The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is ranked within the top 5 mid-size agencies as a "Best Place to Work" in the Federal government! This Attorney Advisor position is located in the Office of Commissioner Rosner. For more information visit: Commissioner David Rosner | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Learn more about this agency
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference
The Commissioner seeks an experienced and innovative attorney to join his team as a legal adviser to work on pressing energy policy issues of national importance. The incumbent will leverage their experience to develop and advocate for solutions that are informed by rigorous analysis and consistent with FERC's governing statutes and judicial precedent. This position offers the opportunity to shape the cutting-edge issues facing the Commission, including large load growth, demand flexibility, grid enhancing technologies, transmission planning, and faster generator interconnection, among others.
The incumbent will exercise independent judgment and initiative to deliver strategic legal and policy advice promptly, efficiently, and with limited oversight. The position includes advising on questions of law and regulatory policy in matters arising under the Commission's jurisdiction, matters involving Commission operations more generally, and in communicated with the regulated industries and stakeholders, including states regulators and the general public. Accordingly, this position requires experience related to the Commission's responsibilities arising under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Act, Natural Gas Policy Act, Electric Consumers Protection Act, Bonneville Act, among other statutes, as well experience working with Executive Orders and Presidential directives, and general industry knowledge.
MAJOR DUTIES
- Advises the Commissioner on legal aspects of formal and informal cases or matters before the Commission; conformance of the recommendations made by the divisions and offices to Commission policies and precedents; whether the recommended action conforms to prior opinions expressed by the Commissioner; the effect of the proposed actions on various hydropower, electric power, natural gas utilities and oil pipelines; government regulation in general; etc.
- Conducts special projects for the Commissioner on proposed policies or rules which the Commissioner believes necessary or desirable, requiring that the incumbent perform extensive legal research and consult with various groups within and outside the Commission.
- Performs legal research requiring interpretation and analysis of statutes, legislation, judicial decisions, Commission precedent, etc., on material to be used by the Commissioner.
- Through reading, attendance, and communication with stakeholders, keeps abreast of hearings and industry developments that are in progress; confers with staff, applicants, intervenors, judges, attorneys and other personnel to secure a grasp of the issues in all actions.
- You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- A two-year trial period may be required.
- A background investigation is required.
- This is not a bargaining unit position.
- Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service.
- This position has an education requirement; you must submit transcripts.
- Possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited college or university.
- Current, active bar membership required.
- Relocation expenses will not be paid.
- If hired, you may be required to divest certain energy-related securities.
- Maximum of 2-page resume.
You must meet the following basic requirements, by the closing date of this announcement: (1) hold a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from an accredited college or university and (2) be a current, active bar member in good standing.
In addition, to the minimum requirements above, you must meet the following qualifications for each grade level by the closing date of this announcement:
For the GS-15: You must have at least four years of professional legal experience post bar admission with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-14 level. Experience at the GS-14 level is defined as: experience delivering strategic legal and policy advice related to the Commission's responsibilities arising under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Act, Natural Gas Policy Act, Electric Consumers Protection Act, Bonneville Act, among other statutes, as well experience working with Executive Orders and Presidential directives, and general industry knowledge.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.
Please do not cut and paste the "Duties" section, specialized experience statement, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
This position has an education requirement and therefore, transcripts are required. Failure to submit a copy of your transcripts at the time of application will result in your application being marked incomplete and you will not receive further consideration.
The duty location of this position is Washington, DC.
If selected for this position, you will be required to:
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
- Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice.
- Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
- Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC's supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of at least some energy securities is likely to be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may also be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of appointment.
- Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
- Attention to Detail
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Customer Service
-
Decision Making
-
Flexibility
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Influencing/Negotiating
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Integrity/Honesty
-
Interpersonal Skills
-
Learning
-
Reasoning
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Self-Management
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Stress Tolerance
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Teamwork
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13001323
Failure to submit all required documentation by the closing date of this vacancy announcement, including adhering to the maximum two-page resume requirement, will result in removal from consideration and loss of any special hiring preference (e.g., veterans' preference).
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR ALL CANDIDATES:
- RESUME (maximum of 2 pages in length): Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire. You must ensure it contains the following information for each experience/position:
- Beginning and ending dates of employment (Month/Day/Year format)
- Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable)
- Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions)
- If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying based on your education, you must list your education history, including the type of degree and your major of study.
- VACANCY QUESTIONNAIRE: You must submit and complete the online eligibility and vacancy questions.
- TRANSCRIPTS: You are required to submit copies of your college and law school transcripts to verify your education. Unofficial copies are acceptable; however, if selected you will be required to provide official transcripts before your effective date.
- PROOF OF BAR MEMBERSHIP: Documentation showing you are a current bar member in good standing.
OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR CANDIDATES (You are strongly encouraged to submit these documents as a part of your initial application; however, if contacted for an interview, these documents will be required):
- COVER LETTER: You may be required to submit a cover letter that showcases how your unique combination of skills and experience(s) meet the requirements of the position.
- WRITING SAMPLE: You may be required to provide a writing sample that demonstrates your persuasive writing skills and that reflects your analytic skills.
OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS TO SUPPORT PREFERENCE OR ELIGIBILITY CLAIMS:
VETERANS'PREFERENCE (DD-214, VA Disability Letter, etc.): There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, FERC considers military service a positive factor when reviewing applications. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you are encouraged to submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. Ten-point preference eligibles must also submit an "Application for 10-point Veteran Preference" (SF-15), along with official VA letter and the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. For more information about veterans' preference, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.
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.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
- Click the Apply Online button.
- Make sure you verify that your resume clearly indicates possession of the competencies and specialized experience listed under the "Qualifications and Evaluation" and "How You Will Be Evaluated" sections of this announcement.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
- If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
- Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
- Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
- Set aside approximately two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
- Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
- Remember to submit all required and supporting documentation listed under the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request an RA in your online application. Requests for an RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for an RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for an RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need an RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)
Rita Howsare
Phone
202-502-8965
Email
rita.howsare@ferc.gov
Address
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First St NE
Washington, DC 20426
US
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. You will be notified of the status of your application up to four times throughout the application process, via your USAJOBS dashboard. To verify the status of your application, both during and after the announcement open period, log on to your USAJOBS account. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an option to "Track this application." Your "Applicant status" will also appear along with the dates you applied to this position and when your application was last updated. To learn more about your specific job status and how this helps you track jobs and applications visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status
Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement.
More than one selection for similar positions may be made from this announcement and the program office for that selection may vary. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s).
Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 07/16/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 16, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$169,279 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
FERC-CO2-ATTY-26-13001323
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