Legal Careers
Chief - Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section
The Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) leads the Department's asset forfeiture and anti-money laundering enforcement efforts. MLARS provides leadership by: (1) prosecuting and coordinating complex, sensitive, multi-district, and international money laundering and asset forfeiture investigations and cases; (2) providing legal and policy assistance and training to federal, state, and local prosecutors and law enforcement personnel, as well as to foreign governments; (3) assisting Departmental and interagency policymakers by developing and reviewing legislative, regulatory, and policy initiatives; and (4) managing the Department's Asset Forfeiture Program, including distributing forfeited funds and properties to appropriate domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies and to community groups within the United States, as well as adjudicating petitions for remission or mitigation of forfeited assets. MLARS consists of seven units and associated teams and works with the entire spectrum of law enforcement and regulatory agencies using an interagency, interdisciplinary and international approach.
The Chief oversees the work of the Section's seven units and associated teams of attorneys and professional staff: Bank Integrity, International, Money Laundering and Forfeiture, Policy, Program Management and Training, Program Operations, and Special Financial Investigations.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
The MLARS Chief:
- Vigorously enforces money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, and forfeiture laws; supervises the work of attorneys assigned to matters requiring grand jury presentations and trial; civil litigation including the filing of complaints and meeting civil discovery obligations; reviews proposed court orders and motions; renders advice as to investigative strategy and evidence problems; reviews appellate briefs; and supervises, counsels, and advises attorneys in the trial of cases.
- Plans and supervises all policy and operational activities within the Section and implements the Department's strategic planning for asset forfeiture and money laundering goals.
- Proposes and reviews legislative initiatives and Department policies regarding asset forfeiture, money laundering, and the Bank Secrecy Act; and assesses the implications of proposed legislation on investigative operations.
- Improves procedures for obtaining oversight and assistance to the U.S. Attorneys' forfeiture litigation; and provides legal advice, training, and guidance on specialized aspects of money laundering, asset forfeiture, and the Bank Secrecy Act to the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and investigative organizations.
- Consults with the Deputy Assistant Attorney General and the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division concerning legal and policy questions relating to statutes administered by the Section and the status of important cases; reviews and approves a large volume of general correspondence, legal opinions, authorizations, instructions, and advisory materials that emanate from the Section; upon request, prepares testimony for congressional committees; and participates in annual regional international conferences to foster joint asset forfeiture and money laundering investigations and best practices.
- Provides direct oversight over the allocation of two distinct financial resources: the Division's general allocation and the money received from the Assets Forfeiture Fund; strengthens internal controls for financial systems and improves efficient and cost-effective fund management and accountability; and streamlines Section operations and reporting chains.
- Develops a comprehensive business plan for the Section which sets forth the justification for resources and identifies areas for cost savings; acquires and leverages needed fiscal and human resources to achieve results-oriented outcomes; and develops budget enhancements that include both performance measures and outcomes that reflect the Section's, Division's and Department's strategic goals and objectives.
- Demonstrates a strong commitment and support for the Division's equal employment policies and programs to enhance workforce diversity; and promotes merit promotion principles in all aspects of personnel hiring, promotions, training and development and employee retention.
Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Applicants must be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction) in good standing and have at least 7 years post-J.D. experience. Applicants must also have a high level of management/supervisory experience.
Applicants must submit a resume and a separate narrative statement/response that addresses each of the Mandatory Professional/Technical Qualification factors related to this position as well as the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) related to all positions in the Senior Executive Service.
OPM's Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications can assist you in writing an effective SES application. In particular, please note the Challenge-Context-Action-Result Model that is recommended and very helpful when drafting ECQ narrative responses. The Guide is available on OPM's Website at: http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/guidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf .
Professional/Technical Qualification Requirements
- Extensive knowledge and experience with federal criminal practice, including experience in investigating and prosecuting complex federal, white collar and/or asset forfeiture cases.
- Thorough knowledge of federal regulatory and investigatory agencies, on-going programs and key national goals and priorities relating to asset forfeiture and money laundering.
- Significant experience in supervising criminal and/or asset forfeiture cases and reviewing the work product of attorneys.
- Ability to formulate and implement Departmental policies on all matters pertaining to assigned areas.
Executive/Managerial Requirements:
ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE. This core qualification encompasses the ability to develop and implement an organizational vision, which integrates key national and program goals, priorities, values, and other factors. Inherent to it is the ability to balance change and continuity--to continually strive to improve customer service and program performance within the basic Government framework, to create a work environment that encourages creative thinking, and to maintain focus, intensity and persistence, even under adversity.
- Leadership Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, Continual Learning, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Service Motivation, Strategic Thinking, Vision
ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE. This core qualification involves the ability to design and implement strategies, which maximize employee potential and foster high ethical standards in meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals.
- Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Cultural Awareness, Integrity/Honesty, Team Building
ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN. This core qualification stresses accountability and continuous improvement. It includes the ability to make timely and effective decisions and produce results through strategic planning and the implementation and evaluation of programs and policies.
- Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN. This core qualification involves the ability to acquire and administer human, financial, material, and information resources in a manner which instills public trust and accomplishes the organization's mission, and to use new technology to enhance decision making.
- Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Technology Management, Human Resources Management
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS. This core qualification involves the ability to explain, advocate and express facts and ideas in a convincing manner, and negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally. It also involves the ability to develop an expansive professional network with other organizations, and to identify the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization.
- Leadership Competencies: Influencing/Negotiating, Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Partnering, Political Savvy, Written Communication
Submit all the required documents listed above to: SES.CRMJOBS@USDOJ.GOV.
If you cannot submit your application via email, please contact Jennifer Chapman at jennifer.chapman@usdoj.gov or 202-616-0363.
All applications MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM EST on 08/01/2022.
To receive consideration, applicants must submit:
- A resume
- A separate statement addressing each of the Mandatory Professional/Technical Qualification Requirements.
- A separate statement addressing each ECQ that describes your managerial experience. While individuals who are current or former career SES members (approved by OPM and have completed an initial probationary period) need not submit an Executive Core Qualifications statement, they are required to provide an SF-50 or SES certificate to demonstrate their current or prior service. Otherwise, the absence of ECQs will be identified as a failure to comply with the requirements of the vacancy. Applicants must meet qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- If you are a current or recent Federal employee, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) and a performance appraisal issued within the past 12 months, or if none exists, please include a statement to that effect.
$135,468.00 to $203,700.00 per year - SES pay is determined within the pay range, commensurate with experience and other factors, contingent on DOJ pay-setting rules.
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Department Policies
Equal Employment Opportunity: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.
Reasonable Accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.
Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
USAO Residency Requirement: Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
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This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.