Public Notice for Attorney Advisor (Direct Hire)

Basic requirements for all grade levels: Applicants must have a Law Degree (e.g., J.D., LL.B.) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school. Must be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To qualify for the SV-G Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-F or GS-09 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent education or experience in the private sector.

Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Researching laws and regulations, analyzing legal issues, and writing legal opinions, memoranda, or recommendations; AND Developing draft letters, memoranda, legal analyses, pleadings, or other legal documents for review and use by a senior or higher-graded attorney, ensuring the drafts are clear, accurate, well-organized, and consistent with applicable legal requirements, policies, and procedures.

OR Be a graduate from an accredited law school and be an active member in good standing. To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-12), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-G or GS-11 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.

Specialized experience MUST include all the following: Researching laws and regulations, analyzing legal issues, and writing legal opinions, memoranda, or recommendations; AND Developing draft letters, memoranda, legal analyses, pleadings, or other legal documents for review and use by a senior or higher-graded attorney, ensuring the drafts are clear, accurate, well-organized, and consistent with applicable legal requirements, policies, and procedures; AND Reviewing legal precedents and preparing written recommendations for supervisory review.

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-H or GS-12 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.

Specialized experience MUST include all the following: Conducting complex legal research and factual investigation, analyzing legal and factual issues, identifying additional facts needed, and determining applicable legal sources; AND Writing complex legal opinions or guidance that interpret state or Federal laws, regulations, or orders, and assisting with drafting regulations and/or orders; AND Advising program offices, agency leadership, or other stakeholders on compliance with regulatory requirements.

To qualify for the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to GS-14), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-I or GS-13 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.

Specialized experience MUST include all the following: Providing regulatory legal counsel and policy guidance on the interpretation, implementation, and application of laws, regulations, policies, and requirements; AND Assessing regulatory legal risks and recommending legally supportable courses of action based on applicable statutes, regulations, policies, and agency requirements; AND Handling regulatory enforcement matters, administrative litigation, hearings, or appeals involving the application or interpretation of statutes, regulations, and agency requirements.

To qualify for the SV-K Pay Band (equivalent to GS-15), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-J or GS-14 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.

Specialized experience MUST include all the following: Providing regulatory legal counsel and policy guidance on laws, regulations, policies, and requirements related to intelligence, national security or transportation infrastructure, or threats to the traveling public; AND Assessing regulatory legal risks and recommending legally supportable courses of action based on applicable statutes, regulations, policies, and agency requirements; AND Handling regulatory enforcement matters, administrative litigation, hearings, or appeals involving the application or interpretation of statutes, regulations, and agency requirements; AND Training, mentoring, or providing guidance to junior attorneys on legal research, analysis, writing, case strategy, regulatory requirements, and professional practice.

01Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of legal training, subject-matter knowledge, and practical experience with rulemaking, compliance, enforcement, and administrative procedures. Familiarity with the Administrative Procedure Act, Federal Register process, and agency rulemaking procedures is highly desired. Effective communication skills in advising clients across all levels of an organizational structure.

Extensive experience with the regulatory drafting and review process in a federal agency, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and implementing administration priorities is highly valued.

This Public Notice for Attorney Advisor (Direct Hire) position is located in Chief Counsel, Regulations Division, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to: Provides expert legal guidance on administrative law, including regulatory and security standards and compliance, to TSA and external stakeholders on varied, complex, and sensitive issues affecting homeland security and TSA's mission.

Advises policymakers and managers on the development, implementation, and compliance implications of new or sensitive policies, programs, regulations, and security standards. Communicates legal advice and agency positions clearly and effectively, tailoring messages to varied audiences and incorporating stakeholder input as appropriate.

Proposes preventive actions and innovative legal approaches to ensure TSA regulations, security standards, policies, and practices remain legally sufficient and compliant with evolving statutory, regulatory, and administrative requirements. Recommends legally supportable solutions to complex regulatory and security standards issues where existing precedents or prior interpretations must be adapted to emerging legal interpretations or changing operational needs.

Serves as a primary legal authority on major, high-profile regulatory law, security standards, and compliance issues affecting the transportation industry. Develops briefings and legal analyses to communicate TSA's strategic regulatory and security standards positions to internal and external stakeholders and decision-makers. Supports policymakers in coordinating legally sound regulatory, compliance, and security countermeasures with appropriate Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities.

Drafts and reviews regulatory and security standards documents and related legal actions, including documentation of policy decisions, legal sufficiency of the administrative record, Memoranda of Understanding, Privacy Impact Assessments, Paperwork Reduction Act documents, System of Records Notices, legal opinions, guidance documents, and other regulatory requirements.

Serves as a lead legal advisor to executive-level staff on questions of regulatory law, security standards compliance, and administrative policy involved in developing policies, strategies, and plans addressing threats to transportation security.

02Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of legal training, subject-matter knowledge, and practical experience with rulemaking, compliance, enforcement, and administrative procedures. Familiarity with the Administrative Procedure Act, Federal Register process, and agency rulemaking procedures is highly desired. Effective communication skills in advising clients across all levels of an organizational structure.

Extensive experience with the regulatory drafting and review process in a federal agency, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and implementing administration priorities is highly valued. Please note: The major duties described reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay bands perform the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex.