Duties

Summary

The Office of Intelligence (OI) consists of the Operations Section, Oversight Section, and Litigation Section. NSD created a separate Litigation Section to ensure sufficient resources are devoted to FISA related litigation and to help prosecutors handle evidentiary and discovery issues in such matters. The Litigation Section of OI reviews and prepares requests for Attorney General authorization to use FISA information in criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings.
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Responsibilities

The incumbent of this position serves as the Section Chief of OI's Litigation Section. The Section Chief exercises full responsibility for carrying out all policy, programmatic, and managerial matters assigned or required to assure effective and efficient supervision and coordination of intelligence-related litigation in OI. The Section Chief works under the supervision of the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for FISA Operations and Intelligence Oversight and the Assistant Attorney General for National Security. The Section Chief is responsible for the following:

• Coordinates and oversees intelligence-related litigation matters, including evaluating and reviewing requests to use or disclose information collected under FISA in criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings.
• Coordinates with prosecutors on national security investigations and prosecutions involving the use of foreign intelligence information, including responding to requests for discovery of such information, motions to suppress, and all other litigation matters involving the use of intelligence information in criminal cases.
• Develops and conducts training for counterterrorism and counterintelligence prosecutors and agents regarding the use of foreign intelligence information.
• Coordinates national security, intelligence, and law enforcement initiatives at the highest levels of government. Provides legal advice and assistance to senior Department officials on legal and policy issues in the area of intelligence-related litigation.
• Coordinates with IC and law enforcement agencies in order to achieve U.S. intelligence and other national security objectives.
• Represents NSD when interacting with other agencies on legal, policy and operational issues. Participates in meetings, planning sessions, committees, task forces, and other forums and updates Department leadership and staff on pending issues.
• Supervises and rates a GS-15 level manager and supervises subordinate attorneys assigned to the Litigation Section. Plans, directs, and reviews work to be accomplished by subordinates. As required, establishes program emphasis, develops operating policies and guidelines, and communicates policies and priorities. In furtherance of these functions, determines and implements internal organization, practices, training needs, and improvements in work processes and procedures.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Must complete a Background Investigation to include drug testing, and be able to qualify for the highest and most sensitive security clearances.
• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable
• May require completion of two year trial period
• Candidates selected for an attorney position with NSD are expected to make a three-year commitment.
• Periodic domestic travel will be required.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess the following:

• J.D. degree;
• Be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia; and
• Have at least 4-5 years of post J.D. professional experience.

Applicants must also have superior academic credentials, writing and analytic skills. NSD seeks candidates with substantial criminal prosecution and direct crime victim assistance experience. International law and policy, as well as supervision and program management experience, are also preferred.

Suitability and Citizenship: 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.

Education

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Additional information

Department Policies:
Equal Employment Opportunity: 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 color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected genetic information, pregnancy, status as a parent, or any other nonmerit-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 .
Reasonable Accommodations: 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.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: 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 .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Salary and grade level determinations are made based on the number of years of qualifying experience and current salary level. The salary range for this GS-15 position is: $142,701 - $170,800.

Veterans: 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 his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Interested candidates should submit all of the following:

Cover letter highlighting your relevant skills and experience,

Copy of your resume,

Writing sample, and

Current performance appraisal.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.