General Counsel

The incumbent's responsibilities include directing the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Program, the Attorney Discipline Program, the Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program, the Employee/Labor Relations Unit, the Ethics Program, and the Immigration Unit.

Duties

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) seeks highly qualified individuals to join our team of expert professionals in becoming a part of our challenging and rewarding Agency. The primary mission of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is to adjudicate immigration cases by fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly interpreting and administering the Nation's immigration laws. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR conducts immigration court proceedings, appellate reviews, and administrative hearings. EOIR consists of three adjudicatory components: The Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which is responsible for managing the Immigration Courts where Immigration Judges adjudicate individual cases; the Board of Immigration Appeals, which primarily conducts appellate reviews of these Immigration Judge decisions; and the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, which adjudicates immigration-related employment cases.

NOTE: The General Counsel position is designated as SES General and may be filled by either a Career or Noncareer Senior Executive Service member.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Directs the Immigration Unit, which handles a variety of immigration related issues for EOIR. Ensures the program provides litigation support to the Office of the Solicitor General, Offices of the U.S. Attorneys, the Office of Immigration Litigation, and the Civil Division's Torts Branch.
• Directs the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/Privacy Act program for the agency. This includes overseeing attorneys and other staff who respond to FOIA requests; ensuring that all processing of records is conducted in accordance with applicable laws and polices; and maintaining data tracking systems and preparing reports concerning same.
• Directs the Attorney Discipline Program. Responsible for the development of rules and procedures governing the program, and ensures that the program investigates alleged misconduct associated with attorneys practicing before EOIR.
• Serves as the Deputy Designated Ethics Official for the agency, directing the agency's ethics program.
• Directs and supervises the Employee and Labor Relations Unit, which advises on employee matters, such as performance and disciplinary issues and accommodation requests. Represents the various components of EOIR on personnel matters with the Office of Professional Responsibility, the Inspector General, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Merit Systems Protection Board.
• Ensures that resources are effectively and efficiently utilized, including both personnel and budgetary resources.
• Oversees, conducts, and assists in all litigation matters to which EOIR is a party or is otherwise involved.

Salary

• $150,160 - $225,700/year

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• You must complete a background investigation, credit check, and drug test.
• You must file a financial disclosure statement in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
• Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.
• Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service are subject to a one-year probationary period.
• Executive qualifications of each new career appointee to the SES must be certified by an independent Qualifications Review Board based on criteria established by OPM.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications In order to qualify for the General Counsel position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Education:
Applicants must possess a LL.B. or a J.D. degree.

-AND-

Licensure:
Applicants must be an active member of the bar, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of a U.S. state, territory, Puerto Rico or the District of Columbia (include the date of your admission to the bar).

-AND-

Experience:
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must have practiced as an attorney, post-bar admission, for a minimum of seven(7) years at the time the application is submitted with at least 1 year of experience at a level equivalent to the GS-15 in the Federal service.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your assessment questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your Resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name, position title, grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

In addition to the minimum qualifications listed above, you must possess the following Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications:

Executive Core Qualifications: Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must submit narrative responses addressing each of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ). Current or former SES members must submit an SF-50 and/or QRB Certification of ECQs to show current or former service in the SES. OPM's Guide to the Senior Executive Services Qualifications provides detailed information on the ECQs.

• ECQ 1: Leading Change. This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
• ECQ 2: Leading People. This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
• ECQ 3: Results Driven. This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
• ECQ 4: Business Acumen. This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
• ECQ 5: Building Coalitions. This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

AND

Mandatory Technical Qualifications: All applicants must submit narrative responses addressing each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ).

• MTQ 1: Ability to interpret cases, statues and administrative regulations and apply them to an organizations mission.
• MTQ 2: Comprehensive knowledge of immigration law and procedure, with particular expertise in administrative and judicial case law and regulations.
• MTQ 3: Ability to represent an organization in administration hearings and proceedings, and at labor negotiations.
• MTQ 4: Demonstrated decision-making, problem- solving, and legal writing skills.
• MTQ 5: Ability to create a customer-service driven organization.

Education Are you using education to qualify? Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation by clicking here. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. (Note: If you are selected for this position based on education, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day.) You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Translated transcripts are required. For further information, click here. Other Information

Location will be in a non-detained Immigration Court in the continental United States.

Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.

Note: Veterans' preference does not apply to this position. 5 USC 2108(3), which defines "preference eligible," indicates this does not include applicants for, or members of, the Senior Executive Service.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/11/2025, which includes:
1. Your Resume showing relevant legal experience; cover letter optional.
2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire.
3. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must submit narrative responses addressing each of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ).
4. Current or former SES members must submit an SF-50 and/or QRB Certification of ECQs to show current or former service in the SES.
5. All applicants must submit narrative responses addressing each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ).
Note: Please ensure your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name, position title, grade level held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

How to Apply

You must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 5/8/2024, the closing date of the announcement.

• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the assessment questionnaire.
• Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
• It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
• To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact EOIR.HR_Application_Review@usdoj.gov.You must submit a complete application by the close of the announcement.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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