Supervisory Attorney Advisor (Bureau Chief)
What you'd do
This position is located in the Media Bureau (MB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Washington, D.C. RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID. THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.
Major duties
The incumbent serves as the Bureau Chief, functioning as the senior supervisory attorney and principle executive directing all legal, policy, regulatory, administrative and programmatic functions of the Bureau. Provides authoritative leadership in executing the FCC's statutory responsibilities under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and advances national communications policy across complex and emerging areas affecting the American public, regulated entities, federal agencies, and stakeholders across the communications ecosystem. Exercises broad delegated authority to plan, direct, coordinate and evaluate the Bureau's legal, regulatory, and operational work. Requiring mastery of administrative and communications law, deep understanding of industry structures and technological trends, and the ability to integrate legal, policy economic, and technical considerations into coherent frameworks that support Commission decision-making. Provides high-level strategic leadership to senior FCC officials, including the Chairman, Commissioners, and other Bureau Chiefs, and is responsible for ensuring that all Bureau work meets the highest standards for technical accuracy, legal sufficiency, and alignment with Commission priorities. Exercises broad discretion to determine emerging issues requiring Commission attention, proposing new initiatives, regulatory reforms, and frameworks to address technological advancements, market shifts, and public needs. Oversees the development of complex Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs), Reports and Orders (R&Os), Policy Statement, and Declaratory Rulings that may establish significant national precedent. Represents the Bureau at meetings with the Office of Management and Budge (OMB), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), DOJ, FTC, DHS, OSTP, congressional committees, and other federal or state agencies. Leads cross-Bureau or Commission-wide forces addressing national priority issues such as broadband deployment, emergency communications, accessibility, media modernization, cybersecurity, or spectrum-related policy intersections. Responds to urgent or sensitive issues, including natural disasters, crises affecting communications infrastructure, congressional escalations, or Chairman-level directives requiring rapid, high-level action.
What you need to qualify
Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. In order to be deemed as "BEST QUALIFIED" candidates must meet both the educational requirements and the specialized experience requirements outlined below. A. Education You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions. Education requirements include: a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M. NOTE-If you do not provide a transcript at the time of application, a transcript will be required to be provided at the time of selection. AND B. Specialized Experience For the GS-15 position: Applicant must possess at least four years of professional law experience and at least one year of that experience must be specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service performing the following: 1. Experience supervising, leading or managing staff. 2. Experience establishing organization-wide strategic priorities, directing development of significant legal rulemakings, adjudicatory decisions, and/or legal strategies. 3. Experience exercising broad delegated authority over organizational operations such as, but not limited to, personnel, budget, policy development, licensing activities, enforcement coordination, litigation strategy, strategic planning, and/or organizational management. 4. Experience overseeing or advising on the development of national communications policy. 5. Experience directing, administering, or providing expert legal guidance on nationwide regulatory programs as it pertains to matters such as, but not limited to, broadcast television, broadcast radio, cable television, satellite television, multichannel video programming distributors, media ownership, political broadcasting, children's programming, accessibility requirements, and/or emerging media technologies. 6. Experience resolving highly significant legal and policy issues, negotiating complex regulatory matters, explaining policies, and representing an agency, organization, or client concerning issues of substantial national importance. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: 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 volunteer experience. SME REVIEW Subject matter experts will review your application to determine if you meet the following required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's): Mastery of communications law, administrative law, constitutional law, and federal regulatory practice sufficient to interpret complex statutes; develop legally supportable regulatory policies; direct significant rulemaking and adjudicatory proceedings; resolve novel legal issues; and provide authoritative legal advice concerning the Communications Act of 1934, Commission regulations, and related federal laws. Demonstrated ability to provide authoritative leadership over a large, complex organization by establishing strategic priorities; directing multidisciplinary professional staff; managing organizational resources; fostering workforce engagement and accountability; implementing long-range planning initiatives; and achieving organizational objectives in support of agency strategic goals. Demonstrated ability to formulate, evaluate, and implement national regulatory policies involving highly complex legal, economic, technological, and public policy issues; balance competing statutory and stakeholder interests; anticipate emerging industry trends; and develop innovative regulatory approaches that advance the public interest while supporting effective agency decision-making. Demonstrated ability to represent an organization before senior government officials, Members of Congress, Executive Branch agencies, regulated industries, public interest organizations, and other stakeholders; build consensus among diverse interests; negotiate complex and sensitive issues; and communicate highly technical legal and policy matters clearly and effectively in both written and oral form. Demonstrated ability to analyze exceptionally complex legal issues involving significant statutory interpretation, constitutional considerations, judicial precedent, and regulatory policy; exercise sound executive judgment in resolving matters of substantial legal and public importance; and develop legally defensible recommendations supporting agency decisions with nationwide impact.
Before you apply
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