What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supervisory Attorney-Adviser (General) position at US Defense Health Agency?
Summary
About the position: Serves as a Supervisory Attorney-Adviser (General) in the DHA Office of General Counsel.
This vacancy is located in Bethesda, Maryland.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
This job is open to
The public
Duties
- Serve as a legal advisor to credentials committees, privileging authorities, and peer review hearings.
- Provide legal guidance, assistance, support, and review of all clinical adverse actions for compliance with legal due process and adherence to regulatory provisions from inception to completion.
- Provide advice on criminal conflict of interest statutes and the Standards of Conduct regulation.
- Responsible for guiding legal staff in management of the Financial Disclosure Management (FDM) program in accordance with the law and regulation.
- Perform difficult legal work involving complex and controversial legal question, factual or policy issues.
- Serve as the Chief Counsel for a Defense Health Agency Network.
- Manages staffing recommendations to DHA General Counsel.
- Provide legal support to the Network Director/staff, as well as to its subordinate military medical and dental treatment facilities.
- Serve as a first and second line supervisory attorney.
- Advise on controversial and complex medic-legal and bioethical topics.
- Serve as the Lead Ethics Counselor for the Network and reporting Military Treatment Facilities.
- Advise agency officials on protections afforded to private information under the Privacy Act of 1974, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and other laws and regulations.
- Assist with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests when interrupting and applying law and policy for the release or denial of requested information.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance.
- This position is designated as a key position. This is essential to the accomplishment of wartime operations. Must be removed from military recall status if alternative for filling of the position during an emergency is not available.
- Must be a graduate of a law school possessing the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) and be an active member in good standing of the Bar of a State or District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or a U.S. commonwealth.
- Business travel may be required up to 15% of the time.
Qualifications
Who May Apply: US Citizens
Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and on the extent to which their application shows possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position:
- Skill in supervising other legal personnel.
- Skill in identifying legal issues and conducting relevant legal research within Administrative Law or Health care Law.
- Skill advising on complex programs or as legal counsel within the healthcare field.
- Skill in duties that involve advising agency officials on protections afforded to private information under the Privacy Act of 1974, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and other laws and regulations.
- Skill in oral and written advocacy.
- Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs.
TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government must have completed 52 weeks at the next lower grade level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade as the position being filled. Time-in grade may be waived for current federal employees at management's discretion.
The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration:
Education: An applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD).
Bar Membership: Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the Bar of a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or the District of Columbia. Document should be dated within three months of the date the application is submitted. If the document has been ordered, but not arrived, you may provide a screenshot of your certificate (clearly showing a time/date within the last 90 days) which validates your active status.
Experience Required for the GS-15: Applicant must have three or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the Bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.
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
- Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
- You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
- A two-year trial period may be required if new to federal service.
- Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
- If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances are not authorized.
- You may claim military spouse preference.
- Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
- If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
- Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
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.
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.
Your application package (resume and supporting documents) will be evaluated for basic qualification requirements and for the skills needed to perform the duties of the position, as described in this vacancy announcement and identified by the Selecting Official.
Veteran's preference requirements do not apply to attorney positions in the excepted service, however the principles of veteran's preference will be followed to the extent which is administratively feasible.
Time in Grade: The Qualifying Authorities (QA's) will make a determination as to the applicability of time in grade based on the requirements of the position. If you are currently employed as an attorney by the Federal government you must have completed one year at the next lower grade level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade level as the position being filled.
Required Documents
The following documents are required to be submitted as part of your application package.
If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
1. Your resume: Your resume may be submitted in any format and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
NOTE: The maximum number of pages accepted for a resume is TWO pages. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
2. Law school transcripts: This position has an individual occupational requirement for education. You MUST submit a copy of your transcript(s) with your application package, or you may be rated ineligible. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but official transcripts will be required prior to entry on duty. See: Transcripts and Licenses
3. Certificate of Good Standing: Certificate of good standing from the Bar of a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or the District of Columbia. Document should be dated within three (3) months of the date the application is submitted.
Document should be dated within three (3) months of the date the application is submitted. If the document has been ordered, but not arrived, you may provide a screenshot of your certificate (clearly showing a time/date within the last 90 days) which validates your current, active status.
4. Other supporting documents:
- Writing sample of 3-5 pages, including the analysis of a legal issue (highly desired).
- Self-certified statement of fitness to practice law (highly desired). The statement should state under oath that your fitness to practice law has never been challenged in any jurisdiction. The statement must be dated within 90 days of the closing date of the announcement. If fitness has been challenged, you must provide a sworn statement in detail as to the circumstances.
- Cover Letter, optional.
- Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable.
- Veterans documents, if applicable.
- Permanent change of station (PCS) orders and marriage license, if claiming military spouse preference.
- Time-in-grade documentation: If you are applying for a higher grade and your SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you meet the one year time-in-grade requirement so you will need to provide an SF-50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old).
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 complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
- The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/06/2025 to receive consideration
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12804859).
- Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- NOTE: The maximum number of pages accepted for a resume is TWO pages. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
- It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
- Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center..
Agency contact information
DO NOT MAIL
Falls Church, VA 22042
US
Next steps
If you have questions regarding this job posting please visit: https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq and complete the online submission form. To expedite the process please include the Job announcement number, which can be found at the top, right hand side of the job announcement.
If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.
Overview
- 0905 Attorney
- National security
Salary : $195,200
