About this role
Job SummaryThe Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), headed by the Administrator of PHMSA, is within the Department of Transportation, responsible for transportation-related programs, including hazardous materials safety and pipeline safety. This is a senior attorney-advisor, on the staff of the Chief Counsel, serving as a presiding official on pipeline safety enforcement cases, under the direct supervision of the Deputy Chief Counsel.
QualificationsTo qualify, your experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following: GRADE 15 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least 4 years (48 months) of professional attorney experience. You should also possess: Experience in pipeline safety, administrative, enforcement, litigation, and environmental law, including researching and analyzing legal issues and applying legal principles, precedents, statutes, and rulings. Experience presiding over hearings and/or representing clients in administrative and legal proceedings, with strong legal writing skills in drafting decisions, opinions, briefs, and memoranda. Experience briefing executives and senior leadership and providing legal advice and counsel in support of organizational programs, operations, and regulatory activities. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, considering the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process. Problem Solving - Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations. 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. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Major DutiesAs a Senior Attorney Advisor (Presiding Official), you will: Preside over informal administrative hearings involving parties represented by counsel and conduct pre-hearing conferences to improve efficiency and narrow disputed issues. Manage proceedings from the initial hearing request through preparation of draft decisions for review and issuance by the Associate Administrator. Conduct legal research and analysis to interpret applicable statutes, regulations, and agency precedent related to pipeline safety and compliance. Prepare draft decisions based on the administrative record, resolving complex issues of fact and law, determining operator compliance, and ordering corrective actions where necessary. Maintain case files and manage the hearing docket to ensure timely case progression while addressing matters with significant public safety, property, and environmental implications. The ideal candidate for this position will have strong enforcement and litigation experience and understand the legal and procedural aspects of the administrative prosecution of enforcement cases, and the ability to analyze, interpret, and apply laws, regulations, orders, court decisions, and other legal documents. PLEASE NOTE: Given our continuing need for professionals in this field, we will routinely review applications and refer the top candidates for potential interviews multiple times during the open period of the announcement. Reviews and referrals of applications will be completed on a monthly basis.RequirementsCONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: If the position requires travel, a government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period. ETHICS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 2635, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 263.