies, Executive Orders, and judicial or administrative decisions in the course of rendering legal advice;

Experience providing legal advice and/or representation on complex matters in administrative law, personnel law, fiscal law, procurement, grants management, environmental law, floodplain management, hazard mitigation, disaster response and recovery, environmental and historic preservation laws, emergency preparedness, or criminal/civil litigation; and

Experience exercising excellent oral and written communication skills with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.

Emergency Assignment

Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites. All FEMA employees are subject to 24-hour on-call in the event of an emergency. In the event of an emergency deployment, travel requirements may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require relocation to emergency sites, some of which are quite austere. The length of deployment may last anywhere from days to months, depending upon the nature of the emergency or disaster. This particular position may deploy for disaster assignments.

Additional Information:

This position is a Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery Employee (CORE) position. This is a temporary appointment in the Excepted Service, not to exceed 2 years, with the option to extend based on workload and funding availability. This position is regularly renewed.

This is a Public Trust position.

Duty station - FEMA Headquarters (HQ) at 500 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472. This position is eligible for telework in accordance with applicable federal and Agency guidance. It is NOT eligible for remote work.

Minimum Employment Requirements Include:

U.S. Citizenship,

Ability to successfully pass a background investigation,

Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/59,

Agreement to accept an incident management or incident support assignment,

A graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association,

Membership in good standing of the Bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,

Relevant experience or education that demonstrate the particular knowledge or skills that are essential to satisfactory performance in the particular position, and

Agreement with “Every Employee is an Emergency Manager” requirement

To apply, please submit a resume, writing sample, and cover letter explaining your interest and qualifications for this position to by May 27, 2024.