Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Chief Counsel, located in 32 locations across the Unites States.
Duties
The Office of Chief Counsel (OCC) is one of the federal government's largest and most established legal offices, providing critical legal advice and support across the CBP portfolio including trade enforcement, search and seizure, immigration, labor and employment, and government ethics. OCC is establishing a dedicated Assistant Chief Counsel for Ethics position within the Ethics, Labor & Employment (ELE) Section. This unit will oversee the agency's ethics program, deliver comprehensive ethics advice, and manage the full range of matters within the ethics portfolio. Locations: Washington, DC; Minneapolis, MN; Artesia, NM; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Buffalo, NY; Chicago, IL; Del Rio, TX; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Edinburg, TX; El Paso, TX; Glynco, GA; Harpers Ferry, WV; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Laredo, TX; Long Beach, CA; Marfa, TX; Miami, FL; Milwaukee, WI;, New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; San Antonio, TX; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Tampa, FL; Tucson, AZ; Yuma, AZ This position starts at a salary of $147,945.00 (GS-15, Step 1) to $192,331.00 (GS-15, Step 10). In this position, you will become a key member of the legal team of the Office of Chief Counsel. Typical work assignments include: Oversee and supervise the Ethics Unit's delivery of OCC-wide ethics training, including onboarding of new employees, onboarding of supervisors, and annual training for executives, as well as ethics training for CBP clients on topics such as acceptance and solicitation of domestic and foreign gifts, invitations to widely-attended gatherings, and outside employment; supervise the issuance of ethics advice to CBP clients regardless of location; oversee CBP's Financial Disclosure Program, to include training filers and reviewers, reviewing OGE Form 278 and OGE Form 450 submissions, and conducting ethics reviews of political appointees; handle the full scope of work within the ethics portfolio; Manage the legal office, planning and implementing a legal program, the development and dissemination of national ethics guidance, address general and frequently asked questions for OCC and CBP clients; Serve as the senior principal attorney to all operating components of CBP, maintain and update resources and communications to educate OCC and CBP clients on emerging ethics issues, changes, and best practices; and Supervise and train Ethics Unit attorneys and support staff, review work assignments; make recommendations on hiring, promotions, and awards, and direct the flow of ethics assignments to ensure a timely and effective responses.
Salary
Qualifications
Applicant must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Applicants must have a minimum of five years of substantive legal experience as a licensed attorney and a minimum of two years of federal service at the GS-0905-14 grade level by the closing of this announcement and the following: Applicants should also possess and demonstrate the ability to supervise the work of others. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 07/23/2026. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process. Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions: Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
Education
Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.
Required Documents
You must include the following information (in addition to specific information requested elsewhere in the vacancy announcement) to receive consideration for this position: Cover letter: Your application package must include a cover letter expressing your interest in this position. Please do not exceed two pages. Application packages received without a cover letter will not be given consideration. Resume: A resume describing your job-related qualifications is required and will be used for the purpose of reviewing your qualifications and determining grade setting. A resume in English is required. It must contain your full legal name, announcement number, veteran's preference, phone number, email, the last four digits of your Social Security Number, relevant work history including a detailed description of your duties, the dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY), your hours worked per week, job title, as well as series, grade, and salary (if applicable). For additional required items, see the link. *Note: It is recommended that you upload your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to ensure document quality. Ensure that your uploaded resume is not a password protected document, to include Office 365 passwords. Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. USAJOBS Help Center - What should I include in my resume? Transcripts: From an ABA approved law school or equivalent is required. Education must be from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education obtained from a foreign university or college is not creditable unless it has been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of education credentials. If submitting documentation of an evaluation, transcripts are still required. Note: Official/unofficial transcripts will be considered when applying for the position. However, if selected for the position, an official law school transcript will be required at the time of selection. For a listing of some accrediting agencies, please see http://www.naces.org/members.htm. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information. Writing Sample: A writing sample is required as part of the application package and may not exceed five pages. SF-50: Provide an SF-50 showing that you meet the time in grade and Department requirements. It is your responsibility to verify that information submitted (i.e., resume, veterans documentation, and SF-50's) is received and accurate and must be in English. Applications and supporting documentation will only be accepted by e-mail at the address listed under the "How to Apply" section. The section also outlines the contact information for inquires.
How to Apply
Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by fax, hand-delivery, USA jobs or mail. Submit your application to: Philip.Carpio@cbp.dhs.gov In the subject line of your email you must reference Vacancy Announcement CC/26-60 and specify which duty location you are applying for. All inquiries can be made to: Philip.Carpio@cbp.dhs.gov DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information visit this link. Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more. When U.S. Customs and Border Protection completes their selections, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with hiring managers and Human Resources specialists at additional agencies who are hiring for similar positions. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by fax, hand-delivery, USA jobs or mail. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on 07/23/2026. If all materials are not received, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Inquiries regarding this job opportunity announcement should be directed to: The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to hc-recordsmgmt@cbp.dhs.gov. View common definitions of terms in this announcement.
Benefits
Learn more about OCC's mission, core values and careers at https://careers.cbp.gov/s/career-paths/occ/occ-attorney
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