The Chief Counsel is the principal legal authority within the U.S. Secret Service and has responsibility for legal policy and determinations and the delivery of legal services.
Duties
As Chief Counsel, you will serve as the agency's primary legal advisor. In this role, you will plan, direct, and coordinate the Office of the Chief Counsel's delivery of legal services, advice, and representation. Specifically, you will: Direct and oversee all agency legal functions. This includes providing advice and representation to the Secret Service concerning its law enforcement mission and business processes. Render advice on complex legal issues concerning constitutional law, arrests, search and seizure, ethics, fiscal law, privacy, torts, civil rights, personnel and employment law, information disclosure, and civil and criminal discovery. Oversee the review and analysis of legislation, regulations, case decisions, and policies that may affect the agency. Provide oversight and review of the agency's litigation support activities, including the preparation of litigation reports, motions, and making recommendations on the settlement and compromise of claims in connection with legal proceedings involving the Secret Service or its employees. Oversee the day-to-day management of the office, as well as training, assigning and reviewing work, evaluating performance, and providing legal and policy guidance to office attorneys. This includes overseeing hiring activities and managing the office's budget and resources.
Salary
Qualifications
(1) As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications listed below. The ideal candidate will have experience supervising employees through subordinate supervisors and have experience hiring, developing, and evaluating employees. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. As such, your resume should demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully fulfill responsibilities inherent in most SES positions such as: Directing the work of an organizational unit; Ensuring the success of one or more specific major programs or projects; Monitoring progress toward strategic organizational goals, evaluating organizational performance and taking action to improve performance; and Supervising the work of employees; and exercising important policy-making, policy-determining, or other executive functions. If your resume does not include these basic qualifications, you will not be determined qualified for this position. (2) EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQ): The fundamental competencies within the following five ECQs are also a part of the selection criteria for SES positions. We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope, complexity, and budget of programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions. For this vacancy announcement, no separate supplemental ECQ documentation is required. Your resume must incorporate each of the following 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. Applicants can obtain additional information regarding the Executive Core Qualifications on the Internet at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp We recommend that your resume addressing the ECQs include examples that are clear, concise, and emphasize the level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the program, activities, or services managed; program accomplishments; policy initiative undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues addressed; and the results of actions taken. (3) MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQ): MTQ1: Comprehensive knowledge and extensive executive level experience interpreting laws and providing legal advice concerning federal laws, to include the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution; personnel and employment law, including laws regarding employee misconduct and discipline; equal employment opportunity and civil rights laws; fiscal law; ethics; procurement; the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act; congressional and oversight entity response and compliance; and legislative and policy drafting and review. MTQ2: Executive level experience in managing and overseeing a substantial legal office within a federal agency, law firm, or other organization. Candidates should have skill in directing, planning, and supervising work within legal practice areas and managing an office's budget and resources, evaluating the professional development and performance of attorneys, paralegals, and other legal staff, and the development and implementation of office and agency objectives, authorities and programs. MTQ3: Executive level experience providing advice when overseeing legal matters of substantial impact, sensitivity, and complexity, communicating clearly and concisely, and working within a matrixed organization. Important: Refer to the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement for page length and other formatting specifications. Documents that do not adhere to the specified requirements may be disqualified. We recommend uploading your documents in PDF format to preserve formatting and ensure conformance with specifications. Failure to submit any of the required documents as stated will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. The application process used to recruit for this position is the RESUME-ONLY method, therefore, evidence of each ECQ and MTQ must be CLEARLY REFLECTED in your 5-page resume. Please do not submit separate statements addressing the ECQs and MTQs. Desired Qualification: At least ten years of general legal and management experience is preferred. The following categories of applicants may omit the ECQs from their resume but MUST address the MTQs within their resume. Categories include: Applicants who are currently serving under a SES career appointment (must provide a copy of Standard Form 50-Notification of Personnel Action that documents career appointment to the SES). Applicants who are eligible for reinstatement to the SES (must provide a copy of Standard Form 50-Notification of Personnel Action that documents career appointment to the SES). Applicants who are graduates of Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Programs (must provide proof of OPM Qualifications Review Board certification). The Office of Personnel Management 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. 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.
