Associate Principal Legal Advisor for Legal Operations

Summary

The incumbent of this position is one of two senior executive leaders who report to the Deputy Principal Legal Advisor for Legal Operations, advocate on behalf of ICE clients on immigration- and customs-related legal operations, and provide mission-critical legal services, counsel, and training to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiatives and programs vital to protecting U.S. national security, public safety, and the integrity of the immigration system.

Duties

The Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) protects the homeland by diligently litigating cases while adhering to the highest standards of professional conduct, providing timely and accurate legal advice, and optimizing resources to advance the missions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE. OPLA is part of the Office of the General Counsel within DHS. The General Counsel, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, serves as DHS's chief legal officer and principal legal advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security. As such, the General Counsel is responsible for all of DHS's legal determinations and for overseeing all of its attorneys. OPLA serves as the principal legal representative for DHS/ICE in various forums, including representing DHS before the Department of Justice (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) under 6 U.S.C. § 252(c). OPLA provides legal advice to ICE officers and agents in Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and offers litigation support to the U.S. Attorney's Offices and the DOJ Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL) on federal court matters related to ICE operations. OPLA handles complex, high-profile immigration and customs enforcement issues that require creative legal solutions to balance national security and individual liberties. Additionally, OPLA represents DHS in Merit Systems Protection Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Federal Labor Relations Authority hearings; provides ethics counsel; and manages commercial and administrative law matters. Headquartered in Washington, DC, OPLA has nine regions nationwide, each led by a Regional Counsel, and maintains 143 office locations. The incumbent of this position oversees the following OPLA Regional Counsel offices: Great Lakes-Rockies, Lone Star-Great Plains, Southwest Border, and Pacific-Northwest. The incumbent must be stationed at an OPLA office within one of those regions. Specific duties and responsibilities include: Overseeing the provision of legal advice and assistance on matters concerning the enforcement of this nation's immigration and customs laws; overseeing the prosecution/litigation of cases before EOIR's Immigration Courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals in removal proceedings against aliens alleged to be in the United States in violation of the law; and overseeing the prosecution of criminal cases and the defense of civil cases before the U.S. District Courts and the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals by ICE attorneys. Providing guidance and support in connection with matters that may include highly controversial or sensitive issues, or previously undecided questions where adverse decisions would negatively affect ICE operations; overseeing the provision of crucial litigation support and advice to the DOJ U.S. Attorneys' Offices and OIL in the prosecution and defense of cases before the U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States on matters related to the operations of DHS and ICE; and advising and representing ICE in special interest and other sensitive cases, including terrorism, human rights violator, and national security matters. Assisting the Principal Legal Advisor (PLA), Executive Deputy Principal Legal Advisor (EDPLA), and Deputy Principal Legal Advisor (DPLA) for Legal Operations for Legal Operations in developing and planning legal operations and furnishing continuity of administration to the legal functions of ICE. This includes implementing the various strategic plans of DHS, ICE, and OPLA; directing legal activities in connection with highly significant problems; directing the provision of a full range of legal advice and services; participating in the development of ICE policies, directives, and procedures; and ensuring they are consistent with the intent of the law and are administratively sound, efficient, and economical in operation. Responding to congressional inquiries; reviewing and analyzing proposed legislation and case law; preparing, reviewing, and approving official documents and letters for signature by the Director, Deputy Director, and other senior management officials; and attending conferences with and, as appropriate, rendering legal opinions to the Director, Deputy Director, PLA, and other senior managers of ICE; senior officials of the Department and other government departments; and outside private-sector organizations. Serving under the general direction of the PLA, EDPLA, and DPLA for Legal Operations; performing the duties with broad authority, which carries with it wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment. Other than on matters of unusual significance, decisions and judgments are not reviewed. Exercising sound judgment in determining whether particular matters should be brought to the attention of the PLA, EDPLA, or other senior officials.

