Assistant Inspector General for Legal Affairs

Office of Inspector General

Washington, DC

JobSummary

The Assistant Inspector General for Legal Affairs is a career Senior Executive Service (SES) position in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG). This position is located in the Washington D.C. Headquarters office. OCIG is OIG's legal office and provides legal advice, counsel and representation for OIG in all activities to include audits, evaluations and investigations.

LowGrade

HighGrade

PromotionPotential

SubAgencyName

Office of the Counsel to the Inspector General

OrganizationCodes

HE/HE13

Relocation

False

HiringPath

fed-competitive
fed-excepted
ses

MCOTags

TotalOpenings

AgencyMarketingStatement

The mission of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is to provide objective oversight to promote the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness, and integrity of HHS programs, as well as the health and welfare of the people they serve. HHS-OIG is the largest civilian Federal inspector general's office, responsible for oversight for HHS's over $2.4 trillion portfolio of health and human services programs. HHS-OIG is relied upon by taxpayers, HHS officials and policymakers to ferret out fraud, waste, and abuse in HHS programs. We do this with data-driven oversight performed by our auditors, agents, attorneys and evaluators in cooperation with dedicated mission support career professionals. HHS-OIG provides program recommendations to decision-makers, distribute educational resources to the industry and public, and investigate cases to root out fraud. To carry out its mission, HHS-OIG must be supported by visionary executives and senior leaders who can propel productivity and effectiveness across HHS-OIG's vast portfolio. OIG is ranked as the #1 agency in HHS by the Partnership for Public Service's "The Best Places to Work in the Federal Government" 2024 ratings and has maintained this top ranking every year since 2015. For more information about the HHS Office of Inspector General, go to https://oig.hhs.gov/about-oig/ and https://youtu.be/IFcspP9qAro.

TravelCode

ApplyOnlineUrl

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/Apply

DetailStatusUrl

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/ApplicationStatus

MajorDuties

The Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG) is OIG's legal office, and it provides legal advice and representation for OIG in all its activities. More specifically, OCIG renders advice and opinions on HHS programs and operations; provides all legal support for OIG's internal operations; pursues administrative enforcement through civil monetary penalties, exclusions and information blocking cases; represents HHS in False Claims Act cases and implements and monitors compliance measures; implements all OIG exclusions of health care providers; publishes advisory opinions and provides guidance to the health care industry on the Federal anti-kickback statute and other fraud and abuse authorities; and processes all OIG Freedom of Information Act requests. OCIG staff works closely with professionals across OIG to support legally-sound, high-impact work that protects HHS programs and the people touched by those programs. OCIG consists of the following branches: Administrative and Civil Remedies Branch Advice Branch Affirmative Litigation Branch Exclusions Branch Industry Guidance Branch Mission Support Branch MAJOR DUTIES The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) for Legal Affairs reports directly to the Chief Counsel to the Inspector General who is also a Deputy Inspector General. As a member of OCIG's executive team, the incumbent will: Serve as expert legal advisor in the areas of general administrative law, civil recoveries, industry guidance, administrative litigation, exclusions, mission support, and FOIA. Serve as key advisor with respect to the formulation and execution of OIG policies and programs and the application of the civil False Claims Act to OIG investigations. Oversee the work of multiple branches within OCIG; provide a source of informed opinion and factual information to the components within OIG on issues that arise in the exercise of OIG's responsibilities under the IG Act, and on matters of internal administration and operations. In carrying out these responsibilities, the incumbent will assess policy and program feasibility; determine program goals and develop implementation plans; design an organizational structure to promote effective work accomplishment; and set effectiveness, productivity, and management/internal control standards. Review and approve legal opinions, memoranda, and other key correspondence on significant legal matters and review memoranda and correspondence on significant policy matter prepared by other components of OIG. Represent OIG on legal issues before Congressional committees, members of Congress, and their staff. At the request of the IG: (1) assist in the preparation of testimony delivered by the IG or other representatives of OIG; (2) participate in the formulation of OIG legislative proposals and technical advice to Congress; and (3) comment on legislative reports and hearing materials. Represent the Chief Counsel to the IG at policymaking conferences with other Department officials, the Department of Justice, other Federal agencies, state and local government organizations, and professional and trade associations. Gives speeches, grants media interviews, and performs other public outreach efforts to communicate the position of OIG on key matters.

Education

Mandatory: You must have earned a professional law degree (e.g. J.D.) acquired through graduation from a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association, and be an active member in good standing of the Bar in a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or territory of the United States. You must include a copy of current/active Bar Membership under supporting documentations tab "license" and transcripts. You must provide legible transcripts or a list of college courses showing completed course work, semester hours earned, and degree(s) awarded, and a copy of your professional certification, if applicable. Failure to do so will eliminate you from further consideration. If selected, you will need to verify that you meet these requirements before appointment.

