General Counsel

This position is located in the Office of General Counsel (OGC) of the National Security Agency ('NSA' or 'Agency'). NSA is a component of the Department of Defense and NSA/OGC is part of the Defense Legal Service Agency (DLSA). The General Counsel (GC) of the Department of Defense (DOD) serves as the chief legal officer of DOD. The DOD GC is also dual-hatted as the Director of DLSA, which provides a full range of legal services to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Defense Agencies, and DOD Field Activities. The NSA GC is under the authority, direction, and control of the DOD GC, the Principal Deputy General Counsel (PDGC), the Senior Deputy General Counsel, and the Deputy General Counsel (Intelligence) (DGC/I).

The National Security Agency is a combat support agency and element of the U.S. Intelligence Community. The work force is comprised of both military assignees and civilian employees located worldwide, to include military members of the Central Security Service (CSS). NSA's core missions are to conduct cybersecurity and signals intelligence activities as directed by the National Security Act of 1947, National Security Directive No. 42, Executive Order 12333, and other laws and policy direction, consistent with the U.S. Constitution, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and other applicable authorities and restrictions. The cybersecurity mission confronts the formidable challenges in preventing foreign adversaries from gaining access to sensitive or classified national security information and in protecting national security computer systems from unauthorized intrusion. The signals intelligence mission collects, processes, and disseminates foreign intelligence information in response to intelligence and counterintelligence information requirements and to support military operations. NSA also supports the U.S. Cyber Command in the Command's execution of its cyber responsibilities.

The NSA GC is the Agency's chief legal officer (overseeing an office of approximately 100 attorneys and support staff) and the final legal authority within NSA on all matters arising within or referred to NSA. The NSA GC consults regularly with the DOD Office of General Counsel and is responsible for legal oversight of all NSA activities to ensure that NSA operations are lawfully conducted. The GC routinely interacts with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Justice, other federal agencies, and GCs of other elements of the Intelligence Community regarding legal issues that involve Intelligence Community equities and cybersecurity matters. In addition, given Congress' oversight role, the GC is often called upon to interact with Congressional committee counsel.

The NSA GC is an integral part of the Director of the National Security Agency's senior leadership team and a key advisor to NSA leadership at all levels. The NSA GC also serves as the public legal face for the Agency and, as such, the GC is often invited to speak at public events and to participate in public legal panels.

Specific Duties:

a. Interpret all statutes, Presidential Directives, and Executive and Legislative Branch regulations, and provide legal advice and counsel to the Director and Senior Leadership Team with respect to the authorities for NSA activities and conditions and restrictions thereon.

b. Provide legal advice so all of the Agency's assigned responsibilities can be conducted in accordance with the Constitution and applicable statutes, Executive Orders, and implementing regulations.

c. Advise on all matters relating to the collection, retention, processing, and dissemination of signals intelligence information carried out by NSA or as part of the unified organization for signals intelligence activities that the Director of NSA has established.

d. Advise on all matters related to NSA's cybersecurity mission to include responsibilities that arise under National Security Directive 42 and applicable laws and policy directives.

e. Oversee all other legal services performed within the NSA to include acquisition, human resources, and other enabling functions as well as determining the adherence by attorneys to appropriate professional standards, subject to DOD Instruction 1442.02.

f. Keep the DOD GC currently apprised of all significant legal issues arising from NSA activities.

g. Represent the Agency on legal and public policy matters and serve as a liaison to other departments/agencies and, as appropriate, the Congress.

h. Provide legal reviews of NSA's support to U.S. Cyber Command, with particular emphasis on whether all such NSA support is properly authorized.

i. Conduct NSA's legislative initiative program, which may include drafting proposed legislation, developing the Agency's position on pending legislation and Executive Orders, preparing reports to Congress on legislative proposals, and advising on implementation of new statutes. Communicate directly with DOD OGC, other government agencies, and congressional committee staffs and members of Congress on legislative proposals, as appropriate.

j. Ensure that NSA leadership is informed of significant developments in the law, important judicial, administrative, or other decisions affecting the NSA enterprise, its people, or its resources.

k. Build partnerships with the public and private sectors and within the national security community to advance mission objectives.

l. Provide legal support to the Director, NSA.

m. Perform such other duties as the DOD GC, PDGC, SDGC, or DGC/I may prescribe.

