Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Chief Counsel, Office of Associate Chief Counsel, located in Tucson, AZ.

Duties

This position starts at a salary of $70,234.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $153,776.00 (GS-14, Step 10) with promotion potential to $ 153,776(GS-14, Step 10). The Office of Chief Counsel (OCC) serves as the legal advisor to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and its employees. In advising a federal law enforcement agency, OCC handles a broad spectrum of legal issues, such as: customs and immigration law; federal employment and labor law; constitutional law; seizure and forfeiture; the Federal Tort Claims Act; FOIA, the Privacy Act, and other disclosure laws; and government ethics. OCC provides attorneys training and mentoring for the wide variety of its legal practice areas. In this position, you will become a key member of the OCC team handling CBP's dynamic Southwest border legal practice. Qualified candidates should have interest and/or experience in the core functions of this legal team. Typical work assignments include: Providing legal advice, training, and support to CBP officers and agents on matters relating to CBP law enforcement operations along the Southwest border, including search and seizure, criminal and other grounds of inadmissibility and removal from the United States, the detention of noncitizens, and the importation of merchandise. Performing legal research, preparing legal memoranda, and providing practical legal counsel to CBP management officials on the interpretation and application of various federal laws, regulations, and policies impacting CBP's Southwest border operations and workforce. Providing a full range of legal services to CBP clients that arise in a Southwest border operating environment. Such work may include legal advice, training, and support in matters relating to the activities and functions of CBP, examining petitions related to civil penalties and forfeiture of assets, advising and responding to matters relating to information disclosure, and analyzing and preparing recommendations to resolve claims for and against the government arising out of CBP operations; Providing ethics advice and representing CBP in various third-party administrative hearings involving matters such as employee discipline and adverse actions, arbitration concerning the Union contracts, EEO discrimination complaints, and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals; and Assisting the Department of Justice in civil actions involving CBP by preparing litigation reports, affidavits, and other pleadings, and participating in discovery, motion drafting, settlement discussions, and providing litigation support.

Requirements

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. Specialized Education: Recent law school graduates may be appointed to attorney positions at the GS-11 level with the following additional qualifications: rank in the top 1/3 of graduating class; participation on the school's official Law Review; membership in the Order of the Coif; or winning of a moot court competition. An interim appointment of 14 months may be made pending the selectee's admission to the bar. Selectee will be required to provide admittance and standing to the Bar and must provide a copy of their official law school transcript. 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 09/04/2023. 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.

Contacts

• Address Office of the Chief Counsel Please see HOW TO APPLY Washington, DC 20229 US
• Name: CBP Hiring Center
• Phone: 952-857-2932
• Email: [email protected]