Summary
This position is located in US Department of Agriculture, Office of the General Counsel. The primary purpose of the position is to provide professional legal services to major components of USDA and its agencies. This is an open-continuous announcement with an initial cut-off date of 11/14/2026 and then every month thereafter. Please see the "How to Apply" section.
Duties
Interpreting and applying complex, overlapping, or conflicting federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, and case law to advise senior officials on legally consequential matters involving unsettled legal questions.
Conducting comprehensive legal research and drafting authoritative legal memoranda that synthesize extensive factual records and multiple legal authorities into legally defensible conclusions.
Evaluating proposed regulations, policy directives, internal guidance, or agency actions for legal sufficiency, identifying deficiencies, and formulating final written recommendations that shape agency policy, regulatory posture, or litigation risk.
Knowledge of administrative and Federal litigation particularly related to the Marketing and Regulatory and Food Safety mission areas of the USDA.
How you will be evaluated
Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, for the position. Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority (DHA), veteran's preference does not apply. While veterans' preference does not apply to the DHA, veterans are encouraged to submit their documentation. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable and who are otherwise eligible to apply for the position, will be referred for selection consideration. For more information on OPM's authorization for DHA, please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/ Applicants who are displaced Federal employees within the local commuting who are requesting priority consideration under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) must be determined Well Qualified using the below evaluation criteria. Well Qualified-Meets the minimum qualifications of the position and is proficient in some, but not all, of the relevant competencies. Qualified-Meets the minimum qualifications of the position but is not proficient in the relative competencies to a substantive degree. Legal Government and Juris Prudence Problem Solving Written Communication Oral Communication Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will review ONLY two (2) pages of your resume, starting at your work experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened). Applicants passing the resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process. Any selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current Federal employees would therefore, be given new appointments to the civil service and new probationary period required. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right. To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13083241