Chief Counsel

Quick Facts

• Position: Chief Counsel (Senior Executive Service)
• Focus: Final legal authority for federal energy financing and loan programs

Description

Serve as the principal legal advisor and final legal authority for the Office of Energy Dominance Financing, leading legal strategy for federal financing, loan guarantee, and direct loan programs. Lead legal operations, set internal control standards, and oversee a senior team covering project finance, contracting, litigation, compliance, and interagency/legislative work. Provide legal counsel to protect U.S. energy security, strengthen grid reliability, and support lower energy costs.

Responsibilities

• Provide final legal authority on all legal matters within EDF and advise senior leadership
• Direct organizational legal activities: strategic planning, internal controls, risk mitigation, and assessment of policy/program/project viability
• Lead and mentor senior project finance attorneys, contract specialists, and technical experts
• Advise on complex multi-billion dollar federal credit transactions, including direct loans, loan guarantees, and project financing (Title XVII clean energy; ATVM loans)
• Conduct legal due diligence and guide development and execution of loan agreements and credit policy
• Advise the Credit Review Board (CRB) on portfolio legal status, risk, and effectiveness
• Serve as senior authority on federal procurement law, fiscal law, and acquisition policies
• Review EDF contracts and guide contracting officers and negotiators on complex contracting principles
• Oversee detection, reporting, investigation, and remediation of contract fraud and antitrust violations
• Supervise participation in adversarial proceedings; determine settlement positions; coordinate with DOJ
• Represent EDF before GAO and GSA Board of Contract Appeals on bid protests
• Advise on environmental compliance, MOUs, and FOIA/Privacy Act matters
• Direct legislative program activities: draft proposed statutory language, analyze pending legislation and Executive Orders, and prepare reports to Congress
• Represent EDF in consultations with OMB, congressional committees, other federal agencies, and international partners

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or national status
• SES probationary period (1 year) unless already completed
• Submit Declaration for Federal Employment to determine suitability
• If male applicant born after Dec 31, 1959: register with Selective Service or qualify for exemption
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests
• File Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278) within 30 days of appointment and annually
• Obtain and maintain interim/final security clearance if required
• Resume must demonstrate ECQs and TQs within 2 pages and use at least 10-point font
• Meet Technical Qualifications:
  • TQ 1: structure, negotiate, document, and advise on complex federal credit transactions (direct loans, loan guarantees, project financing)
  • TQ 2: federal statutory, fiscal, and administrative law expertise for federal credit/financing programs (appropriations/fiscal law, bankruptcy/creditor rights, contracts/procurement, Davis-Bacon/labor requirements, environmental law, litigation, federal oversight) and ability to advise senior leadership with independent judgment
• Education and licensing: J.D. from ABA-accredited law school; current member in good standing of a U.S. state/territory/DC/Puerto Rico bar

Benefits

A comprehensive federal employee benefits package is available; eligibility depends on the type of position and whether employment is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.