Legal Careers
Chief, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section
The Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) supervises and has responsibility for enforcing federal statutes pertaining to narco-terrorism, narcotic drugs and other controlled substances. NDDS's primary focus is on leading and collaborating in the prosecution of drug trafficking organizations' leadership and key facilitators, as well as providing federal prosecutors and agents across the country with sound legal, strategic, and policy guidance.
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 Chief, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section:
- Supervises the work of attorneys assigned to narcotics investigations and prosecutions, including the investigation and prosecution of related violence, money laundering, and other illicit activity stemming from or facilitating drug trafficking; coordinates and prioritizes investigations by Section attorneys; and oversees the development of cases for litigation.
- Provides advice, information, and coordination to U.S. Attorney's Offices and other law enforcement agencies around the country on narcotics-related issues; works closely with NDDS attorneys assigned to the Special Operation Division (SOD) in coordinating the largest and most complex nationwide investigations and prosecutions; assists in consultation on investigative strategies employed by numerous investigative agencies; and hosts coordination meetings to monitor the progress of investigations and prosecutions.
- Supervises investigations and prosecutions targeting high-level trafficking operations in South and Central America, Mexico, and elsewhere; determines whether to undertake programs, operations, training initiatives, and other relevant activities; monitors the execution of these activities; and oversees the Section's legal support and assistance at SOD.
- Works closely with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, the Attorney General's Advisory Committee, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the National Security Council, and on various interagency committees in the drug enforcement arena.
- Oversees important policy functions of the Section to help reduce the threat, trafficking, and related violence of illegal drugs. Among other duties, the incumbent coordinates with the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control regarding designations under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act and the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, and contributes to the Department's work on relevant legislative initiatives and the drafting of strategic plans.
- Provides advice to the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division, the Deputy Assistant Attorneys General, and other high-level senior officials on a broad range of policy and legal questions arising from the enforcement of federal criminal drug laws; provides strategic analysis and advice on emerging drug threats; and provides legal advice, guidance, and oversight to relevant ad hoc counternarcotics-related projects.
- Works with other Department components to plan and provide instructors for courses on drug prosecutions, investigations, and policy at the National Advocacy Center and elsewhere.
- Assumes full responsibility for a broad range of legal, management, financial, and administrative functions that are critical in the planning, policy direction, operation and problem solving of the Section; mobilizes Section prosecutorial resources to provide significant leadership and litigative support for narcotics cases as well as day-to-day events and quick response issues; acquires and leverages needed fiscal, technological, and human resources to achieve results-oriented outcomes; develops budget enhancements which include both performance measures and outcomes that reflect Section, Division, and Departmental strategic goals and objectives.
- Reviews and approves a large volume of general correspondence, legal opinions, authorizations, instructions, and advisory materials.
- Promotes the Division's equal employment, workforce diversity and merit promotion procedures and policies.
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 5 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
- Experience developing and litigating complex federal criminal cases involving violations of the federal narcotics and related laws.
- Experience in supervising criminal cases and reviewing the work product of attorneys.
- Knowledge of the federal regulatory and investigatory agencies, on-going programs, and key national goals, priorities, and initiatives relating to domestic and international narcotics law enforcement.
- Knowledge of intelligence community/law enforcement information sharing issues.
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 .
All applications MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM EST on 07/24/2023.
Requried Documents:
- 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.
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.
$141,022 - $212,100 per year - SES pay is determined within the pay range, commensurate with experience and other factors, contingent on DOJ pay-setting rules.
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.