Qualifications

The applicant must be a graduate of an accredited law school. In addition, the applicant must be able to demonstrate prior to appointment that he/she is permitted to engage in the active practice of law in the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia. Active status must be maintained in at least one state or other jurisdiction during the course of employment.

Technical Qualifications:

Applicants should provide a narrative to support the technical qualifications. Applicants must have broad professional legal experience and an authoritative knowledge of statutes, judicial decisions, and Executive Branch regulations. In addition, applicants must have demonstrated ability to perform complex legal analysis, the ability to give effective oral and written presentations, the ability to forge working relationships with senior level officials and clients, and to handle representational matters in controversy. Private sector experience and substantive knowledge or experience in telecommunications/cyber legal and regulatory matters, internet privacy issues, the law of military operations, or national security law are a plus. Originality, analytical ability, and resourcefulness are required, as there are few guidelines or precedents applicable to manage many of NSA's legal problems.

In addition, the successful applicant must possess significant prior experience effectively overseeing and managing a large and fast-paced legal practice, to include directly managing other lawyers and associated support personnel. Examples of relevant experience for this Technical Qualification include, but are not limited to, experience as:

' A managing partner in a large private law firm.

' The GC of a major corporate or government legal office.

' Other commensurate experience as a senior managing attorney.

Evaluation Criteria:

Applicants must meet all the Technical Qualifications and the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) listed below. Applicants should provide a brief narrative (no more than one-half page) to support each ECQ. In addition, each applicant must submit a resume. Fully qualified applicants will be reviewed by a Panel.

ECQ 1: LEADING CHANGE

This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

Competencies:

' Creativity and Innovation - Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes.

' External Awareness - Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national, and international policies and legal developments to include trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders' views; and maintains awareness of the organization's impact on the external environment.

' Flexibility - Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.

' Resilience - Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.

' Strategic Thinking - Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent with long-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunities and manages risks.

' Vision - Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others; acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action.

ECQ 2: LEADING PEOPLE

This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to the ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

Competencies:

' Conflict Management - Encourages creative tension and differences of opinion. Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counterproductive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.

' Leveraging Diversity - Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.

' Developing Others - Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.

' Team Building - Inspires and fosters team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals.

ECQ 3: RESULTS DRIVEN

This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to the ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

Competencies:

' Accountability - Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.

' Customer Service - Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.

' Decisiveness - Makes well-informed, effective, and timely decisions, even when data is limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; perceives the impact and implications of decisions.

' Entrepreneurship - Positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities; builds the organization by developing or improving products or services; takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives.

' Problem Solving - Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.

' Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.

ECQ4 : BUSINESS ACUMEN

This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, material, and information resources strategically.

Competencies:

' Financial Management - Understands the organization's financial process. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities.

' Human Capital Management - Builds and manages the workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised and rewarded; takes action to address performance problems. Manages a multi-sector workforce and a variety of work situations.

' Technology Management - Keeps up-to-date on technological developments. Makes effective use of technology to achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems.

ECQ 5: BUILDING COALITIONS

This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

Competencies:

' Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances, collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.

' Political Savvy - Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly.

' Influencing/Negotiating - Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.

ECQ 6: LEADING THE INTELLIGENCE ENTERPRISE

This core qualification is comprised of the Intelligence Community (IC)-specific 'joint' competencies of Collaboration and Integration, Enterprise Focus, and Value-Centered Leadership.

Competencies:

' Collaboration and Integration - Shares information and knowledge to achieve results by creating an environment that promotes employee engagement, collaboration, integration, information and knowledge sharing, and the candid, open exchange of diverse points of view.

' Enterprise Focus - Demonstrates a deep understanding of how the mission, structures, leaders, and cultures of the various DOD and IC components interact and connect.

' Value-Centered Leadership - Advances and reinforces DOD and IC core values : A commitment to selfless service and excellence in support of the IC's mission, as well as to preserving, protecting, and defending the Nation's laws and liberties; the integrity and courage (moral, intellectual, and physical) to see and speak the truth, to innovate, and to change things for the better, regardless of personal or professional risk; and collaboration as members of a single IC-wide team, respecting and leveraging the diversity of all members of the IC, their backgrounds, their sources and methods, and their points of view.

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

Salary Range: Up to $199,300

Series & Grade: Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Services (DISES), Tier 3

Job Status: Full Time

Appointment Term: Permanent

Reporting Date: As Soon As Possible

Location: Fort Meade, MD

Selection Official: General Counsel, Department of Defense