Counsel to the Inspector General

Summary

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), seeks an exceptional executive to serve as Counsel to the Inspector General. The incumbent provides strategic legal counsel to the Inspector General and senior leadership, leads the Counsel Division, oversees complex legal matters, and ensures effective legal support for the OIG's mission to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.

Duties

The Counsel to the Inspector General will be responsible for: Serving as the principal legal advisor to the Inspector General and executive leadership by providing authoritative legal counsel on matters involving the Inspector General Act, Federal appropriations law, administrative law, criminal law, civil litigation, employment law, employee relations, equal employment opportunity, ethics, procurement, information law, and other legal matters affecting the Office of Inspector General. Providing executive leadership for the Counsel Division by establishing strategic priorities, directing legal operations, managing organizational performance, overseeing workforce planning, and ensuring the effective delivery of legal services that support the OIG's mission and long-term strategic objectives. Advising the Inspector General and executive leadership on enterprise legal risk, organizational governance, internal controls, and significant legal issues affecting OIG operations. Anticipates emerging legal and operational risks and develops strategies that protect the independence, credibility, and effectiveness of the Office of Inspector General. Directing the legal review of proposed legislation, regulations, executive orders, policies, and government-wide initiatives affecting the Inspector General community and the Small Business Administration. Providing executive oversight of legal support for criminal, civil, and administrative investigations conducted by the OIG. Advises investigative personnel on complex legal matters involving search warrants, subpoenas, electronic surveillance, digital evidence, informants, whistleblower protections, data privacy, and emerging investigative technologies while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and constitutional requirements. Providing executive oversight of all legal matters involving human capital management, employment law, and employee relations affecting the Office of Inspector General. Advises executive leadership on complex personnel matters, including disciplinary and adverse actions, performance-based actions, EEO matters, reasonable accommodations, disability and leave laws, executive employment issues, whistleblower protections, prohibited personnel practices, and compliance with Federal employment statutes and regulations. Coordinates, as appropriate, with oversight agencies to protect the legal interests of the OIG while ensuring fair and equitable treatment of employees. Representing the Office of Inspector General in high-level interactions with the Department of Justice, Congress, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Personnel Management, Federal law enforcement agencies, and other governmental organizations on matters of significant legal or strategic importance. Providing executive oversight of the OIG's administration of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act, ethics program, records management, information governance, and related legal compliance programs. Ensure policies and practices promote transparency, accountability, protection of sensitive information, and compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. You must successfully complete a Top-Secret security clearance. Candidates who do not complete the required security clearance paperwork by the pre-determined due date, could be disqualified. If you are selected, you must complete a one-year SES probationary period, if not previously completed. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so. File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on. There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents: Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights, for those who undergo an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check for personnel vetting, which includes Rap Back, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation), and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov), (applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information)"

Qualifications and evaluation

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete this application and submit any required documents specified in the Required Documents section and submit by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select and upload your résumé and/or other required documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the "Include Personal Information" section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. It is applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and uploaded, (i.e., resume and other required documents) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail. Due to security processes, mail delivery takes approximately 2-3 weeks to process at which time the vacancy announcement will be closed, and no further consideration will be given to additional application packages.

Required documents

A complete application includes items described below. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible). Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. 1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs. PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER. 2. VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy. 3. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable: CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility. SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification. CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee. BAR LICENSE: Evidence showing membership in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Most recent performance evaluation

Additional information

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES. Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx) OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the OIG Human Resources Office. 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.