Supervisory General Attorney (Chief, FOIA/PA)

Criminal Division (CRM)
Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO)
Attorney
Wasington, DC 20004
United States
16-CRM-OEO-023
About the Office: 

The Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO) provides investigative and prosecutorial support, legal advice, and statutorily required review and approval in almost 40 distinct subject areas. OEO oversees the use of the most sophisticated investigative tools at the federal government's disposal, including electronic surveillance, the Federal Witness Security Program, media subpoenas, attorney subpoenas and search warrants, and witness immunity requests. OEO provides legal advice to federal, state, and local law enforcement prosecutors and agencies on the above programs and investigative techniques, and assists in developing Department policy on emerging technologies and telecommunications issues. OEO also responds to requests made to the Division for disclosure of information under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, and serves in a coordinating role for the Division with regard to victim and witness assistance. In addition, OEO supervises the International Prisoner Transfer Program.

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: 

The incumbent will serve as Chief of the FOIA/Privacy Act Unit. The duties for this position include:

· Reviewing all Criminal Division records located as a result of records searches made pursuant to the FOIA or PA;

· Serving as the principal point of contact for Division attorneys who need advice with respect to the obligations imposed by the Acts;

· Evaluating the work flow and operations of the Unit and making changes to increase productivity as necessary, using available technology to increase efficiency and reduce costs;

· Overseeing operation of the FOIA/PA Unit to ensure that the processing of Division records, requested pursuant to the FOIA or PA, is conducted in accordance with the applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures;

· Interacting with the management of Criminal Division litigating sections to ensure that requests for records under the FOIA and PA are properly prioritized;

· Supervising the presentation of the Division's views to the reviewing official where an appeal from the Division's initial FOIA or PA determination is being challenged by way of an administrative appeal within the Department;

· Commenting on, or initiating regulations, and preparing or supervising the preparation of Division directives relating to the application and implementation of the FOIA and/or PA; and

· Supervising all FOIA litigation involving the Criminal Division; implementing strategies to limit litigation exposure; making recommendations to Division leadership regarding settlement of litigation and attorney's fees requests; and working with the Civil Division to ensure the Division's position is well represented in litigation matters.

Qualifications: 

Required Qualifications: Interested applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.

· To qualify at the GS-15 level, interested applicants must have four (4) or more years of post-J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: performing in a lead or supervisory role over an organization's FOIA or PA function; experience furnishing advice and interpretation of the FOIA or the PA; drafting legal documents pertaining to requests for information made under the FOIA or PA; experience applying appropriate statutory exemptions under the FOIA and PA to ensure the protection of exempt information; and experience overseeing litigation involving FOIA.

Salary: 
GS-15, $128,082.00 - $160,300.00 per annum, which includes locality pay
Travel: 
Occasional travel may be required.
Application Process: 

The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement.

Please submit your application through USAJOBS.  The list of required documents can be found in the USAJobs announcement.

1.            If you do not already have an account, please create a USAjobs account before applying Create an Account. You will be able to upload your resume and supporting documents and complete your profile prior to applying.

2.            Once you have an account, apply to the USAjobs vacancy:  
www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/428745300

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: 
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Relocation Expenses: 
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Number of Positions: 
1
Updated February 12, 2016

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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.