Qualifications and evaluation

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications described above. Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your application package will be further reviewed to determine whether you possess the ECQs and TQs listed above. The ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your 2-page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have their executive qualifications certified by the OPM SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of noncompetitive status, such as current SES status, certification as a QRB-certified Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) graduate, or SES reinstatement eligibility. Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

Education

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited toward qualifications. Applicants' resumes and supporting documentation should reflect only education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency, which is a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs, with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the application and submit any required documents specified in the Required Documents section by 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To begin, click "Apply" to access the online application. You must be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select and upload your resume and any other required documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents before submitting your application. Uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging that you have reviewed your application package, complete the "Include Personal Information" section as appropriate and click to continue with the application process.You will be taken to the online application, which you must complete to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify that the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that all information entered and uploaded, i.e., the resume and other required documents, is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Application packages will not be accepted by mail. Due to security processes, mail delivery takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks to process, by which time the vacancy announcement will be closed, and no further consideration will be given to additional application packages.

Required documents

A complete application includes the items described below. Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU DO NOT PROVIDE ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION, AS SPECIFIED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, YOU MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION OR MAY NOT RECEIVE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR WHICH YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE. 1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume LIMITED TO 2 PAGES, i.e., 1 double-sided page or 2 single-sided pages, with 1-inch margins at the top and bottom, 1/2-inch margins on the left and right, and a font NO SMALLER THAN 11 POINTS, showing all relevant experience. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the SES must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs. Please DO NOT use the USAJOBS Resume Builder. Your resume should also include the following information: Your full name, email address, mailing address, and day and evening telephone numbers. Educational information, including the name, city, and state of each college or university you attended, as well as the type and year of any degree received. If applicable, your current SES or Candidate Development Program (CDP) certification status, or your reinstatement eligibility to the SES and the dates you held a career SES appointment. Whether you are currently, or have been within the last five years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Noncareer SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch. Information about your paid and unpaid work experience related to this position, including job title, series and grade if it was a federal job, and starting and ending dates of employment by month and year. 2. VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USAJOBS when you apply to this vacancy. 3. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation, if applicable: Current or former SES members must provide your 1) SES appointment Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) and 2) an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility. SESCDP graduates must provide verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) and OPM SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certification. Current federal civil service employees must provide a copy of your SF-50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting that you are a current federal civil service employee. You must possess a professional law degree, e.g., J.D. or LL.B., acquired through graduation from an accredited school of law, and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. You must submit documentation supporting that you meet this qualification when applying to this job opportunity announcement. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT SUPPORTS THE ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATION CLAIMS MADE IN YOUR RESUME AND ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE. DO NOT submit any documents that are not specifically requested in the vacancy announcement, including: Cover letters DD-214s, Statements of Service, or other veterans' preference documents Separate ECQ or TQ narratives, including prior ECQ/QRB packages or previous SES application materials A resume longer than the 2-page limit Certificates from leadership programs, executive development programs, or other training courses, unless specifically required Project management certifications or similar credentials Copies of award certificates, commendations, letters of appreciation, or similar documents Recommendation letters, endorsement letters, or reference letters, unless requested Policy papers, briefing memos, articles, reports, publication lists, or other writing samples Multiple performance plans, work plans, or performance standards; only the most recent performance appraisal is accepted Current or prior position descriptions Organizational charts Briefing decks, decision memoranda, reports, dashboards, budget materials, or other work products A separate list of references Schedule A or other disability-related hiring documentation Security clearance verification, investigation records, or related security documents Sensitive personal documents, i.e., birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, driver's licenses, marriage certificates, tax forms, or other personal identity documents Photographs or headshots Leadership philosophy statements, personal mission statements, or other supplemental statements

Additional information

Duty Location: This position may be filled at any approved duty location within one of the four assigned regions: Great Lakes-Rockies, Lone Star-Great Plains, Southwest Border, or Pacific-Northwest. The specific duty location will be determined upon selection, in coordination with management and based on agency needs. Relocation expenses may be authorized for this position. Approval is subject to management discretion and will be made in accordance with applicable law, regulation, and agency policy. Veterans' Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES. Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement. OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office. There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents: Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights, for those who undergo an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check for personnel vetting, which includes Rap Back, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation), and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov), applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information. Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx). Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement (see http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm). Employment Information Resources - Resource Center (see https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to).