ATTORNEY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES (Multiple Vacancies)
FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel is seeking to fill several attorney positions (GS 12/13/14). These positions offer intellectually challenging work, a variety of interesting assignments, and the satisfaction of working with highly motivated colleagues who are dedicated to integrity, excellence, respect. We promote a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion are valued, and where we enjoy our work.
FDA regulates almost 25 percent of the United States consumer economy to help ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical products, the safety of the food supply, and the regulation of tobacco products. FDA is responsible for regulating products as diverse as electronic cigarettes, artificial hearts, gene therapy products, pet food, dietary supplements, food from genetically engineered plants and animals, and counterterrorism medical products. The Office of the Chief Counsel provides litigation and counseling support for FDA’s mission of promoting and protecting the public health. The work of our attorneys has an immediate impact on public health and law across the country.
We seek candidates in both Counseling and Litigation:
Counseling Attorneys: We are seeking highly motivated candidates with an interest or experience in administrative law or one or more of FDA’s product areas. Successful candidates should be willing to work collaboratively, creatively, and rigorously to resolve complex legal issues under tight deadlines. Selected counseling candidates would join a cadre of food and drug law experts who work closely with FDA clients to achieve important public health and policy goals, to anticipate, plan for, and withstand legal challenges, and to reach legally supportable solutions to complex legal/regulatory problems. These attorneys work on wide-ranging challenges with broad impacts on the nation’s health and safety, including:
Researching and interpreting Federal statutes, regulations, and case law pertaining to FDA’s regulatory programs and activities to address often difficult and controversial legal questions.
Participating in rulemaking proceedings, legislative matters (including providing technical assistance on proposed legislation and preparing clients for Congressional hearings), policy deliberations, and international negotiations.
Reviewing agency policies and practices from a legal perspective and developing recommended courses of action.
Explaining agency programs to Congress, the regulated industry, and the public.
Litigation Attorneys: We are seeking candidates with litigation experience, especially in civil enforcement, defensive, and administrative work. The selected candidate(s) would join a talented team of passionate, experienced litigators handling complex, nationwide litigation. FDA’s litigators draft motions and briefs, negotiate settlements and consent decrees, conduct administrative proceedings, prepare for and participate in hearings and other court proceedings and provide legal guidance to FDA on enforcement matters. FDA’s litigators work closely with the Department of Justice and serve as trusted advisors to FDA leadership. Members of the litigation team can expect to work on cases in district court across the country all the way to the Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeals; to work closely with many components of the Department of Justice; and will sit across the table from some of the most talented litigators in the country. Litigators can expect to work on matters in all of FDA’s program areas, including medical products, food, tobacco, and animal drugs, and will be on the front lines of hot button administrative law and constitutional law issues. This litigation practice provides a broad base for developing a varied and intellectually challenging professional experience.
In addition, we are seeking candidates to provide legal support to FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations and work with the Department of Justice in the prosecution of companies and individuals for federal criminal violations involving FDA-regulated products. These attorneys advise on all aspects of criminal investigations for violations of federal law by parties and entities subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; participate with the Department of Justice in developing investigatory strategy; review evidence to assess criminal liability and appropriate charges; join in trial preparation including drafting indictments, preparing witnesses, and working on plea negotiations; and actively participate in trials and sentencing. The position may require significant travel.
All Candidates:
Candidates must have a record of strong academic achievement, along with outstanding legal research, writing, oral, and analytical skills and be adept at working with and advising clients.
Based on the principle that diversity is a strength, the Office of the Chief Counsel values varied backgrounds and welcomes the application of members of historically underrepresented groups. Positions are located at FDA headquarters at the White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Maryland. Salary currently ranges from $94,199 (GS-12) to $132,368 (GS-14) with promotion potential to $183,500 (GS-15).
Additional information on the Office of the Chief Counsel is available at http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OC/OfficeoftheChiefCounsel.
These career positions are in the Excepted Service under a Schedule A appointment. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. If selected, an applicant must submit a copy of the applicant’s state bar card or a certificate of good standing from all jurisdictions in which the applicant holds an active license to practice law prior to appointment and must complete an OGE 450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Form within thirty (30) days of entrance on duty. FDA is an equal opportunity employer and a smoke-free workplace.
