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, including protecting our national assets from state-sponsored threats to the private sector. 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 DOJ’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.
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:
- Foreign investment. FIRS serves as DOJ’s representative on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency group that reviews foreign investments in, acquisitions of, and other transactions involving U.S. companies to determine the transaction’s effects on national security.
- Telecommunications. FIRS carries out the Attorney General’s responsibilities as Chair of the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (also known as Team Telecom), an interagency group that provides recommendations to the Federal Communications Commission on whether granting particular telecommunications licenses and authorizations will pose national-security or law-enforcement risks.
- ICTS supply chain. FIRS works closely with and supports the Department of Commerce in exercising its authority under Executive Orders 13873 and 14034 to prohibit or otherwise regulate certain transactions involving information and communications technology and services (including connected software applications) connected to foreign adversaries that pose unacceptable risks to national security.
- Compliance and enforcement. FIRS develops, drafts, and negotiates National Security Agreements to mitigate national security risks, and monitors, supervises, and enforces the transaction parties’ compliance with their National Security Agreements with DOJ.
FIRS attorneys review and investigate transactions, identify and evaluate any national security risks, and make recommendations regarding these transactions to the Deputy Attorney General, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and other senior leadership, and, in some circumstances, to the President of the United States.
In addition to this case-specific work, FIRS regularly handles a wide range of broader legal and policy issues at the intersection of sophisticated technology, national security, trade and investment, and intelligence, including through representing the Department in interagency committees led by the National Security Council. Because of the heavily interagency nature of both its case-specific and its broader legal and policy work, FIRS works closely with a variety of other DOJ components (including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Civil Division, Criminal Division, and Office of Legal Counsel); the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Intelligence Community; and other agencies including the Federal Communications Commission and the Departments of the Treasury, Defense, Commerce, Homeland Security, and State.
In these capacities, FIRS supports the mission of the National Security Division, which is to coordinate the Department’s efforts in carrying out its top priority of preventing and combating terrorism and protecting the national security. NSD provides legal and policy advice on national security matters, litigates counterterrorism, counterespionage, and foreign intelligence surveillance matters, represents the government before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and other federal trial and appellate courts and conducts oversight over Federal Bureau of Investigation national security investigations and foreign intelligence collection.
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.
FIRS is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as the Deputy Chief, Compliance and Enforcement (Deputy Chief). Under the direction of the Chief and Principal Deputy Chief, the Deputy Chief will be responsible for overseeing the work of attorneys and other professionals in the Compliance and Enforcement portfolio. The Deputy Chief will coordinate and supervise all mitigation and enforcement-related legal, policy, and operational matters of FIRS, such as:
- Advising the Deputy Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Chief, Principal Deputy Chief and other senior leadership on sensitive and high-priority legal and policy matters;
- Helping the Chief and Principal Deputy Chief in reviewing and evaluating proposed compliance or enforcement actions in CFIUS, Team Telecom, ICTS supply chain, and related matters, including personally handling certain particularly complex cases;
- Helping the Chief and Principal Deputy Chief to coordinate and supervise DOJ’s overall involvement in all compliance- and enforcement-focused legislative, legal, and policy efforts affecting foreign investment (including CFIUS), telecommunications (including Team Telecom), the information and communications technology and services (ICTS) supply chain, and related matters;
- Assisting the Chief and Principal Deputy Chief in developing and implementing office-wide and interagency strategic initiatives, program emphasis, and operational priorities; planning, directing, reviewing, and evaluating the Section’s work; and determining and implementing internal organization, practices, training needs, and improvements in work processes;
- Representing DOJ, NSD, and FIRS in a variety of fora, including interagency policy committees and meetings, external engagement with transaction parties and the private sector, and public outreach;
- Supervising the drafting and negotiation of national security agreements to mitigate national security risks involving foreign investments in U.S. companies, foreign presence in the domestic telecommunications infrastructure and the ICTS supply chain; and, when those national security agreements are in force, supervising the ongoing engagement with companies to monitor compliance; and
- Performing other duties as assigned by the Chief or Principal Deputy Chief.
The Deputy Chief must have expert command of several different skills, including excellent judgment, superior legal analysis, persuasive writing and oral presentation, organization, creativity, business acumen, negotiations, results-oriented management, work ethic, and solicitude. Significant experience in the subject matter covered by FIRS and prior supervisory/management experience is strongly desired. Civil litigation experience is preferred.
Applicant 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 at least four or more years of post-J.D. professional experience to be qualified at the GS-15 level. Applicants must also have superior academic credentials and writing and analytic skills. Applicants must also be able to qualify for the highest and most sensitive security clearances.
Please submit a cover letter, resume, a writing sample (no more than 10 pages) that exhibits your own written advocacy skills, and a copy of your most recent performance appraisal via email to: FIRS.Application@usdoj.gov with the subject line “Deputy Chief Vacancy.” No telephone calls please.
Under the NSD Work-Life Program Directive, NSD employees may be eligible for flexible work schedules, such as situational flexibility to work remotely through ad hoc telework, subject to supervisor approval and consistent with the needs of the office and individual roles and responsibilities.
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.