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Legal Careers

Attorney Advisor, GS-905-12/13/14/15

Hiring Organization
National Security Division (NSD)
Hiring Office
Foreign Investment Review Section (FIRS)
Job ID
Non-Reimbursable Detail Assignment (Team Telcom)
Location:
Washington, DC - United States
Application Deadline:
About the Office

This non-reimbursable detail assignment is for a period of one year. Applicant must be current Department of Justice attorneys who live in the Washington, DC area.  Applicants should receive the approval of their supervisor before applying.

The mission of the National Security Division (NSD) is to coordinate the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) efforts in carrying out its core mission of combating terrorism and protecting national security. NSD is responsible for supervising the enforcement of all federal criminal laws related to counterterrorism and counterespionage, except those specifically assigned to other divisions. NSD also serves as the Department of Justice’s liaison to the United States Intelligence Community (USIC) and represents the government and the USIC before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. NSD advises the Attorney General regarding all matters of national security policy.

The Foreign Investment Review Section (FIRS) is responsible for four primary portfolios of work on behalf of the DOJ.  First, FIRS manages the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (informally known as Team Telecom) on behalf of its Chair, the Attorney General.  Team Telecom considers the law enforcement, national security, and public safety implications of applications for licenses from the Federal Communications Commission involving a threshold percentage of foreign ownership or control.  Second, FIRS represents DOJ on the staff of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency body statutorily required to review certain transactions that could result in control of a U.S. business by a foreign person, as well as certain other transactions, in order to determine the effect of such investments on the national security of the United States.  Third, FIRS monitors compliance with agreements or orders that mitigate concerns arising from prior CFIUS or Team Telecom cases or other related national security programs and, when necessary, undertakes enforcement actions when parties fail to meet their compliance obligations. Fourth, FIRS exercises the Attorney General’s delegated authority under Executive Order 14117 on “Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government Data by Countries of Concern” to establish, implement, and administer a targeted new regulatory program to address the national-security risks posed by access to Americans’ bulk sensitive personal data (SPD) and U.S. Government-related data by countries of concern and persons subject to their ownership, control, or jurisdiction. 

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.

Job Description

NSD’s Foreign Investment Review Section (FIRS) is responsible for DOJ’s work to protect national security in foreign investments in the United States, telecommunications, and the information and communications technology and services (ICTS) supply chain.

The Detailee will be responsible for:

  • Reviewing applications for certain Federal Communications Commission (FCC) telecommunications applications for licenses, authorizations, and petitions and existing FCC licenses with requisite foreign ownership to assess the risk to U.S. national security and law enforcement interests.
  • Identifying and evaluating any national security and law enforcement risks associated with these applications and licenses (including working closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Intelligence Community), building a robust administrative record and developing a risk-based assessment to support a recommendation on each application or license to the FCC;
  • Developing and negotiating national security agreements to mitigate the identified risks to national security for Telecom & Supply Chain matters; and then monitoring such mitigation agreements under the FIRS Compliance & Enforcement team;
  • Evaluating the counterintelligence, cybersecurity, and other national security risks to our digital ecosystem posed by information and communications technologies and services that are designed, manufactured or supplied by foreign technology firms that may operate under the ownership or control of, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of foreign adversary governments, and developing investigative referrals to the Department of Commerce, Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC), or the FCC to mitigate these risks in the U.S. Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain (ICTS);
  • Supporting FIRS participation in National Security Council (NSC)-led Interagency Policy Committee, or other interagency policy making bodies with a focus on telecommunications, cybersecurity, supply chain security, data security, and technology security;
  • Reviewing proposed FCC rules and orders to assess impact on DOJ and Team Telecom equities, drafting comments and other similar filings in response to FCC notices of proposed rulemaking that impact Team Telecom reviews, supporting FIRS and NSD leadership in regular engagements with FCC leadership, and participating in FCC-led bodies focused on telecom sector security that include representatives of the executive branch and private sector;
  • Coordinating with the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and other members of the Executive Branch on telecommunications and supply chain matters;
  • Collaborating with DOJ’s Civil Division to assess and minimize litigation risk associated with proposed Team Telecom and ICTS Supply Chain security actions;
  • Collaborating with other FIRS attorneys, science and technology subject-matter experts, risk advisory analysts, and other professional support staff;
  • Performing other duties as assigned.
Qualifications

The Foreign Investment Review Section is seeking a current Department of Justice attorney for this one-year detail.  Interested applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia, and have 1 or more years at the GS-12: 1.5 or more years at the GS-13; 2.5 or more years at the GS-14; and 4 or more years at the GS-15 level. Applicants must also have superior academic credentials, writing and analytical skills. Applicants must also be able to qualify for the highest and most sensitive security clearances. 

Application Process

To apply, please submit a cover letter (highlighting your relevant interest and relevant experience), a resume, a short writing sample (no longer than 15 pages and that exhibits your own written advocacy skills), and a copy of your most recent performance appraisal (if available), to: FIRS.Application@usdoj.gov; Subject: TT Atty Detail. No telephone calls please.

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Salary

This is a non-reimbursable detail. Under a detail assignment, there is no change in salary.                  

Number of Positions
2
Travel
Periodic travel may be required.

Department Policies

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.

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.

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.   

Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.

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.

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).

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.

 

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.

Updated September 16, 2024