This position is located in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for the Office For Civil Rights (OCR), located in Washington, D.C. The Senior Counsel aides the Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretaries in providing expert legal advice related to Federal Law that OCR is responsible for enforcing.
This is an Excepted Service position. The job will be filled by alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position are subject to a one-year trial period. Join our Team! The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is looking for the best and brightest to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation.
As an Attorney Advisor, GS-0905-15, you will be responsible for: Serving as OCR's primary liaison with the Office for Communications and Outreach on press matters and assisting the Assistant Secretary in communicating OCR's legal work (pursuant to civil rights laws under OCR's jurisdiction) and non-legal work succinctly and effectively in response to numerous media requests reaching a dozen or more per day.
Training and advising attorneys and other staff who have multiple levels of experience (up to GS-15 level) on communications and legal matters related to OCR work. Coordinating, reviewing and making recommendations on briefing materials for the Assistant Secretary on policy matters or Office activities to be used in speeches, presentations to the Department, or Congressional committees. Assisting in the development of speeches and Congressional testimony.
Preparing policy options based on the direction of the Assistant Secretary, secures support for the issues as necessary, and assists in the implementation of those policies (e.g., explaining such to Office for Civil Rights and Department personnel, other agencies, or other parties).
Providing guidance and coordination of staff and project management in the Office of the Assistant Secretary on a variety of assignments and with respect to day-to-day personnel matters and strategic operations. Developing policy recommendations for the Assistant Secretary on a variety of management and policy issues. Projects generally involve sensitive, highly-visible issues, or matters of a precedent-setting nature.
Providing legal advice on FOIA inquiries and appeals pending before the office, including reviewing the initial disclosures (as necessary), appeal requests and draft appeal determinations for legal sufficiency; researches applicable law; and making recommendations on FOIA policy and procedures.
Education cannot be substituted for experience for this position and grade level.
As an ED employee, you will also benefit from our family-friendly work environment. As part of our commitment to maintain a work life balance, we offer excused leave for Parent/Teacher Conferences (3 hours); excused leave for annual health screenings (4 hours); and matching leave for community volunteer service. Other flexibilities that may be available to you include alternative work schedules. You may be eligible to receive a recruitment incentive for this position.
To receive this incentive payment, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon. You may be eligible to receive a relocation incentive for this position. To receive this incentive payment, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon.
You may be eligible to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program as a recruitment incentive for this position. To receive student loan repayments, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon.
Full federal benefits details →
tyra.hunter@ed.gov · (202) 219-1528
This position is with Department of Education Headquarters, Department of Education.
The posted pay range is $169279 – $197200/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-09-08.
There are 2 openings for this position.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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