Assistant Chief Counsel for Program and Project Legal Services

The Assistant Chief Counsel for Program and Project Legal Services serves as the principal attorney for FHWA in all matters relating to the agency's external programs and legal advice provided to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) 52 Federal-aid Division Offices, to include ensuring the external programs are administered in a legally sound and effective manner adhering to governing laws, regulations, precedents, and rulings.

PLEASE NOTE: All applicants must have graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, must possess a J.D or LL. B (law degree), and must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

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The Assistant Chief Counsel for Program and Project Legal Services provides executive leadership and direction to the Division in providing legal counsel, legal review, and litigation support to FHWA Program Offices.

• Leads and directs the Division in matters relating to the following program areas: Planning, Environment, and Realty; Infrastructure; Safety and Highway Operations; External Civil Rights; and Tribal Law.
• Exercises full authority for reviewing and approving legal opinions and decisions prepared by Division attorneys, which can include far-reaching economic and political impact on the public and on the relationships between FHWA and the individual States.
• Communicates frequently with operating officials of FHWA, Department of Transportation (DOT), with Members and officials of Congress, other Federal departments and agencies, and the States and other government agencies, including negotiating solutions to differences which arise during course of discussions.
• Advises the Deputy Chief Counsel and the Chief Counsel on controversial matters within areas of Division responsibility.

As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES), you must clearly articulate and describe within your five (5) page resume evidence of progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience which involved management of a program or organization of significant scope and complexity. Your resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to perform the duties of this position and meet the mandatory Technical Qualification(s) and Managerial Executive Core Qualifications listed below.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Below are the descriptions of the mandatory technical qualifications for this position. Your five (5) page resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet these technical qualifications.

TQ 1: Demonstrated executive-level experience serving as a diversified legal expert providing advocacy and representation for clients with highly complex issues involving one or more of the following areas: environmental law, transportation planning, realty, infrastructure, safety, operations, tribal law, or external civil rights.

TQ 2: Demonstrated executive-level leadership providing legal advice and counsel on novel and complex legal issues to high-level decision makers and other stakeholders such as the Federal agencies, members of Congress or their staff, senior officials in State and local governments, and various technical and professional organizations and experience in managing and leading a legal team of highly skilled professionals.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Below are descriptions of the mandatory ECQs that are required for all SES positions. Your five (5) page resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet the 5 ECQs.

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Leadership Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision
ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, Team Building
ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Technology Management
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating

FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES: The following competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Continual Learning, and Public Service Motivation.

Additional information about the SES and Executive Core Qualifications can be found on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) SES Website.

You are strongly encouraged to review OPMs Guide to SES Qualifications for specific examples and guidance on writing effective ECQ narrative statements and executive resumes.