Salary

$169,279 to - $197,200 per year

This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Open to the Public

Duties

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This position is located in the Office of the Deputy General Counsel (Personnel and Health Policy), Office of the General Counsel, Department of War, and the Office of the Executive Director, Office of the Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness, with duty in the Office of Legal Policy (OLP). OLP seeks an experienced, knowledgeable, and innovative attorney to draft Department-wide policies, federal regulations, and legislative proposals as well as review and provide legal advice on a wide variety of personnel policy matters such as legal assistance, military whistleblower protection, military prisons, correction of military records, and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

Duties:

The position involves providing prudential, legal, and policy advice and services relating to a broad range of matters impacting the Department of War, Military Service members, and military families. Areas of practice may include:

• Administration of Military Correctional Programs and Facilities; Sentence Computation, and Clemency and Parole Authority; Desertion and AWOL; Service member jury participation; Office of the Secretary of War and Military Department Review Boards; Extremist and Criminal Gang Activities; Victim and Witness Assistance; the Military Whistleblower Protection Act; Military Indebtedness, the Military Lending Act, and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; Legal Assistance; Political Activities; Protest Activities; Negotiation or Collective Bargaining involving Service members; Wearing of the Uniform; and other special projects, as assigned.

The position also involves a variety of associated duties such as responding to Congressional and media requests for information; implementing statutory requirements; drafting written reports and analysis; proposing and developing Department-wide initiatives; interacting with senior civilian and military leaders and policy makers; briefing Members of Congress and their staffs; and providing written and in-person advice to senior Department leadership. The position requires timely, appropriate, and high-quality work product concerning sensitive and complex issues of national significance.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration).
• Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period.
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
• This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
• The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance. A Special Background Investigation (SBI) is required with favorable adjudication by a determining authority.
• The incumbent may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime.
• This position may require up to 10% occasional travel away from your normal duty station for official business on military or commercial aircraft.
• Relocation incentive may be authorized in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Recruitment Incentive may be authorized in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Superior Qualifications may be authorized in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Advanced Leave Accrual may be authorized in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
• Submit resume and all other required documents via email by Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess at least five years of relevant legal experience. Relevant legal experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

The ideal candidate would have Department of War experience and fluency in drafting agency policy or federal rules; however, each candidate will be evaluated based upon all relevant experience.

Education

Law Degree and Bar Membership. You must have graduated from a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association; must be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia; and must be admitted to practice before a state or federal court; of good character, and in full compliance with continuing legal education requirements of an appropriate bar.

Additional information

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.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications below.

Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated policy and rule-making experience, legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process.

Basis for evaluation: If eligible and meeting basic qualifications, your application package will be evaluated in conjunction with your resume, cover letter, and supporting documents for the required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of this position:

• Assume multiple tasks to meet changing office needs with an ability to foresee, troubleshoot, escalate and effectively resolve conflicting issues and challenges;
• Analyze, research, and brief on policy and legal questions in the areas of administrative law, legislation, regulation, and/or statutory interpretation, including the ability to research and analyze legal issues where no clearly applicable precedents are available or it is arguable which precedents apply;
• Assess policy and legal risk in a practical and responsible manner and make well-reasoned decisions as well as to propose and develop creative solutions to complex issues;
• Build and maintain effective working relations with clients and colleagues and work effectively in teams;
• Maintain professional integrity and use sound judgment in handling confidential and/or classified information;
• Exhibit excellent communication skills and the capacity to present both written and oral ideas clearly, concisely, and persuasively;
• Carry out assignments independently with minimal supervision; and
• Apply superior research and writing skills.

Required Documents

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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).

1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages showing all relevant experience, with no smaller than a 1" margin and no smaller than a 12-point font. If you submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitations stated herein, you will immediately be deemed ineligible for this position and will receive no further consideration.

2. COVER LETTER: Address demonstrated interests and/or qualifications as they relate to this position. Cover letters must not exceed two pages.

Documents to be submitted later:

3. LAW SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT. (Unofficial copy is sufficient, but official copy must be submitted before appointment). You are not required to submit official documents at this time.

4. CERTIFICATE OF BAR MEMBERSHIP - Certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing. This is not required prior to application however, prior to receiving an offer, you will be asked to provide a certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing.

• Are you a current or former Federal employee? Submit your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows competitive or excepted service appointment, tenure group, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please submit the SF-50 showing the highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. Please note: Performance award, Details, and Realignments are not acceptable SF-50s.
• You may also be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal(s) and/or incentive award(s).

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.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Salary

$169,279 to - $197,200 per year

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