Attorney Advisor (International) / Resident Legal Advisor, EUCOM

Criminal Division (CRM)
Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training
Attorney
Stuttgart
Germany
15-CRM-OPD-034
About the Office: 

The mission of the Criminal Division's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) is to develop and administer technical and developmental assistance designed to enhance the capabilities of foreign justice sector institutions and their law enforcement personnel. This assistance is administered in order to enable those institutions and their personnel to more effectively combat terrorism, organized crime, corruption, financial crimes and other types of crime in a manner consistent with the rule of law. The assistance is also administered to enable those institutions and their personnel to more effectively cooperate regionally and with the United States in combating such crime.

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: 

This is a 24 month assignment, beginning in or about December 2015, with the possibility of extension, contingent on the availability of funding. Appointment to this position will be effected by term appointment or through reimbursable detail. Conditions of the detail will be handled on a case by case basis, and will require an agreement between the gaining and losing components.

Applicants applying for the detail appointment must obtain the concurrence of their supervisor, Section Chief, Office Director, or U.S. Attorney for a minimum two-year detail to OPDAT.

The Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, seeks a current Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney or Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA), to include any individuals currently assigned to OPDAT outside of DOJ, or experienced federal prosecutor to serve as Expert Advisor to the United States European Command (EUCOM) Headquarters on DOJ programs, operations and interests within the EUCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR), and extended Area of Interest (AOI), including Europe, Russia, and Eurasia, as they impact EUCOM. The incumbent will support EUCOM interaction with other United States government departments and agencies, the international community, and non-governmental, academic, private and corporate entities, on criminal justice sector development issues within EUCOM's AOI and AOR, as part of a 'Whole of Government' approach to development of criminal justice-sector and security institutions throughout the region. This will include development and implementation of criminal justice capacity and institution building programs within EUCOM's AOR and AOI. Parallel responsibilities at the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) may be added to the Incumbent's portfolio.

Qualifications: 

Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and have at least four (4) years post J.D. experience. Applicants must also be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction).

Grade Specific Qualifications:

To qualify at the GS-15 level, applicants must have four (4) or more years of post-J.D. legal experience at the federal or state level, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: working as a lead attorney on felony level cases or specialized criminal litigation (i.e. violent crimes, homicide, narcotics), cross examining witnesses, and leading the work of support attorneys and paralegals.

Preferred Qualifications: Your qualifications will be further evaluated based upon the following competencies:

· Experience working in a military environment.

· Familiarity with European legal systems and approaches of other international organizations, particularly the European Union and the Council of Europe, to combating transnational crime and terrorism, enhancing security, and building justice-sector capacity.

· Proficiency in one or more languages within the EUCOM AOR or AOI.

· If duties on behalf of AFRICOM are added to the Incumbent's portfolio, preferred qualifications will also include familiarity with African legal systems, developmental, rule of law and law enforcement challenges facing African countries, and proficiency in French.

· Ability to function effectively in an international, multi-cultural environment.

· Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

· Extensive prosecution experience.

· Experience in bar activities, teaching, designing course curricula, and/or work with international development projects.

Additionally, applicants should have a thorough understanding and practical knowledge of DOJ and other United States government approaches and policies involving transnational crime, terrorism and security and justice sector development issues, including training and institution-building.

Salary: 
The salary range for this position is $126,245 - $158,700 per annum, which includes locality pay. See OPM's Web page at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2015/general-schedule/.
Travel: 
Occasional international travel may be required.
Application Process: 

The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement. While this vacancy announcement expires on July 31, 2015, the announcement may be closed at any time if a selection is made.

Please submit your application through USAJOBS. The list of required documents can be found in the USAJobs announcement.

1. If you do not already have an account, please create a USAjobs account before applying Create an Account. You will be able to upload your resume and supporting documents and complete your profile prior to applying.

Once you have an account, apply to the USAjobs vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/407301600.

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 conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Application Deadline: 
Friday, July 31, 2015
Relocation Expenses: 
Relocation expenses may be authorized.
Number of Positions: 
1
Updated April 7, 2016

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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.