Summary

This announcement will be used to fill multiple positions in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Office of Personnel Management (OPM). As an attorney in OGC, you will provide legal advice and representation to OPM leaders on a wide variety of issues relating to both the internal work of OPM, as well as OPM's government-wide policies, oversight, and programs that support more than 8 million Federal employees, retirees, and family members.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

The public

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

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with first consideration given to candidates that that apply by 10/23/2026.

Duties

Attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) Litigation, Employee & Labor Relations Division "first chair" litigation before administrative agencies in a broad range of employment and labor matters including adverse actions, reductions in force, suitability, labor relations, and discrimination.

• Serving as lead counsel in important and sensitive litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), the OPM Suitability Exchange Agent Program (SuitEA) Appeal Section, and similar tribunals.

• Preparing cases for litigation, including writing motions, briefs, and other papers, conducting discovery, and participating in administrative hearings.

• Making recommendations regarding settlement of litigation and appeal of adverse decisions, including the exercise of OPM's special statutory authority to obtain review of adverse MSPB decisions with a substantial impact on the civil service.

• Serving as agency counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice on personnel litigation matters in Federal courts. This includes gathering discovery, preparing administrative records, brief preparation or review, and other duties as assigned.

• Providing pre-litigation advice and counsel to agency management on performance, disciplinary, equal employment opportunity (EEO), labor relations, and other personnel matters, including the review of adverse actions and performance-based actions.

• Providing internal human resources policy advice to OPM management on employee relations, labor relations, EEO, performance management, suitability investigations, and other personnel matters

• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
• This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

At the GS-12 level and above: Applicants with one or more years of post Juris Doctorate (J.D.) legal work experience as a practicing attorney, such as a judicial clerkship or in general law practice, must have:

• A J.D. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association;
• Active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and
• At least one year of experience to qualify at the GS-12 level; at least two years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-13 level; at least three years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-14 level; and at least four years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-15 level.

At the GS-11 level: Applicants with less than one year of post J.D. legal work experience as a practicing attorney, such as a judicial clerkship or in general law practice, must have:

• A J.D. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association;
• Active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia;
• Academic standing in the upper third of the attorney's law school graduating class (to the extent an applicant's law school has class rank); and
• Advanced educational attainment that indicates the ability to independently perform legal work, such as work or achievement of significance on a law school's official law reviews or journals; special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school (e.g., membership in the Order of the Coif or winning a moot court competition); full-time or continuous participation in a legal clinic program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation; significant summer clerk experience; or other evidence of clearly superior accomplishment or achievement.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience "first chairing" MSPB, EEO, or Federal personnel litigation or similar litigation experience in the private sector or state administrative tribunals is a must;
• The ability to provide excellent customer service and to exercise sound judgment and decision making in challenging situations;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• High competence in legal research and analysis, including the ability to effectively integrate and synthesize facts and law to make legally sound decisions, including in compressed timeframes;
• The ability to work both independently and as a team member in a demanding environment;
• Willingness to consider diverse perspectives and ability to navigate changing circumstances;
• Ability to effectively manage multiple work assignments and competing priorities concurrently;
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships, both within and outside OGC.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

If you are applying at the GS-11 level, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

Additional information

Incentive payments may be considered.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the ef?ciency 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.

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

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.

Review our 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 quali?cations above.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Your Resume (limited to 2 pages total, or 1 page front and back) that includes your bar number and issuing state.

• Other supporting documents, as applicable:

• Transcript (only required if you are applying at the GS-11 level)

• Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, OPM considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.

• Performance Appraisals: Current Federal employees must submit their last three performance appraisals or explain why three are not available (e.g. employed in the government for fewer than three years).

• Responses to four Merit Hiring essay questions described below (optional)

Merit Hiring Questions: Applicants may choose to submit responses to the four essay questions below. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with these responses is not permitted. By submitting responses, you certify that the essays are your own work and were completed without the use of AI.

• How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.

• In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.

• How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.

• How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

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.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above to the following email address: [email protected]. Please include in the subject line your last name, the job announcement number, and the GS level(s) for which you are applying. For example: Smith, 27-RGJ-13087074-ATT, GS-12 and 13.

You will receive an email acknowledgment when your application has been received. This is not an indication as to the completeness of your application; you are responsible for ensuring that you submit a complete application.

Agency contact information

OGC Jobs

Phone

202-606-1700

Email

[email protected]

Address

OPM Human Resources
1900 E St., NW
Washington, DC 20415
US

Next steps

References, Writing Sample, and Other Supporting Documents: If you advance in the selection process, you may be required to: (1) submit three professional references; (2) submit a writing sample not more than 20 pages in length; and/or (3) complete one or more assessments. Deliberate attempts to falsify information in your application may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency.

After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

An agency may not request, orally, in writing, or electronically through the USA Jobs website or other electronic means, that an applicant for appointment for a position in the civil service disclose criminal history record information before the appointing agency extends a conditional offer of employment. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit https://www.opm.gov/about-us/careers-at-opm/opportunities/

Overview

Accepting applications

Location

many vacancies in the following locations:

Lakewood, CO

District of Columbia, DC

Washington, DC

Macon, GA

Kansas City, MO

Boyers, PA

Philadelphia, PA

Norfolk, VA

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible

Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

Remote job

No

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Salary

$74,678 - $197,200 per year

Pay scale & grade

GS 11 - 15

Promotion potential

None

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule

Full-time

Travel Required

Not required

Appointment type

Permanent

Occupations and job series

• 0905 Attorney

Supervisory status

No

Federal service type

This job is in the Excepted Service

Represented by a union

No

Drug test

No

Security clearance

Not Required

Position sensitivity and risk

Moderate Risk (MR)

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required

No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number

27-RGJ-13087074-ATT

Control number

888187400