Education
Applicants must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited law school 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.
Required Documents
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: You must submit the following documents in the format as designated. Packages that do not include the required documents will not be considered. All required/supporting documents must be uploaded with your application no later than 11:59 pm ET, on the closing date. 1. RESUME - Required for all applicants Your resume must include evidence of how you possess the five ECQs and the MTQs. When uploading your resume, select the Supporting Document Type labeled "Resume." Your resume must not exceed 5-pages, with 1-inch margins and a font no smaller than 12 points. Do not use borders, provide photos, or list a Social Security Number. Your resume should include: Your full name, email and mailing address, and day/evening telephone numbers. Educational information, including the name, city, and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type and year of any degree received. If applicable, your current SES or Candidate Development Program (CDP) certified status, or your reinstatement eligibility to the SES and dates held on the SES career appointment. Information about your paid and non-paid work experience related to this position including: Job title (including series and grade if Federal job) Duties/accomplishments Employer's name and address Supervisor's name/phone numbers Employment start/end dates (month and year) Salary Honors, awards, and special accomplishments Specific examples of the applicable technical competencies. 2. Transcript: The position has an education requirement (as explained in the Education section), therefore, based on your qualifications, you MUST submit a copy of your law school transcript (unofficial is acceptable). Your transcript must show school name, student's name, credits earned, Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree, and date awarded. Your legal education must have been obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the American Bar Association. When uploading your transcript, select the Supporting Document Type labeled "Transcript." 3. Bar Membership/Certificate of Good Standing: Submit a copy of your bar card, certificate of good standing, or other documentary evidence to prove that you are 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. When uploading your bar certification, select the Supporting Document Type labeled "Other - Bar Membership" then name the document "Bar Membership." 4. PROOF OF NON-COMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY - This section applies to non-competitive applicants only. You may be considered non-competitively for appointment to this position if you meet the MTQs. Current and former SES members and graduates of an OPM-approved SES CDP who wish to be considered as non-competitive eligible, must provide proof of eligibility, as indicated below: Current/former SES members should provide a copy of a Standard Form (SF) 50, Notification of Personnel Action showing career status in the SES. When uploading your SF-50, select the Supporting Document Type labeled "SF-50/Notification of Personnel Action." CDP graduates must provide a copy of the OPM QRB Certification. When uploading, select the Supporting Document Type labeled "Other" then name the document "OPM QRB Certification." Individuals who were removed from the SES or did not complete the SES probationary period are not eligible for a non-competitive appointment. 5. Current or former Federal civilian employees, please include your most recent SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action, which shows series, grade, tenure (Box 24) and position occupied (Box 34). When uploading your SF-50, select the Supporting Document Type labeled "SF-50/Notification of Personnel Action." Do not submit any unsolicited documents.
How to Apply
To Apply Online: To begin, click the "Apply" button to create a USAJOBS account or log in to an existing account. Follow the prompts to select your resume and other supporting documents. You will be automatically routed to the USA Staffing application to complete the application process. Click "Submit Application" in USA Staffing to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete: Log into your USAJOBS account and select the "Application" tab. Select the "Track this application" link for this position. You will automatically be routed to USA Staffing dashboard showing the status of your application, documentation received and processed. (Note: Uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.) Note: ONLY ONE APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED PER INDIVIDUAL; MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS WILL DISQUALIFY THE APPLICANT. See the Required Documents section for specific document information. All required and supporting documents for this announcement must be received online via the USAJOBS/USA Staffing application system by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit a complete application will eliminate an applicant from further consideration. Our evaluation will be based on the information you provide. We may also verify performance, suitability, and security information from reference checks and take that information into account in making selections. If you have questions pertaining to your application, you may contact Executive Resources at SESSUPPORT@usss.dhs.gov OR by calling 202-360-5070 (excluding weekends and Federal holidays) prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance. Applicants must contact the Agency Point of Contact no later than 4:00 p.m. (ET) on the closing date of the announcement if assistance is needed when submitting an application. SES positions are NOT subject to Veterans Preference.
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