Legal Careers
Supervisory General Attorney (Chief, FOIA/PA Unit)
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. The Office also processes all requests for Criminal Division records made pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts, and assists U.S. Attorney's Offices in advocating the Division's position in civil litigation filed under these statutes.
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 incumbent will serve as Chief of the FOIA/Privacy Act Unit. As Chief, the incumbent:
- Oversees the Unit’s operations to ensure that the processing of Division records, requested pursuant to the FOIA or Privacy Act, is conducted in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures, and that the Criminal Division is compliant with existing laws, regulations, and policies protecting privacy, including the Privacy Act, the Federal Information Security Management Act, and the E-Government Act.
- Serves as an expert on FOIA and Privacy Act matters and interacts with Division management to ensure that requests for records under these Acts are properly prioritized.
- Establishes Division policy as to the disclosure or the withholding of Division records for which access has been sought pursuant to these Acts.
- Evaluates the Unit’s resources and operations to make strategic recommendations and changes that increase efficiency while maintaining the quality of the Unit’s work product.
- Oversees the presentation of the Division's views to the reviewing official where an appeal from the Division's initial FOIA or Privacy Act determination is challenged by way of an administrative appeal within the Department. Ensures any subsequent release of Division information is properly coordinated within the Division.
- As needed, participates in litigation that challenges the Division’s initial or appeal determination with respect to FOIA or Privacy Act requests, which may include review of records, preparation of pleadings, and drafting of declarations or Vaughn Indices.
- Supervises and manages the work of the Unit Deputy Chiefs and/or Associate Chiefs, who are responsible for directly supervising line attorneys and Government Information Specialists. Plans and assigns work to subordinates; evaluates the quality of the employee's performance; recognizes and rewards accomplishments; prepares and administers development plans; addresses deficiencies in staff, knowledge, or abilities; and identifies or assigns training as appropriate.
- Ensures timely and in-depth review of legislative and policy proposals affecting release of information to the public.
- Participates in the recruitment and selection process of new employees consistent with applicable regulations and policy.
- Supervises the preparation of statistical reports for both the Congress and internal use to reflect the Division’s activities under the FOIA, Privacy Act, or other privacy statutes.
Required Qualifications:
Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, 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 grade level, applicants must have at least four (4) years 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: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs, and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff.
Preferred Qualifications:
Your qualifications will be further evaluated based upon the following competencies:
- Demonstrated experience in the supervision of attorneys and professional staff.
- Demonstrated experience in sustaining high productivity, engaging in frequent communication with multidisciplinary professionals, and having careful attention to detail in handling and responding to complex and sometimes publicly discussed issues.
- Demonstrated experience in providing leadership with essential professional legal analysis and advice regarding applicability of federal laws and regulations to requests and complaints.
- Demonstrated experience in the preparation of pleadings to be filed in court in response to FOIA or Privacy Act requests.
- Demonstrated experience working independently and producing high-quality work that is accepted as accurate in terms of soundness of approach, technical sufficiency, and application of legal principles, and that complies with applicable federal laws and regulations.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating and communicating accurately and effectively with other attorneys and managers, as well as court personnel, as necessary.
- Demonstrated experience maintaining contacts with appropriate offices, as necessary, to consult and coordinate regarding specific issues, questions, and problems.
- Demonstrated experience making recommendations that draw on analyses and the applicability of laws, policies, regulations, review of administrative programs and policies, practice considerations, and potential litigation exposure.
- Demonstrated experience applying initiative, mature judgment, and resourcefulness in researching and interpreting legal and administrative issues.
- Demonstrated experience serving as an authority on the resolution of FOIA/Privacy Act issues, questions, and problems.
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.
- 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.
- Once you have an account, apply to the USAjobs vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/652535200
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 conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
The salary range for this position is $148,484 – $176,300 per annum, which includes locality pay. See OPM’s Web page at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2022….
Department Policies
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.
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.
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.
Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.
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.
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).
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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