The Deputy Director in the Federal Tort Claims Act Litigation (FTCA) Section of the Torts Branch is a Senior Executive Service (SES) position in the Civil Division, United States Department of Justice. FTCA is one of four sections in the Torts Branch. The FTCA Section defends the United States and its employees in tort litigation seeking monetary compensation for injury or damage resulting from alleged negligent or wrongful acts.
The Civil Division is the largest litigating division in the Department of Justice. Each year, the Civil Division’s 1,100 lawyers represent some 200 client agencies in approximately 50,000 different matters. The FTCA Section is responsible for litigation in all 94 districts as well as the circuit courts of appeals. The Section works closely with United States Attorneys’ Offices and federal agencies on settlement of lawsuits and administrative claims under the FTCA. The FTCA Section also oversees and tracks all reversionary trusts owned by the United States. Over the years, $123 million has been recovered by the United States as a result of the oversight provided by this Section.
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 incumbent is responsible for directing all aspects of the work of attorneys to include assignment and distribution of work among the attorneys, and reviewing and approving pleadings, briefs, and other papers filed with the courts. The incumbent is responsible for handling some of the most important and difficult cases and assists in managing both the litigative and administrative responsibilities of the FTCA Section. The incumbent monitors progress toward organizational goals and periodically evaluates and makes appropriate adjustments to such goals; exercises important policymaking, policy-determining, or other executive functions; and has substantial expertise in structured settlements, United States Grantor Reversionary Trusts, and the strategic settlement of complicated and high dollar value FTCA matters.
Additional duties include:
- Ensuring compliance with Departmental policy, regulations, and applicable laws, and working in coordination with the Director in the establishment of policy in the conduct of general litigation.
- Overseeing the litigative and administrative actions related to the implementation of structured settlements in FTCA matters around the country. Supervising the review and analysis of facts pertaining to cases or claims brought against the United States and its employees for damages resulting from alleged negligent or wrongful acts. Determining the Department’s strategy in assigned cases, claims, or groups of cases or claims, including with respect to defensive posture, settlement, and appellate prospects.
- Advising and consulting with staff on new program orientations or directives and ensure that adequate resources will be available for implementation within the Branch. Evaluating organizational structure and makes necessary changes based on new directions or caseload requirements.
- Serving as a resource to attorneys throughout the Division and the Department in the planning, briefing, and tactical approaches to litigation filed under the FTCA. Providing advice and assistance to client agencies and United States Attorney’s Offices, including through supporting formal and informal training.
- Representing the Torts Branch, the Civil Division, and Department of Justice, as applicable, formally or informally, in inter- or intra- agency meetings, task forces, working groups, or committees dealing with issues in which the FTCA Staff has equities or expertise.
Applicants must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
We recommend that your application emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of federal torts claims act litigation managed and your accomplishments, including the results of your actions. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required of the position and on the extent your application demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the Deputy Director, Torts Branch - Federal Tort Claims Act Litigation. Please be sure to give concrete examples of your experience and demonstrate the complexity of the knowledge you possess.
YOU WILL BE EVALUATED ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): Your responses to the MTQs should be submitted in one document that includes separate narrative statements addressing each of the 2 Mandatory Technical Qualifications (NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES PER MTQ, 4 PAGES TOTAL).
MTQ1. Demonstrated legal experience and expertise that includes defending the United States and its employees in tort litigation seeking monetary compensation for injury or damage resulting from alleged negligent or wrongful acts.
MTQ2. Demonstrated experience in overseeing the activities of a legal organization including developing legal strategies in the federal courts, providing sound and timely legal counsel, managing staff, and handling administrative matters in support of litigation.
IN ADDITION, YOU MUST CLEARLY DOCUMENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQ) EVIDENCE BY ADDRESSING EACH OF THE (5) ECQs IN A SEPARATE RESPONSE FOR EACH (not to exceed 2 pages per ECQ, total of 10 pages):
ECQ1 - LEADING CHANGE. This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
ECQ2 - LEADING PEOPLE. This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
ECQ3 - RESULTS DRIVEN. This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
ECQ4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN. This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
ECQ5 - BUILDING COALITIONS. This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
Fundamental Competencies: These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Continual Learning, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, and Public Service Motivation. The Fundamental Competencies are crosscutting and should be addressed over the course of each ECQ narratives. It is not necessary for you to address the Fundamental Competencies directly as long as the narrative, in its totality, shows mastery of these competencies on the whole.
Qualifications include both general management skills and characteristics that are applicable to all SES positions and technical or program responsibilities specific to this position. Applicants must have a substantive general experience that provides a good basic or general knowledge of the principles of organization, management, and administration; and substantive specialized (operating, administrative or managerial) experience in a type of work or a combination of functions directly related to this position.
Applications without separate narrative statements will not be considered.
Note: Applicants who have completed the SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and have had their ECQs certified by OPM must provide a copy of their certificate as part of their application. Candidates must still satisfy the MTQs of the position.
Please refer to OPM's Guide to the Senior Executive Service Qualifications for more detailed information.
http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp
Copies of the Office of Personnel Management's "Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications" may be obtained via the Internet at
http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf
Education
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov.
OR
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials.
More information may be found at
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a United States Citizen or National.
- Veterans' preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service.
- Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
- You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check for the security level designated for this position.
- You may be required to undergo a drug screening and obtain favorable results prior to being appointed.
- You will be required to obtain and maintain a final Sensitive Compartmented Information Clearance. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in withdrawal of the job offer or removal.
- You may be subject to a one-year probationary period effective from the date in which you are appointed.
- This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
- You must meet all minimum qualifications to be deemed eligible. Only experience obtained by closing date of this announcement will be considered.
As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application questionnaire and submit your supporting documentation through USAJobs: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/732283600
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application questionnaire and submit your supporting documentation. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.
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.