Senior Ethics Advisor

The minimum pay for this position is $147,469. Pay is set based on consideration of the selectee’s current salary and other factors. Pay is set based on consideration of the selectee’s current salary and other factors.

This position is eligible for tele-work based on supervisory approval. Applicants must have a J.D. or LL.B. degree and be current members in good standing of a bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or commonwealth of the United States.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. As a basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state or local government, the private sector, or nongovernmental organizations. Failure to meet basic qualification requirements and all mandatory technical qualifications listed automatically disqualifies an applicant.

The Senior Ethics Advisor position is located in the Departmental Ethics Office, Office of the Solicitor. The Departmental Ethics Office is responsible for implementation and legal support within DOI under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and all other statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders applicable to ethics, conflicts of interest, and financial disclosure matters.

Specific Duties

The incumbent carries out the following specific responsibilities:

1. Responsible for providing the most senior employees of the Department with this advice and counsel in an accurately, timely, and consistent manner.

2. Works directly with the White House Counsel’s Office and OGE on nomination packages for PAS officials and the OSC on Hatch Act compliance issues to ensure there are no conflicts of interest or political activities that would limit or prevent the highest-level Department employees from proceeding to appointment to a position or performing in their position in a compliant manner once confirmed.

3. Responsible for assisting the DAEO in managing the ethics program, including the program requirements applicable to the highest-level employees at the Department.

4. The incumbent maintains a close working relationship with the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget, and with all human resources offices within the Department to help ensure that the work of the bureau/office ethics staff in the Departmental Ethics Office is undertaken in a manner consistent with Department guidance. The incumbent leads and supports efforts to help bureau/office Deputy Ethics Counselors and other ethics officials understand ethics laws, regulations, policies and opinions on conflicts of interest laws and provide guidance on ethics matters consistent with Departmental direction.

5. The incumbent provides expert proactive counseling to client officials and representational advocacy services in litigation, arbitration, and mediation and works with the Department’s bureaus and offices to implement the appropriate advice and counsel.

6. The Senior Ethics Advisor formulates and sets legal policy and standards of practice in the Departmental Ethics Office.

Applicants who meet all the mandatory technical qualifications will be evaluated by a panel to determine the degree to which they possess each of the listed qualifications. This evaluation will determine which applicants are best qualified. Total background, including experience, education, awards, self-development, and training will be reviewed. This information will be obtained from the application package, including the required narrative statements for the technical qualifications described in this vacancy.

If your resume does not include these basic qualifications, you will not be determined qualified for this position.

Your resume must include examples that are clear, concise, and emphasize their level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, or services managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and the results of actions taken. Applicants who meet all the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (i.e., MTQ’s) will be evaluated by a panel to determine the degree to which they possess each of the listed qualifications. This evaluation will determine which applicants are best qualified. Total background, including experience, education, awards, self-development, and training will be reviewed. This information will be obtained from the application package, including the required Mandatory Technical Qualification narrative statement(s) described above and listed below:

1. Expert knowledge of the Ethics in Government Act of I 978, the Hatch Act, and other applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and administrative and judicial decisions pertaining to procurement integrity, fraud, financial disclosure, criminal conflict of interest, conduct, and government ethics, and ability to interpret and apply legal authorities, precedents, and administrative guidance.

2. Demonstrated technical competence to provide the timely and accurate advice and counsel of the Departmental Ethics Office at the most senior levels of an organization, with a focus on the complex areas of conflicts of interest and the application of various remedies, including recusals for the most senior level officials of the Department.