Attorney Advisor (Safety Law)

Summary

The Office of Safety Law supports FRA's mission-driven rail safety program by advising on the legal requirements relating to railroad safety, focusing on regulatory and enforcement issues. Staff attorneys specialize in subject matter areas such as operating practices, operating crew certification, hazardous materials, track and structures, signal and train control, and motive power and equipment.

Duties

• As an Attorney Advisor (Safety Law), you will: Enforcement: Handle rail safety enforcement actions, including review, assessment, and closure of civil penalty cases. Rulemaking: Assist in the development and drafting of rail safety regulations. Litigation: Counsel on litigation matters pertaining to rail safety and represent the agency in certain administrative hearings. Support: Provide technical assistance regarding proposed rail safety legislation. General: Guide FRA's Office of Railroad Safety, industry stakeholders, and the public regarding rail safety legal issues. The ideal candidate should have knowledge of and experience in a wide range of legal practice areas affecting the transportation industry and DOT, including specifically: administrative law, regulations, and guidance; safety enforcement programs; litigation; or legislative drafting. *PLEASE NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous (1 year) vacancy announcement. Given our continuing need for top professionals in this field, we will review applications after the first 21 days of the vacancy opening for early consideration. Then after, applications will be reviewed on an as needed basis.

Requirements

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding. TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period. ETHICS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 2635, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 263. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.

Education

MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.