Legal Careers
Supervisory Attorney Advisor (Deputy Unit Chief, Special Operations Unit), GS-905-15
The Deputy Unit Chiefs in the Office of Intelligence, National Security Division (NSD), are the front-line supervisors in the Operations Section’s operational units. They are responsible for managing attorneys who handle sensitive and complex legal matters relating to a variety of intelligence operations.
The mission of the Office of Intelligence is to protect the nation against terrorism and other threats to national security by providing legal representation and counsel to the U.S. Intelligence Community in support of its operations and by conducting oversight of intelligence activities to ensure adherence to the Constitution and laws of the United States.
The office is part of the Department's National Security Division, which consolidates the Department's primary national security elements and carries out the Department's highest priority of protecting the country against terrorism and other national security threats. The Operations Section in the Office of Intelligence handles a wide range of complex and highly sensitive operational legal matters involving terrorism, counterintelligence, and cyber primarily arising under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and represents the United States before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC).
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 Office of Intelligence currently is seeking a Deputy Unit Chief for its Special Operations Unit. Deputy Unit Chiefs perform the following major duties:
- Supervise and support line attorneys. Provide line attorneys timely and constructive feedback on the quality of their work and ensure that they have the guidance, training, and resources necessary to perform at the highest possible level.
- Review applications to the FISC and other legal documents drafted by unit line attorneys.
- Supervise a duty team on a rotating schedule: assign work to duty attorneys; assist Unit Chiefs in obtaining emergency authority; notify the appropriate FISC judge and other relevant parties of the authorizations; and review applications for FISC approval of emergency authorizations.
- Provide advice and counsel to Department of Justice leadership and to agencies within the U.S. Intelligence Community regarding intelligence operations and legal and policy issues relating to the unit.
- Assist in the development and implementation of Office of Intelligence training programs.
- Assist the Unit Chief in the management of the unit.
- Promote and support the Division’s equal employment policies and programs designed to enhance workforce diversity aims. Demonstrate a firm commitment to applying merit promotion principles in all aspects of hiring, selection, training and development, and employee retention.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree with at least three years of post J.D. experience and be an active member of a bar (any jurisdiction). Applicants also must have:
- Experience implementing FISA and other national security and intelligence- related authorities, as well as experience practicing before the FISC.
- Management and leadership ability.
- Strong analytical and legal writing abilities and attention to detail.
- Sound judgment and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work collegially to achieve operational goals.
- Dedication to the mission of the National Security Division and familiarity with Office of Intelligence procedures and processes.
Deputy Unit Chiefs report to a Unit Chief, the Deputy Section Chief(s), and the Section Chief of the Operations Section. They are expected to demonstrate independence and judgment in the performance of their duties.
Applicants must be able to qualify for the highest and most sensitive security clearances.
Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the National Security Division.
Please submit a cover letter highlighting your relevant skills and experience. Please include in your submission a copy of your current resume and current performance appraisal (if a current performance appraisal is available).
Materials must be mailed to:
U.S. Department of Justice
National Security Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Suite 6150
Washington, D.C. 20530
ATTN: Special Operations Unit Chief Vacancy
Alternatively, you can submit your application via e-mail to:
Special.Operations.Deputy.Unit.Chief@usdoj.gov with the subject line “Special Operations Deputy Unit Chief Vacancy.”
No telephone calls please.
(GS-15) $155,700-$183,500 per annum.
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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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