Attorney Advisor - GS-15- SAUSA

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently seeking applications for multiple Attorney Advisors in its Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Division (CMSD), Program Enforcement, Fraud Prosecutor Program. The attorneys will serve as fraud prosecutors and will be assigned as Special Assistant United States Attorneys to various U.S. Attorney’s Offices.

Who May Apply: This vacancy announcement is open to all US Citizens and may be used to fill multiple positions.

Duty Station: Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Oakland, CA; San Diego, CA; San Jose CA; Sacramento, CA; Houston, TX; Dallas, TX; Ft. Worth, TX; San Antonio, TX; Beaumont, TX; Tyler, TX; Plano, TX; Sherman, TX; Orlando, FL; Tampa, FL; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Baltimore, MD; Newark, NJ; Phoenix AR; Seattle, WA; Tacoma, WA

Series and Grade: GS-0905-15

Salary Range: $146,481 - $190,424

Salary wage as shown is for the Rest of the U.S. pay scale and does not include locality pay.  Locality pay will be added according to the selectee's location area. For specific wage information, refer to  General Schedule

Open Period:  September 4, 2025 – until filled (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting September 9, 2025).

Job Summary:

The Office of the General Counsel is the legal team for HHS, providing quality representation and legal advice on a wide range of highly visible national issues. OGC supports the development and implementation of the Department’s programs by providing the highest quality legal services to the Secretary of HHS and the organization’s various agencies and divisions.

OGC is comprised of three principal subcomponents: the Immediate Office, Headquarters Divisions, and Regional Hubs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Division (CMSD) is one of the Headquarters Divisions.  CMSD defends policies, regulations, laws, and guidance issued by CMS, the nation’s largest healthcare payer. The current openings present an opportunity to join CMSD’s Program Enforcement, Fraud Prosecutor Program. 

The Fraud Prosecutor Program is seeking qualified attorneys to implement Executive Order 14218. This Executive Order directs federal agencies to enhance efforts to prevent individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States from receiving federal public benefits, including Medicare and Medicaid benefits.  Attorneys in the Fraud Prosecutor Program will be detailed to a United States Attorney’s Office to serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) to criminally prosecute identity theft and beneficiary fraud within CMS programs.

These attorneys will support enforcement efforts targeting fraud, misrepresentation, or abuse of public benefit programs—particularly instances where noncitizens fraudulently obtain benefits to which they are not legally entitled.

The attorneys will be employees of HHS but will work onsite in a USAO as SAUSAs. The detail to the USAO is indefinite and based on performance and the needs of the USAO and HHS OGC.

Duties:

  • Investigate and prosecute crimes with federal, state and local law enforcement as a Special Assistant United States Attorney assigned to a United States Attorney’s Office.
  • Prosecute criminal identity theft and beneficiary-side fraud cases relating to CMS programs.
  • Lead cases from investigation through charging, pretrial litigation, trial, sentencing, and appeal.
  • Negotiate plea agreements with defense counsel.

We are seeking to fill the position at the GS-15 level ($146,481 - $190,424) depending on experience and qualifications. 

Reimbursement for relocation expenses is not available.

Preferred Qualifications: 

HHS OGC is looking for talented and enthusiastic attorneys with superior academic qualifications, and excellent research, writing, litigation, and communication skills to work in its CMS Division, Program Enforcement, Fraud Prosecutor Program. Experience with criminal cases and familiarity with Medicare and Medicaid or fraud prosecutions is desirable.

Qualifications Required:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed on this announcement. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

At the GS-15: Applicants at the GS-15 level must have at least four years of professional legal experience post bar admission with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-14 level. Applicants at the GS-15 level must also have a demonstrated ability to work independently with minimum levels of supervision.

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed on this announcement. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

 The following are required qualifications:

Conditions of Employment:

  • You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited ABA law school.
  • Have at least 4 year (s) of experience after law school as a practicing attorney.
  • Proof that bar status is active, in good standing and eligible to practice in the highest court of a State, U. S. commonwealth, U. S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
  • You must have exemplary legal writing, analysis and oral advocacy abilities, possess excellent interpersonal skills, and exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and client agencies. 
  • Litigation experience, including criminal trial experience, is strongly preferred.
  • Must maintain active bar membership in good standing and the eligibility to practice law in the highest court of a state, territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia throughout employment in the Office of the General Counsel.
  • Upon final job offer from HHS OHR, the successful candidate must submit official law school transcripts.
  • Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, 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.  False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
  • 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.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
  • Financial disclosure statement may be required. 
  • Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.
  • This position is not in a bargaining unit.
  • Multiple selections may be made from this announcement.

In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The Federal government, as the largest employer in the Nation, can and should show the way towards achieving drug-free workplaces through programs designed to offer drug users a helping hand, and at the same time demonstrating to drug users and potential drug users that drugs will not be tolerated in the Federal workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public. Applicants tentatively selected for this position may be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. If required to submit to urinalysis, the appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative applicant drug test result. In order to demonstrate commitment to the HHS goal of a drug-free workplace and to set an example for other Federal employees, employees not in a testing designated position may volunteer for unannounced random testing by notifying their Drug-free Federal Workplace Program Point of Contact upon hiring.

Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.

Instructions to Apply:

Please submit the following documents by email to OGCVacanciesEO@hhs.gov, to receive full consideration:

  • Short cover letter addressed to the Office of the General Counsel Hiring Official, including a statement of interest and indicating your preferred duty station in the subject line.
  • Resume (must include education, including names of undergraduate and law school, degree received, and date graduated; date admitted to bar and jurisdiction; a general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law, including dates of employment (full time or part time)
  • One legal writing sample (no more than 10 pages).
  • Law school transcript if graduated from law school.
  • Proof that bar status is active, in good standing and eligible to practice in a state, territory of the US, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  • Names and contact information for at least three professional references.
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