Executive Deputy Principal Legal Advisor

Summary

The Executive Deputy Principal Legal Advisor is the senior career deputy to the Principal Legal Advisor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Office of the Principal Legal Advisor is the legal arm of ICE, providing mission-critical legal services, counsel, and training to support ICE initiatives and programs vital to protecting U.S. national security, public safety, and the integrity of the immigration system.

Duties

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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 the Department's chief legal officer and principal legal advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security. As such, the General Counsel is responsible for all of the Department's legal determinations and for overseeing all of its attorneys.

As the Executive Deputy Principal Legal Advisor (EDPLA), the incumbent serves as the senior career deputy to the Principal Legal Advisor (PLA) for ICE. The incumbent is primarily responsible for assisting the PLA in executing the OPLA mission, fulfilling the statutory obligations of representing the United States in immigration court proceedings, and providing a full range of legal counsel, advice, and services to ICE offices and programs. The work requires the ability to conceptualize, develop, and recommend legal options to ICE and DHS leadership, as well as the ability to explain and defend decisions based on those options to Congress, professional groups, other federal agencies, and high-ranking officials in the private sector.

The incumbent of this position oversees OPLA's vast legal program, which includes three Headquarters Directorates in Washington, DC, and nine Regions across 140+ offices nationwide. The preferred duty location for this position is Washington, DC. However, other duty stations may be considered as deemed appropriate by management with regular travel to Washington, DC.

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Serving as the senior advisor to the PLA on all matters affecting the program's operations.
• Identifying and resolving broad technical and managerial problems.
• Ensuring the proper interpretation of, and adherence to, program policies and procedures, and establishing new policies and procedures as required.
• Solving complex problems that resist solutions at subordinate levels and that have broad policy implications or involve large commitments of funds or personnel.
• Providing legal advice to the General Counsel, the ICE Director, and other ICE senior leaders, and overseeing the preparation of legal memoranda and briefing materials in complex and novel matters.
• Overseeing the provision of legal advice and assistance to ICE officers and agents on matters involving violations of criminal and customs laws.
• Working closely with the Department of Justice on the prosecution of criminal cases brought by ICE agents and officers, and the defense of civil cases involving ICE before the U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
• Overseeing the provision of legal advice and assistance to ICE managers on administrative, fiscal, procurement, information disclosure, and labor and employment laws.
• Overseeing litigation by OPLA attorneys before tribunals such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and the Boards of Contract Appeals.
• 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 implementation of OPLA's strategic plan. Planning, directing, managing, supervising, and coordinating program objectives, and establishing priorities and policies for the effective accomplishment of OPLA's mission. Initiating and recommending the adoption of new policies and procedures designed to improve operations.
• Evaluating and improving administrative methods and procedures, and effectively using human resources, funds, and materials to accomplish the program's work. Developing budget estimates and ensuring that resources are appropriately utilized. Promoting the development of alternative solutions to problems impacting the program's operations.
• Overseeing and managing the execution of the program's human capital efforts relating to personnel selections, promotions, performance management, discipline, and all other personnel functions to ensure actions are taken in accordance with merit systems principles and all other applicable federal laws, rules, regulations, and DHS/ICE guidelines and procedures.
• Personally complying with, and ensuring the compliance of subordinates with, integrity standards and applicable laws, regulations, and instructions governing employee standards of conduct.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
• Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• If you are a male born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
• File a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278e) within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• You must possess a professional law degree, e.g., J.D. or LL.B., acquired through graduation from an accredited school of law.
• You must be an active 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.

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the federal government, passionate about the ideals of the American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) related to this position within your resume, WHICH MUST NOT EXCEED TWO PAGES. Resumes over the two- page limit will NOT be reviewed beyond page two and may be disqualified.

Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. There is no requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the ECQs or TQs.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the TQs.

• TQ 1: Candidates must have experience that demonstrates (1) an expert knowledge of immigration law and procedures; (2) a strong litigation background, particularly with regard to immigration, national security, and criminal prosecution; (3) service-minded leadership; (4) a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with operational elements in implementing, coordinating, and prosecuting enforcement initiatives; (5) a demonstrated ability to structure and lead major projects and initiatives, and to coordinate teams effectively; (6) a demonstrated ability to operate effectively during transition, and to master the changing structure and functions of a legal program, the agency, and the DHS; and (7) a demonstrated ability to work independently and decisively.
• TQ 2: Candidates should have demonstrated management abilities involving both legal and logistical matters in an agency, law firm, or other organization. Candidates should have an ability to work with legal and policy professionals to evaluate and develop agency objectives, authorities and programs and have excellent legal writing skills that demonstrate clear and concise analysis.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the TQs listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs.

• ECQ 1 (Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding): This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
• ECQ 2 (Driving Efficiency): This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
• ECQ 3 (Merit and Competence): This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
• ECQ 4 (Leading People): This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
• ECQ 5 (Achieving Results): This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

IF YOUR TWO-PAGE RESUME DOES NOT REFLECT DEMONSTRATED EVIDENCE OF THE ECQs AND TQs, YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE FURTHER CONSIDERATION FOR THE POSITION.

Note: If you are 1) a current member of the SES, 2) have been certified through successful participation in a U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)-approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or 3) have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you must submit proof of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES, such as an SF-50 or certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB).

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.

Additional information

Duty Location: The incumbent of this position oversees OPLA's vast legal program, which includes three Headquarters Directorates in Washington, DC, and nine Regions across 140+ offices nationwide. The preferred duty location for this position is Washington, DC. However, other duty stations may be considered as deemed appropriate by management with regular travel to Washington, DC.

Relocation Expense Reimbursed: 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).