The Office of Chief Counsel, IRS, seeks enthusiastic individuals to serve taxpayers fairly and with integrity by providing correct and impartial interpretation of the internal revenue laws and the highest quality legal advice and representation for the IRS. To learn more, click the links below: IRS Office of Chief Counsel Careers Site Meet Our People Learn about our Legal Divisions
To qualify for this position of Division Counsel (TEGEDC) 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. As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability. The ideal candidate will have experience supervising many employees through subordinate supervisors and have experience hiring, developing, and evaluating employees. Typically, experience of this nature is at the GS-15 or equivalent level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. To meet the minimum qualifications, you must submit a two-page resume that shows you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs). To be considered, the resume must not exceed two pages. If selected for this position you will be required to address each ECQ during a structured interview with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB). Written narratives for the ECQs are no longer required. Current and former career SES employees, and OPM Candidate Development Program (CDP) graduates are exempt to address the 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 listed below: Leading Change - Ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Leading People - Ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Ability to provide a workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Results Driven - Ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Business Acumen - Ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Building Coalitions - 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. Additional information on ECQs is in OPM's Guide to SES Qualifications. Applicants are strongly encouraged to follow the Challenge, Context, Action and Results model outlined in the guide, to prepare for the structured interview. Written narratives for the ECQs are not required; however, applicants must be prepared to address each ECQ in a structured interview with the QRB. In addition to the ECQs, candidates must address Technical Qualifications (TQs). TQs 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 TQs below: TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Position requires strong direct or indirect knowledge of, or experience with, tax litigation and dispute resolution. Position requires comprehensive, professional knowledge of, and experience in, applying tax laws affecting TEGE issues. Must have demonstrated experience in managing all aspects of a large-scale law program that involves substantial human and fiscal resources. Experience includes planning, directing, budgeting for, staffing, and evaluating such programs. Desirable: A thorough understanding of the operations and organization of the Internal Revenue Service and Office of Chief Counsel. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
As a key member the executive staff of the Office of Chief Counsel, the Division Counsel for Tax Exempt and Government Entities (TEGE) Division Counsel, provides legal services for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division. The Division Counsel assists the TE/GE and SB/SE executive leadership team by providing legal advice and in determining strategies, plans, and designs for a comprehensive and customer-oriented tax administration program to achieve taxpayer service and compliance goals; works closely with the TE/GE Division Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner; the SB/SE Director of Headquarters Examination; the SB/SE Director of Specialty Examination - Field; the Associate Chief Counsel, Employee Benefits, Exempt Organizations, and Employment Taxes (ACC-EEE); and other Division Counsel and Associate Chief Counsel on program matters, including legal tax issues relating to employee benefit programs (including qualified retirement plans, deferred compensation arrangements, and health and welfare programs), executive compensation, exempt organizations, federal, state, local and Indian tribal governments, tax exempt bonds, and employment tax (referred to collectively as "TEGE issues") and directs the Counsel-wide litigation program with respect to these issues. The Division Counsel provides strategic leadership and focus on the development and management of organizational activities, and financial management and forecasting. MAJOR DUTIES INCLUDE: Serves as a senior legal advisor in collaboration with the ACC-EEE, to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, TE/GE Division Commissioner, other Division Commissioners, the SB/SE Director of Headquarters Examination, the SB/SE Director of Specialty Examination - Field, the Chief Counsel, and other senior IRS and Treasury officials on TEGE issues. Represents these officials on sensitive and controversial legal matters related to these issues. Formulates and directs programs and policies with respect to litigation of TEGE issues, making determinations as to which of such cases should be tried, settled, and conceded. Assures IRS-wide consistency of approach in tax litigation; consults with the ACC-EEE as to the defense or settlement of TEGE Division Counsel cases; reviews and coordinates pleadings, briefs, settlement documents, and other materials prepared in connection with U.S. Tax Court litigation involving TEGE Division Counsel. Consults with the ACC-EEE regarding recommendations of acquiescence and nonacquiescence or appeals of adverse decisions and orders, regarding offers in compromise, or settlement in cases pending on appeal, and regarding ACC-EEE recommendations to the Chief Counsel with respect to requests for certiorari. Works closely with the TE/GE Division Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, the SB/SE Director of Headquarters Examination, and the SB/SE Director of Specialty Examination - Field, to formulate short- and long-range program policies, strategies, and objectives for the TE/GE Division and the SB/SE Division with respect to TEGE issues, in consultation with the ACC-EEE as appropriate. Participates in the design and development of integrated policies, programs, systems, and strategies to ensure fairness and accountability in the delivery of superior customer service to taxpayers. Coordinates litigation strategy and positions on TEGE issues with appropriate officials throughout the TE/GE Division, SB/SE, other Division Counsel offices, and ACC-EEE offices. Reviews and exercises independent judgment with respect to questions concerning litigation and/or settlement of issues and cases. Responsible for the structure and implementation of an effective communication and coordination network regarding docketed large cases and related non-docketed matters. Exercises ongoing responsibility for the overall management of TEGE Division Counsel attorneys who are geographically dispersed across the nation. Through subordinate managers and attorneys, represents the government in the U.S. Tax Court and provides quality legal advice to TE/GE and SB/SE field personnel. Provides executive leadership and direction to TEGE Division Counsel attorneys through subordinate managers. Functional responsibilities include program planning and field operations. Delegates sufficient authority and provides a supportive environment for subordinates to manage their resources effectively and seek continuous improvement through creativity and innovation. Directs and oversees the overall management of the TEGE Division Counsel legal staff. In this regard, provides continuing coordination, control, and direction of TEGE Division Counsel field operations to assure that Chief Counsel objectives, policies, procedures, and programs are implemented fully and effectively, including the development of programs and their evaluation in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, comprehensiveness, and timeliness.