Shaping the Future of Aerospace Defense: Attorney-Advisor (Contract) Career Opportunities at Hill AFB

In the rapidly evolving landscape of national defense, securing top-tier military technology requires a robust legal framework. Behind every state-of-the-art aircraft, weapons system, and logistics operation is a dedicated legal team managing the complexities of federal procurement law. The Department of the Air Force is currently seeking a highly skilled, motivated professional to fill the role of Attorney-Advisor (Contract) at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.

This senior-level role, classified under the NH-0905-04 pay band (equivalent to the GS-15 level), offers a unique opportunity for accomplished legal professionals to operate at the cutting edge of military procurement and acquisition. By utilizing the Direct Hire Authority (DHA), the Air Force provides an expedited, non-traditional hiring pipeline that allows qualified civilian applicants to bypass standard administrative delays and enter directly into a fulfilling, stable federal career. Offering an attractive compensation structure, exceptional benefits, and the ability to safeguard critical national security assets, this position is ideal for experienced attorneys specializing in government contracts and administrative law.

Job Responsibilities

As a senior Attorney-Advisor, you will serve as primary legal counsel for designated acquisition programs. Your daily activities will blend highly technical legal research with high-level advisory interactions.

Primary duties include:

• Acquisition Program Legal Counsel: Serving as the leading legal authority for highly sensitive acquisition portfolios, advising program managers, engineers, and contracting personnel on the legal aspects of weapon system design, procurement, and sustainment.
• Contract Review and Sufficiency: Analyzing and reviewing complex, high-value contractual documents to ensure compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and other statutory federal guidelines.
• Comprehensive Legal Advisory: Authoring formal legal opinions and providing real-time counsel on diverse topics such as administrative law, public-private partnerships, intellectual property protection, data rights, and environmental compliance.
• Ethics and Compliance: Providing guidance on the standards of conduct, ethics rules, and commercial law issues that arise during complex public-sector partnerships and vendor negotiations.
• Advocacy and Dispute Resolution: Developing legal strategies to represent and defend the interests of the Air Force in third-party pleadings, dispute proceedings, and interactions with Congressional delegates and federal authorities.
• Information Safeguarding: Rigorously enforcing security protocols regarding classified, proprietary, or source-selection sensitive information.

Qualification Requirements

To qualify for this senior legal role, candidates must meet rigorous professional and academic standards. The Department of the Air Force demands the highest levels of integrity, dedication, and expertise.

Essential Requirements

• Academic Credentials: Candidates must possess a first professional law degree (either a Juris Doctor [J.D.] or Bachelor of Laws [LL.B.]) from an educational institution accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
• Professional Standing: Candidates must maintain active bar membership in good standing before the highest court of a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Candidates must have an unblemished record, meaning they have never been disciplined, sanctioned, or had their fitness to practice law questioned by any court or licensing body.
• Legal Experience: Applicants must have a minimum of three (3) years of post-bar professional legal experience. This experience must demonstrate a high level of performance commensurate with senior-level advisory responsibilities, specifically showing the ability to work with substantial independence on complex legal issues.
• Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of the United States of America.

Salary and Compensation Overview

The position is integrated into the Acquisition Demonstration (AcqDemo) Pay Band system at the NH-04 level, which is structurally equivalent to the GS-15 tier of the standard General Schedule. This pay-for-performance system provides outstanding flexibility and compensation growth based on individual contributions and milestones.

The annual salary range for this position is $125,776 to $192,331, depending on experience, geographic adjustments, and performance evaluations.

Aspect	NH-04 Pay Band (AcqDemo)	Standard GS-15 Grade
Salary Determination	Based on contribution, experience, and performance scoring.	Fixed step increments based on longevity and satisfactory performance.
Salary Range	$125,776 - $192,331 per year	Subject to rigid locality tables and caps.
Advancement Model	Flexible, performance-based compensation progression.	Structured, time-in-grade step increases.

Note: In addition to the base salary, selected candidates may be authorized to receive Recruitment, Relocation, or Retention incentives, and Student Loan repayment benefits.

Comprehensive Benefits

Civilian employment with the Department of the Air Force offers an outstanding suite of benefits that rival major private sector firms, establishing excellent long-term security.

• Healthcare Programs: Access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, offering a wide array of premium medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Retirement Planning: Dual-component retirement through the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with up to 5% agency matching contributions.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous annual vacation leave accrual, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays per year.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Opportunities for telework based on supervisor approval and departmental requirements.
• Incentives: Eligible candidates may be offered specialized relocation allowances, retention bonuses, or student loan reimbursement packages.
• Disabled Veteran Leave: New federal employees hired after November 5, 2016, with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or higher, are eligible for up to 104 hours of specialized sick leave to address medical treatments.

Application Tips and Strategy

Applying for federal legal positions requires close attention to instructions. Failure to adhere to submission criteria will result in automatic disqualification.

1. Strict Resume Formatting: Your federal resume must NOT exceed two (2) pages in total. Furthermore, the font size must be 10 points or larger. If your resume is illegible, hard to read, or extends onto a third page, your application will be discarded without review.
2. Explicitly Document Your Post-Bar Experience: Do not simply state your employment history. Explicitly describe your experience handling government contracts, drafting legal briefs, interpreting FAR/DFARS regulations, and advising executive teams. Ensure your resume clearly reflects more than three years of professional, post-graduation legal experience.
3. Consolidate Your Documents: Prepare all required supplemental paperwork as clean PDFs. These documents include your law school transcripts, active bar association certificates of good standing, and relevant military discharge documents (such as DD214 or SF-50 forms, if applicable).
4. Register for Career Updates: For maximum long-term success, register on the official Air Force Civilian Careers site and subscribe to receive real-time notices when new vacancies align with your career preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Direct Hire Authority (DHA)?

Direct Hire Authority allows federal agencies to fill positions directly and quickly when there is a critical shortage of candidates or a major hiring need. This process bypasses traditional competitive rating and ranking processes, providing a much faster route to onboarding.

Is relocation assistance provided?

Yes, relocation, retention, and student loan incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates, subject to agency funding and approval.

What are the telework policies for this position?

This position is eligible for telework. The exact schedule and frequency will be determined by the supervisor based on agency operational requirements and mission readiness.

Are there specific font and length requirements for the resume?

Yes. Your resume must not exceed two pages, and the font size must be 10 points or larger. Resumes that violate these limits will not be evaluated.

Serving as an Attorney-Advisor (Contract) with the Department of the Air Force at Hill Air Force Base represents a premier milestone for any procurement attorney. It offers a rare opportunity to protect the nation's interests, manage high-stakes defense acquisitions, and enjoy a fulfilling professional life supported by top-tier federal benefits. If you possess the required J.D., an active bar card, and three-plus years of contract law experience, submit your application today and build a powerful career in public service.