Job Opportunity

The Mission Support Legal Division (MSLD) is seeking two Attorneys for detail to the Personnel Law Branch (PLB). Both details are located at FEMA HQ, 500 C Street SW, Washington, DC, although full-time telework is authorized at least through August 31, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Detail #1 is at the GS/IC-14 level and requires favorable adjudication of a Tier 5 background investigation for a Top Secret clearance (critical-sensitive), which must be initiated as soon as possible. Therefore, the detail will not start until approximately the end of July to allow time for adjudication of the background investigation prior to the commencement of the detail. A temporary promotion is not authorized. The detailee will primarily provide legal support to the Office of the Chief Security Officer (OCSO), providing legal advice on all matters related to security (e.g., policy review, legal issues associated with personnel and physical security, as well as issues arising from the Security Compliance Division, and Fraud Investigations and Inspections Division) in disaster and steady-state contexts. The incumbent may also be assigned work supporting the Office of the Chief Component Human Capital Officer (OCCHCO) and other program offices in reviewing disciplinary actions and policy review, as well as assisting with personnel litigation. The detailee will report to the PLB Principal Deputy. The detail will be a minimum of 90 days (CORE) or 120 days (PFT).

Detail #2 is at the GS/IC-13, or 14 level. The incumbent will primarily support the Office of the Chief Component Human Capital Officer (OCCHCO), as well as serving all FEMA programs from which personnel litigation arises, will perform some disciplinary and adverse actions and policy review and may be assigned or assist with litigation before administrative forums (labor arbitrations, MSPB, EEOC, state unemployment and FLRA). The incumbent reports to the PLB-West Branch Chief. The detail will be 120 days, but an extension of 60 days will be requested. The detail will begin as soon as practicable after the announcement closes and a selection is made.

Candidates must have strong writing and communication skills and the ability to work independently, and represent the agency at a high level both internally and externally. Candidates must possess at least three years of professional legal experience, at least one of which includes advising clients and reviewing policies, procedures, technical manuals and other publications for legal sufficiency. For Detail #1, experience with providing advice to a federal security office will receive positive consideration. For Detail #2, experience with oral advocacy before courts or administrative tribunals, drafting memoranda of fact and law, motions, pleadings, litigation reports, and specific labor and employment experience will receive positive consideration. Please note this in your application. Due to the nature of FEMA’s operations, successful candidates should show the ability to work remotely. In addition, as a FEMA employee, the incumbent is subject to being deployed to support FEMA disaster operations.

If you would like to be considered for one of these details, please send a resume, clearly stating for which detail it is to be considered, to:
Detail #1: Leigh Hoburg by COB Wednesday, May 12 via email at Leigh.Hoburg@fema.dhs.gov.
Detail #2: Ashley Darbo by COB Monday, May 17 via email at Ashley.Darbo@fema.dhs.gov.
If applying for both details, applicant must submit a resume for each.