The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) is seeking an attorney to serve as Attorney Advisor to ICE's Office of Diversity and Civil Rights (ODCR). This position is located at OPLA Headquarters, in Washington, D.C. The selectee may be approved for local remote work (i.e., within a 50-mile radius of the agency worksite). This position is also telework-eligible, in conformance with agency policy.

Duties

The Attorney Advisor will be an employee of OPLA but will exclusively provide advice and counsel in support of ODCR and advise ODCR's Assistant Director and the Assistant Director's designees on legal issues related to ODCR's service within ICE. OPLA is the largest legal program in DHS, employing over 1,200 attorneys nationwide. In addition to Headquarters in Washington, D.C., there are 25 OPLA field locations in more than 60 cities throughout the United States. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, litigating cases involving criminal noncitizens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority noncitizens. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices. OPLA provides legal advice and prudential counsel to ICE personnel on their law enforcement authorities, legal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, ethics, and a range of administrative law issues, such as contract, fiscal and employment law. OPLA represents the agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals. OPLA attorneys support DOJ in the prosecution of ICE cases and in the defense of civil cases against ICE. ODCR is responsible for directing and integrating the application of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, as well as other applicable non-discrimination complaint systems and affirmative employment programs. The mission of ODCR is to ensure that the rights of employees and applicants are protected, and that the agency promotes a proactive equal employment opportunity program to ensure the goal of an ethnically diverse workplace is achieved. The selected attorney will be assigned significant responsibilities on an immediate basis. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Requirements

• You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug test for federal employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• You must have relevant experience (see How You Will Be Evaluated and Qualifications tabs).
• You must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• You may be required to serve a two-year trial period if the requirement has not been met.
• Current OPLA attorneys must have completed two years of service with OPLA by the announcement closing date to be considered for this position.
• You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed in connection with this position.
• Occasional travel may be required, and you may be required to attend meetings and trainings at OPLA Headquarters and elsewhere in National Capital Region.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. Applicants must have experience with the EEO process and expertise with the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and other relevant authorities. Applicants must also possess the following skills and competencies: excellent oral and written communication skills; strong inter-personal and teamwork skills; the ability to synthesize and apply complex legal issues; advising and briefing senior level officials on sensitive matters; attention to detail; institutional and organizational savvy; and the ability to work well both independently and with a team. In addition, applicants for this position should be able to demonstrate: The ability to conduct legal research, review evidence, negotiate possible resolutions, and plan legal approaches; Mastery and skill applying advanced legal theories, principles, concepts, standards and methods to provide expert legal guidance and advice in Diversity and Civil Rights law to senior leadership; Expertise in Diversity and Civil Rights law when handling matters involving compliance and regulations and knowledge of federal court practices and procedure; Expertise drafting written materials and preparing factual analysis and legal opinions; and The ability to provide oral and written briefings that effectively presents the Agency's legal position on Diversity and Civil Rights to high level executives. Bar Membership: You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Current or Former Political Appointees: 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 five 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. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u), and Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Education

Applicants must be a graduate of an American Bar Association accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Please see Required Documents for more information.

A student loan repayment incentive may be available; if such an incentive is available and is authorized, a service agreement will be required.

Contacts

• Address OPLA CHIEF OF STAFF 500 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20536 US
• Name: MSD OPLA Staffing and Benefits
• Email: [email protected]