Chief Counsel Atlanta with Security Clearance

---

Job description

Duties The Chief Counsel for Atlanta provides leadership, expert direction, overall management, and authoritative counsel to staff about ICE legal programs and initiatives crucial to the operation of the OPLA Atlanta Field Location (OPLA Atlanta). The incumbent is the principal legal consultant and advisor to the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge (SAC), the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Field Office Director (FOD), and the members of their staff in all legal matters that arise within his or her area of responsibility (AOR). Specific responsibilities include: Responsible for overall strategic planning, development, implementation, and administration of all ICE legal programs and initiatives in OPLA Atlanta. These legal programs involve immigration trial and appellate practice; constitutional law; criminal law and procedure; citizenship and nationality law (including naturalization and denaturalization matters); identity and benefit fraud; smuggling; cybercrimes; labor exploitation; child exploitation; human rights violations; national security; customs law; detention issues (including those related to noncitizen juveniles); S, U, and T visas; victim-witness issues; the Violence Against Women Act; immigrant and non-immigrant visas; and employment law. Oversees the provision of crucial litigation support and counsel to the U.S. Attorney's Offices (USAOs) and the Department of Justice Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL) on matters pending in federal court related to the operations of DHS and, particularly, ICE. In this regard, the incumbent functions as the principal authoritative legal counsel in OPLA Atlanta to OPLA/ICE/DHS management on a broad and diverse range of highly complex legal services, activities, and functions that are related to these programs and initiatives, and that promote the effect direction, management, utilization, and administration of OPLA Atlanta. Provides program direction, management, and authoritative counsel to OPLA Atlanta legal staff engaged in representing DHS in proceedings before the Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). In this regard, the incumbent provides leadership and expert counsel to staff regarding the litigation and case-management strategies that are appropriate. The incumbent's expert direction, management, and oversight of cases is vital to ensuring that the highest level of legal competency is applied to the development of ICE's case theory in the preparation for hearings, the preparation of witnesses, the direct examination and cross-examination of witnesses, the presentation of oral arguments advancing the agency's objectives, the negotiation of cases with opposing counsel and the decision regarding which cases warrant appeal or the exercise of prosecutorial discretion. Provides expert counsel to staff in conducting legal research and preparing legally accurate and persuasive memoranda or law advocating DHS/ICE position to submit to EOIR, federal courts, and/or other tribunals. Responsible for preparing advisory memoranda for ERO officers, HSI agents, the DHS General Counsel, the USAOs, and OIL. Responsible for directing the provision of a full range of legal advice and services and ensuring that DHS and ICE positions are consistent with the law and are technically and administratively sound, efficient, and economical in nature. Establishes, leads, and manages comprehensive strategic and long-range planning processes to foster the effective management of DHS and ICE resources to achieve stated goals, enhance program support, and improve customer service standards. Assesses new DHS and ICE policy issuances for conformance and impact on program requirements and principles. Through participation on various working groups, panels, and committees, the incumbent ensures that legal issues are considered in DHS and ICE planning and policy development. Participates with the DHS General Counsel and ICE Principal Legal Advisor in making recommendations on overall office programs. The incumbent represents the DHS General Counsel and the ICE Principal Legal Advisor with senior DHS and ICE management, other Federal agencies, and external stakeholders. Serves as an expert advisor and counsel to high-level officials of DHS and ICE, and to officials of other Federal agencies. With a clear understanding of authorities, rules, and responsibilities between level of government, the incumbent provides legal counsel on issues related to immigration and customs enforcement. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service. You must submit to a pre-employment drug test. You must be able to obtain/maintain a Top Secret/Special Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance. You may be required to undergo periodic drug testing. You will serve a one-year probationary period unless you previously completed the probationary period in the SES. You will be required to complete form OGE-278, Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure Form. You must possess a professional law degree (e.g., J.D., LL.B.) acquired through graduation from a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association. 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 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 Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. The application process to recruit for this position is the TRADITIONAL-BASED method. The applicant must address each Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) separately. To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the five ECQs and the TQs listed below. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Unless you are currently serving under a Career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) graduate, you must address the ECQs. Your narrative must address each ECQ separately and demonstrate the underlying competencies in the narrative. Examples should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities; the scope and complexity of the programs, activities, or services you managed; program accomplishments; policy initiatives undertaken; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues you addressed; and the results of your actions. You should use action oriented leadership words to describe your experience and accomplishments and quantify your experience wherever possible to demonstrate your accomplishments (e.g., number of employees supervised; size of budget managed; amount of money saved, etc.). Applicants should use the Challenge, Context, Action and Results (CCAR) model below when responding to each ECQ: CHALLENGE: Describe a specific problem or goal. CONTEXT: Describe individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to address a particular challenge (e.g., clients, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale). ACTION: Describe the specific actions you took to address a challenge. RESULT: Describe specific examples of measures/outcomes that had impact on the organization. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills. Your narrative response should not exceed 10 pages, be typed in 12-point font with one-inch margins. It is recommended that you include two recent (not older than 10 years) examples per ECQ and draft your ECQs in a PDF document before uploading into the system to ensure these guidelines are met. Information that exceeds these guidelines will not be reviewed. Detailed information on each ECQ, the underlying and fundamental competencies, sample narratives and a tips sheet for writing effective ECQs are available in the "Guide To Senior Executive Service Qualifications" Senior Executive Service Executive Core Qualifications and Senior Executive Service Qualifications & Fundamental-Competencies . 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. Leadership Competencies: Creativity & Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision. 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. Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, Team Building. 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. Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility. ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACU

<!– job description page –>