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Summary The Deputy Benefits Tax Counsel (DBTC) reports to the Benefits Tax Counsel. The DBTC serves a s a legal adviser to the Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy and other senior Department of the Treasury officials in regard to all tax-related aspects of employee retirement benefits, health and welfare benefits, compensation, employment taxes, and related issues, including legislation and the development and promulgation of regulations, rulings and other administrative guidance. Responsibilities As the Deputy Benefits Tax Counsel, you will perform the following duties and responsibilities: Legislation: Coordinates with the Benefits Tax Counsel (BTC) to identify provisions of the Internal Revenue Code requiring reform, amendment, simplification, or expansion in order to implement the Administration's tax policies relating to employee benefits, compensation, and employment tax. Works with Congressional committee staff, including legislative counsels, providing technical assistance, clarifying, and explaining the Department's view, and providing drafting assistance for benefits and compensation related tax legislation and committee reports. Administrative Guidance: Coordinates with the BTC to identify provisions of the Internal Revenue Code requiring administrative guidance to simplify or enhance administration and implement legislation. Provides legal analysis, and directs staff analysis, of benefits and compensation related tax law and regulations, making recommendations for revisions to reflect the Department's policies. Liaison: Maintains continual liaison with the other tax counsels, their staffs, and the Office of Tax Analysis to ensure commonality of interests within the Office of Tax Policy. Works closely with Treasury's Offices of the General Counsel, Legislative Affairs, and Public Affairs to develop, promote, and implement the Department's tax policies. Operations: Coordinates with the BTC to develop and implement specific legislative and administrative guidance projects. Monitors status of work assigned to the staff, including studies, reports, testimony, and correspondence. Monitors employee and workplace issues, including individual performance, health and safety, and equal employment opportunity. Counsel: Selectively reviews documents, bills, and other materials received by the Secretary and the Office of Tax Policy, focusing on essential elements and information related to the taxation of employee benefits requiring the attention of the Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy). Performs related advisory duties and engages in analytical studies, reports, and briefings needed by the Assistant Secretary and the Secretary. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for the position of Deputy Benefits Tax Counsel, you must meet the following requirements: Possess at least the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; and Applicants must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Desired Education/Experience: An LL.M. in Taxation is desired but not required. Seven (7) years of professional legal tax experience is desired. RESUME: As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES), you must clearly articulate and describe within your two (2) page resume evidence of progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience which involved management of a program or organization of significant scope and complexity. Your resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to perform the duties of this position and meet the mandatory Technical Qualification(s) and Executive Core Qualifications listed below. Your resume must demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to fulfill executive responsibilities typically required in SES positions, including: Directing the work of an organizational unit; Accountability for the success of one or more specific programs or projects; Monitoring progress toward organizational goals and periodically evaluates and makes appropriate adjustments to such goals; Supervising the work of employees (other than personnel assistants) at least 25% of the time; or Exercising important policy-making, policy-determining, or other executive functions If you are currently serving under a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES (this means you were previously employed as a Career SES employee and successfully completed a one-year probationary period) or have successfully completed an OPM-certified SES Candidate Development Program (CDP), your resume must clearly state that you are a current career SES, eligible for reinstatement, or SES CDP certified, including the year of certification. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): By statute, OPM prescribes Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) for the appointment of career SES members. The ECQs were designed to evaluate executive experience and not technical expertise. The following ECQs provide the focus for certification of executive core qualifications for initial appointment to the Senior Executive Service. Your two-page resume should show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications. ECQ 1 - Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: Demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. Leadership Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government, Commitment to the Rule of Law, Civic-Mindedness. ECQ 2 - Driving Efficiency: Demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. Leadership Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility, Managing Resources, Leveraging Technology. ECQ 3 - Merit and Competence: Demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. Leadership Competencies: Technical Skill, Problem Solving, Agility and Resilience. ECQ 4 - Leading People: Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Developing Others, Executive Judgement. ECQ 5 - Achieving Results: Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. Leadership Competencies: Operational Mindset, Innovation, Strategic Thinking. FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES: The following competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Continual Learning, and Public Service Motivation. Additional information about the SES and ECQs can be found on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) SES Website: Executive Core Qualifications. MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): In addition to the ECQs, candidates must address Technical Qualifications (TQs). MTQs are designed to assess an applicant's experience relevant to the specific position requirements. All applicants must clearly demonstrate in their two-page resume, experience and accomplishments related to the MTQs below: MTQ 1: Diversified legal experience dealing with highly complex issues in the field of employee benefits taxation and related matters including qualified retirement plans, health and other welfare plans, executive compensation programs, long-term care plans, employee stock ownership plans, social security and other payroll taxes, fringe benefits, and related matters. MTQ 2: A comprehensive understanding of the functions of the Office of Benefits Tax Counsel and its relationship to other offices within Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, and employee benefits organizations. MTQ 3: Achievement of significant professional recognition and standing within the employee benefits taxation community. Evidence of outside professional activities, such as publications, speaking engagements, teaching, or substantial contributions to tax associations or similar groups. MTQ 4: Qualification for this senior leadership position in the Office of Tax Policy requires that the applicant demonstrate management and leadership experience. Evidence of leadership may include managing professionals, experience developing subordinate employees, leading organizational strategic planning, and leveraging organizational resources to meet goals. Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or MTQs. Education For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional Information Veterans' Preference: Is not applicable to positions in the Senior Executive Service. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former 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 on your resume and to the Human Resources Office. Equal Employment Opportunity Policy: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits. You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about disability employment and reasonable accommodations or how to contact an agency. Legal and regulatory guidance Financial suitability Social security number request Privacy Act Signature and false statements Selective Service New employee probationary period This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. Please review the three hyperlinks of your rights. (Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov)