SummaryOrganizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Chief Counsel, located in Indianapolis, IN.Overview
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates02/20/2024 to 03/21/2024Salary$73,218 - $160,315 per yearPay scale & gradeGS 11 - 14Location1 vacancy in the following location:Remote jobNoTelework eligibleYes—as determined by the agency policy.Travel RequiredOccasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.Relocation expenses reimbursedNoAppointment typePermanent -Work scheduleFull-time -ServiceExceptedPromotion potential14Job family (Series)Supervisory statusNoSecurity clearanceDrug testNoAnnouncement numberOCC-24/12-DE-12305041-GNDControl number777331100This job is open toClarification from the agencyThis position is open to the public.DutiesThis position starts at a salary of $73,218.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $160,315.00 (GS-14, Step 10) with promotion potential to $$160,315.00 (GS-14, Step 10).In this position, you will become a key member of the legal team for The Office of The Chief Counsel. Typical work assignments include:
Providing legal advice to, and legal representation of, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offices located in Indianapolis and throughout the United States, including CBP's Financial Accounting Division; Revenue Division; Procurement Directorate; Office of Facilities and Asset Management, including its Environmental and Energy Division; Office of Trade; Office of Field Operations; and U.S. Border Patrol;
Providing legal advice on a wide variety of fiscal and trade issues to clients and other counsel offices, and performing legal research into laws, regulations, decisions and other precedents bearing on legal issues involving CBP, particularly in the areas of federal appropriations, bankruptcy, collections (primarily customs duties, liquidated damages, fees and charges), contracts, construction, employment, environmental, international trade, real property, and tort law;
Assisting the Department of Justice in civil actions involving CBP by preparing litigation reports, affidavits, and other pleadings, and participating in discovery, motion drafting, settlement discussions, and providing litigation support in a variety of matters such as complex trade cases generally involving the collection of revenue, actions brought under federal statutes such as the False Claims Act, procurement disputes filed in federal courts, and condemnation actions. Also directly representing CBP in various third-party administrative hearings involving matters such as employee discipline and adverse actions, arbitrations, EEO discrimination complaints, Merit Systems Principles Board (MSBP) appeals, contract and travel/relocation disputes before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, bid protests before the Government Accountability Office, and employee overpayment hearings;
Advocating, identifying and pursuing affirmative claims and counterclaims on behalf of the Government and providing legal opinions, negotiations assistance, and advice concerning resolution of claims filed against the Government arising out of CBP operations; and
Training, developing, and providing formal legal instruction and presentations to both client offices and other counsel colleagues.
RequirementsConditions of Employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
You may be required to pass a background investigation
CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following
.QualificationsApplicant must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.Specialized Education: Recent law school graduates may be appointed to attorney positions at the GS-11 level with the following additional qualifications: rank in the top 1/3 of graduating class; participation on the school's official Law Review; membership in the Order of the Coif; or winning of a moot court competition. An interim appointment of 14 months may be made pending the selectee's admission to the bar. Selectee will be required to provide admittance and standing to the Bar and must provide a copy of their official law school transcript.Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 03/21/2024.The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: and the .Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
EducationPlease see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.Additional informationRelocation: Should relocation funding be available, expenses may be offered to the selectee as a lump-sum payment under CBP's Voluntary Relocation Plan test program (VRP) in lieu of any relocation benefits available under the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR), 41 C.F.R., Subtitle F, Chapter 302. New appointees to the Government non-CBP employees are not eligible to participate in the VRP. The amount of the lump-sum payment will vary depending upon whether you rent or own your current residence and whether your residence is a single or multiple-person household. Any relocation expenses incurred that are greater than the VRP lump-sum payment amount will be your responsibility, and no subsequent claims for relocation expenses will be granted by CBP. The lump-sum payment, which will be made through direct deposit, will be treated as wages and, thus, will be subject to all applicable employment tax withholdings. To be eligible for the VRP, you must sign an employment agreement by completing CBP Form 334C-1 at the time of selection. Additional information can be found in CBP Directive 5330-026a, which is available on the CBPNet Policy Page.Probationary Trial Period: You may be required to serve a probationary trial period of 2 years.Travel: You will be required to travel as needed for any mandatory training, and to provide legal support to or on behalf of CBP clients or to deliver training, in various field operating locations.Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process (Excepted Service) and is not in the competitive civil service.Veterans Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however the Office of Chief Counsel considers veteran's preference eligibility as a positive factor in the hiring process.Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied.CBP uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about including your rights and responsibilities.The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. , / , and possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
