Senior Attorney Advisor (Presiding Official)

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), headed by the Administrator of PHMSA, is within the Department of Transportation, responsible for transportation-related programs, including hazardous materials safety and pipeline safety. This is a senior attorney-advisor, on the staff of the Chief Counsel, serving as a presiding official on pipeline safety enforcement cases, under the direct supervision of the Deputy Chief Counsel. As a Senior Attorney Advisor (Presiding Official), you will: Preside over informal administrative hearings involving parties represented by counsel and conduct pre-hearing conferences to improve efficiency and narrow disputed issues. Manage proceedings from the initial hearing request through preparation of draft decisions for review and issuance by the Associate Administrator. Conduct legal research and analysis to interpret applicable statutes, regulations, and agency precedent related to pipeline safety and compliance. Prepare draft decisions based on the administrative record, resolving complex issues of fact and law, determining operator compliance, and ordering corrective actions where necessary. Maintain case files and manage the hearing docket to ensure timely case progression while addressing matters with significant public safety, property, and environmental implications. The ideal candidate for this position will have strong enforcement and litigation experience and understand the legal and procedural aspects of the administrative prosecution of enforcement cases, and the ability to analyze, interpret, and apply laws, regulations, orders, court decisions, and other legal documents. PLEASE NOTE: Given our continuing need for professionals in this field, we will routinely review applications and refer the top candidates for potential interviews multiple times during the open period of the announcement. Reviews and referrals of applications will be completed on a monthly basis.