Supervisory Attorney Advisor (Deputy Chief), GS-905-15

National Security Division (NSD)
Office of Law and Policy
Attorney
Washington, DC 20530
United States
About the Office: 

The Office of Law and Policy in the National Security Division (NSD) is responsible for developing legal policy and providing legal advice relating to a range of national security issues facing the Department of Justice and the Intelligence Community, working closely with the leadership of NSD and NSD’s operational components, including the Office of Intelligence, the Counterterrorism Section, the National Security Cyber Section, the Counterespionage Section, the Foreign Investment Review Section, and the Office of Victims of Terrorism.  NSD’s mission is to protect the United States from threats to our national security by pursuing justice through the law. The NSD's organizational structure is designed to ensure greater coordination and unity of purpose between law enforcement and the Intelligence Community and to integrate the full range of authorities and approaches to confront national security threats, working with other departments and agencies.  The Division is led by an Assistant Attorney General and supported by three Deputy Assistant Attorneys General, including a DAAG for Law and Policy.

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 position serves as Deputy Chief for the Office of Law and Policy of the National Security Division.

Under the direction of the Chief for Policy, the Deputy Chief will be responsible for providing legal and policy advice in areas assigned by the Chief.  The areas include, subject to change based on the needs of the office, the legal and policies issues relating to surveillance and intelligence oversight, including Attorney General guidelines governing the collection of U.S. person information by the Intelligence Community under Executive Order 12,333; homeland preparedness and response, including the laws and policies governing the response to significant terrorism incidents and other domestic incidents and natural disasters; arms control, radiological and nuclear material security, and responses to chemical threats; immigration  and watch-listing; and laws and policies relating to the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the United States, among other issues.  Working with relevant NSD components and Department leadership, the Deputy Chief will develop, implement, and coordinate sensitive Department initiatives in these areas and will provide legal advice concerning sensitive national security-related matters.  The Deputy Chief will serve as one of the Division’s primary liaisons on these issues with senior management offices in the Department, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the Intelligence Community, and with the National Security Council Staff.  The Deputy Chief will provide day-to-day management and coordination of these matters within the Office of Law and Policy.  Such responsibilities will include developing legislative proposals and coordinating legislative policy with relevant Department components, executive agencies, the NSC Staff, and legislative staffs; developing Department policy and reviewing policy documents submitted in connection with Department or interagency policy initiatives; serving as the primary supervisor of the Division’s legal analysis of programs or initiatives in these areas; preparing testimony for congressional committees or responses to congressional questions; and providing direction, advice and assistance in connection with relevant Division training and outreach efforts.

Qualifications: 

Applicants 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 4-5 years of post J.D. professional experience to be qualified at the GS-15 level.  Applicants must also have superior academic credentials, writing and analytic skills, and excellent interpersonal skills.  Applicants must also be able to qualify for the highest and most sensitive security clearances and be a U.S. citizen. 

Salary: 
GS-15: $155,700.00 - $183,500.00 (per annum)
Travel: 
Periodic travel will be required.
Application Process: 

To apply for the Deputy Chief position, please submit a resume and a cover letter (Highlighting your relevant experience), a writing sample (No longer than 15 pages which exhibits your own written advocacy skills), and a copy of your most recent performance appraisal (If available), to:

NSD.LPO.applicant@USDOJ.GOV

Or to:

Wakeya Henry

Office of Law and Policy

National Security Division

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 6648

Washington, DC  20530

No telephone calls please.

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: 
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Relocation Expenses: 
Relocation expenses may be authorized for this position.
Number of Positions: 
1
Updated September 19, 2023

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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.