Summary This position is in the Contracting, Budget, Real Estate, and Leasing subgroup, a component of the Litigation and Administrative Practice Group in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The subgroup provides legal and policy advice to the Commission and the SEC's divisions and offices on a wide range of legal matters including procurement, appropriations, real estate, leasing and intellectual property, and defends the Commission in administrative and federal court litigation. Responsibilities The individual selected for this position will lead the Contracting, Budget, Real Estate, and Leasing subgroup, primarily handling matters related to contracts, appropriations, real property and leasing and intellectual property. Typical duties include: Advise the Commission and its members and employees on matters affecting the agency's mission and operations. Primary subject areas include: procurement; appropriations; real property and leasing; intellectual property including patents, trademark, and licensing; information technology and data security; and Continuity of Operations, Reconstitution and Devolution. Provide legal advice on government contracts to the SEC's Office of Acquisitions and other offices and divisions within the agency, and represent the Commission in GAO protests and Contract Dispute Act appeals. Oversee the review of all pending contractual actions for compliance with provisions relating to Inherently Governmental Functions and personal services. Provide legal advice on appropriations law issues, including availability of funds, appropriate use, and procedures in connection with lapses in funding. Enforce the Commission's intellectual property rights by monitoring and taking action against infringement and misuse of the SEC's trademarks and branding. Advise SEC offices and divisions on use of the Internet, and service agreements both to convey information to the public and for employees to access mission-related information from Internet resources. Manage and direct the work of attorneys and professional administrative staff by planning, organizing and supervising their work to meet deadlines and maintain quality. Determine operational priorities and approaches to complex legal issues, while keeping senior leaders apprised of the status of those projects and any major problems encountered. Provide legal advice on all other applicable laws and regulations concerning the management and operation of the agency. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. 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. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following J.D. or LL.B. degree --AND-- Active membership of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Note: proof of bar membership will be required before entry on duty. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement. SK-17: Applicant must have four (4) years of post J.D. work experience identifying legal issues, providing legal analyses, providing legal solutions/recommendations, and preparing legal documents, such as contracts, dispositions, pleadings, and motions, which also includes at least three (3) years: Providing written and oral legal advice to senior agency officials on complex legal issues relating to federal statutes, rules and regulations, including in at least two of the following disciplines: appropriations, procurement, leases and real property, and/or intellectual property; AND Managing a diverse workload and supervising, leading or providing guidance and direction to subordinate staff; AND Representing a federal agency in federal court or administrative litigation. Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional Information SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade; however, a selectee's initial pay is always set below the maximum rate of the range. Please click here for additional information. Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, please visit http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/ IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) is available to individuals who have special priority selection rights under this plan. Individuals must be minimally qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP eligibles will be considered minimally qualified if they meet the minimum requirements for this position. Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in the SEC application process due to a medical disability, please contact reasonableaccommodation@sec.gov. For religious-based accommodations, please contact religiousaccommodation@sec.gov . Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination. Click here for additional information. The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information, to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged non-compliance by contacting the Legal and Policy Office in the Office of Human Resources at ElliottT@sec.gov.