The incumbent serves as the Deputy Director of the Departmental Ethics Office (DEO) in the Justice Management Division (JMD). DEO administers the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) ethics program for the Assistant Attorney General for Administration, who serves as the Department's Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO). Among other responsibilities, DEO staff members provide advice and guidance to Department leadership, career employees, and managers on the interpretation and application of the ethics rules and Standards of Conduct governing Federal employees. DEO also provides oversight of the ethics, financial disclosure, and Standards of Conduct training programs at DOJ's components, including the FBI, Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The incumbent will manage all aspects of the office and is the first line supervisors for a team of attorneys, ethics specialists, and other staff.
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.
This position reports to the Director of the Departmental Ethics Office and is a Supervisory Attorney Advisor. The primary responsibility of the Deputy Director is to manage the Departmental Ethics Office, and its staff, under the direction of the Director. The incumbent advised the Director of DEO on staff performance, manages and tracks assignments, develops and administers performance plans, and coordinates the work of the office. The incumbent advises senior Department officials, component ethics officials across the Department, and managers and staff in the Justice Management Division on the application of the Federal ethics laws and regulations, and on the effective management of the Department’s ethics program. The position requires a thorough knowledge of Federal ethics laws and regulations and the ability to coordinate the practices and procedures of the Department's program. The incumbent reviews public and confidential financial disclosure reports, counsels filers and prospective nominees on conflicts of interest, and assists them in completing their reports in compliance with all requirements. The incumbent participates in drafting and establishing policy and best practices for the Department’s ethics program and identifies areas for improvement and recommends corrective action to meet internal and external program requirements. The incumbent plans, develops, and presents programs for training employees in all of the Department's components on the laws, rules and policies that govern the conduct of Government employees. The incumbent communicates with government officials at a variety of agencies, including the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE), U.S. Office of Special Counsel, the White House, and ethics officials in other Executive Branch Departments and agencies, to resolve specific issues.
Applicants must be United States citizens, have a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing of the bar of any state (or the District of Columbia) and must have five (5) or more years of post-J.D. experience in a Federal executive branch ethics office responsible for an agency or component ethics program, at least four (4) of which were equivalent to the GS-14 grade level or higher.
Applicable Federal executive branch ethics experience includes: independently performing legal analysis and composing memoranda or other documents on Federal ethics issues; providing legal advice to senior officials, managers, and employees on Federal ethics statutes and regulations; experience in administering Federal financial disclosure requirements, including the use of Integrity or FDOnline; experience in reviewing PAS nominee financial disclosure reports, advising nominees, and preparing nominee ethics agreements in coordination with the office of Government ethics; training Federal employees on the Standards of Conduct, ethics requirements, or related issues; experience in preparing waivers under 18 USC § 208 and authorizations under 5 CFR § 2635.502; experience in advising on issues relating to the Hatch Act and the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act; experience in advising on DOJ supplemental regulations including 5 C.F.R. § 3801 and 28 C.F.R. § 45; experience in advising on E.O. 13989 or prior ethics pledges; experience in responding to OGE-201 requests or request under the FOIA for ethics related documents; and, experience in advising current and former employees on matters relating to 18 USC § 207; and experience in advising on issues relating to 18 USC § 203 and §205.
DEO is looking for candidates with experience in as many of the areas listed in the preceding paragraph as possible. DEO is also interested in candidates with supervisory experience. Candidates must also have demonstrated ability to efficiently and thoroughly research and incisively analyze a wide variety of complex issues; to express themselves clearly and persuasively in oral and written presentations; to exercise sound judgment; to manage a workload consisting of a number of varied projects, without specific guidelines and often with short deadlines; and to contribute to and work in a collaborative environment.
Telework: This position may be eligible for telework in accordance with JMD policy.
If you have already submitted you application materials, you do not need to resubmit them.
To apply, interested individuals must submit an application including the following:
- Cover letter detailing how the applicant meets the qualifications.
- Resume.
- List of references.
- Brief writing sample or part of a longer writing sample (not exceeding 5 pages) which is exclusively or primarily the applicant's work and includes legal analysis.
- Applicants most recent performance appraisal
- Applicant's contact information.
All application materials must be in a single PDF document and should be emailed to Joseph W. Tirrell, Director, Departmental Ethics Office, Justice Management Division, U.S. Department of Justice at: joseph.w.tirrell@usdoj.gov. Subject line should read “Application for Deputy Director Supervisory Attorney Vacancy with Departmental Ethics Office - 2023.” No applications by U.S. mail and no phone calls.
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.