Requirements

Evaluations

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your application package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education. Resumes will be evaluated by an executive rating and ranking panel, and highly qualified candidates may be invited to participate in a structured interview and undergo a reference check. The Executive Resources Board (ERB) will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the approving authority. Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive core qualifications certified by the U.S. Office Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB through a Structured Interview process, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

HowToApply

To apply for this position, you must complete this application and submit any required documents specified in the Required Documents section and submit by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/24/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select and upload your résumé and/or other required documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the "Include Personal Information" section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. It is applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and uploaded, (i.e., resume, SF-50 and other required documents) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail. Due to security processes, mail delivery takes approximately 2-3 weeks to process at which time the vacancy announcement will be closed, and no further consideration will be given to additional application packages. Note: For information on how to edit your application, visit: USA Jobs Help: Updating your submitted application This announcement or any other source may be used to fill this vacancy.

WhatToExpectNext

To verify the status of your application, sign in to your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. You should expect to receive an update on the outcome of your application within 90 days of the closing date of this announcement or once the selection process is complete.

RequiredDocuments

A complete application includes items described below. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible). Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. 1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the mandatory 5 ECQs and TQs for this position. PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER. Any information submitted in excess of two (2) pages WILL NOT be considered. 2. VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy. 3. PROOF OF CURRENT/ACTIVE BAR MEMBERSHIP (place in "license" section under supporting documents) 4. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation, if applicable: CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEMBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility. Do not submit an SF-50 that is for an award. SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SES CDP) GRADUATES: Submit copy of your certification for verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SES CDP and OPM SES QRB certification. CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your most current Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee. The SF-50 must include most current status, pay plan/grade, series and salary. Do not submit an SF-50 that is for an award. EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION: Must provide a copy of transcripts in your application package. 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 transcripts from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency. If selected, an official/sealed transcript may be required prior to appointment. Do NOT include Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as a Social Security Number or Date of Birth on your résumé or any other document. **IMPORTANT** We strongly encourage you to tailor your executive résumé specifically to ensure it includes relevant examples of how you possess the Technical Qualifications and the Executive Core Qualifications to enable reviewers to assess your eligibility and make qualitative distinctions among candidates for rating and ranking purposes. Your résumé should focus on recent experience and executive-level accomplishments; some reviewers consider experience that is over 10 years old to be stale. Addressing Executive Qualifications in a Résumé A well-written résumé prepared in response to a Résumé-based vacancy announcement for an SES position will show reviewers that you possess the ECQs and will describe results (rather than providing a list of duties). Follow the instructions in the vacancy announcement carefully when preparing your résumé and adhere to any specified page limitations. Applicants typically provide the following information: Full name, email addresses, telephone number Vacancy announcement number -- HHS-OIG-ES-0905-26-12913078, Assistant Inspector General for Legal Affairs Information about paid and nonpaid work experience related to the position including: job title, duties and accomplishments, employer's name and address, duration of employment, and salary (pay plan and grade, if applicable); Educational information, including date and type of any degree received, and professional certifications related to the position. Executive-level training Information about honors, awards, and special accomplishments related to the position. For additional résumé and application tips: For information on how to build or upload a resume, as well as other resume topics, visit the USA Jobs resume help: USA Jobs Help: Resume You can also watch: USA Jobs: 5 Tips for Communicating Your Qualifications for additional information. APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM (EASTERN TIME) ON 04/24/2026.

Benefits

BenefitsUrl

https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits

OtherInformation

Veterans' Preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service. Security and Background Requirements: A background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time. Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires, and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant. Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. Financial Disclosure: This position is subject to public financial disclosure requirements. HHS policy requires a pre-appointment review, and your initial report must be filed within 30 days of the effective date of appointment. For more information about Financial Disclosure and OGE Form 278, you may go to the Office of Government Ethics website at www.oge.gov and select Resources for Financial Disclosure Filers. Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions may be subject to reassignment across geographic, organizational, and functional lines and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement. Political Appointment: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political appointees. If you are currently or have been within the last five (5) years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Noncareer SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. EEO Statement: HHS is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status, or other differences.

KeyRequirements

WithinArea

False

CommuteDistance

ServiceType

AnnouncementClosingType

AgencyContactEmail

Cheri.Sanders@oig.hhs.gov

AgencyContactPhone

2028091586

SecurityClearance

Top Secret