Legal Careers
Deputy Chief
The Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) supervises and has responsibility for enforcing federal statutes pertaining to narco-terrorism, narcotic drugs and other controlled substances. NDDS's primary focus is on leading and collaborating in the prosecution of drug trafficking organizations' leadership and key facilitators, as well as providing federal prosecutors and agents across the country with sound legal, strategic, and policy guidance.
Consider joining the DOJ Criminal Division. One of seven litigating Divisions in the Department, the Criminal Division investigates and prosecutes complex criminal matters and assists the 94 United States Attorney Offices in investigations, trials, and appeals. In addition to its direct litigation responsibilities, the Division formulates and implements criminal enforcement policy and provides advice and assistance in sensitive areas of law enforcement; advises the Attorney General, Congress, the Office of Management and Budget and the White House on matters of criminal law; provides legal advice and assistance to federal prosecutors and investigative agencies; and provides leadership for coordinating international as well as federal, state, and local law enforcement matters.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
Under the Section's Chief overall direction, the Deputy Chief:
- Supervises and coordinates the most sensitive Department initiatives regarding priority international and national drug trafficking and narco-terrorist groups.
- Works closely with the Chief and other attorneys in the development of policy initiatives. Coordinates with senior Department officials, United States Attorneys' Offices and other federal agencies devoted to narcotics enforcement and the development of enforcement matters against large-scale narcotic traffickers, money launderers and narco-terrorists.
- Supports the law enforcement community involved in counter-narcotic missions, through case coordination, information sharing, resource assistance and expert advice.
- Provides sound legal, strategic and policy guidance to interagency partners to further multi-district cases of growing size and complexity.
- Supervises the work of the NDDS attorneys relating to such matters as drafting electronic surveillance applications, proposed indictments, preparing responses to defense motions involving important questions of law, provisional arrest for and extradition of international narcotic traffickers and narco-terrorists, and appeals in criminal drug cases.
- Provides advice, information and coordination to U.S. Attorneys' Offices and other law enforcement agencies around the country on narcotics and electronic surveillance issues.
- Under the Section Chief's direction, and working closely with the Section's Administrative Officer, performs day-to-day administrative functions of the Section, including those related to personnel, security, ethics, legal matters, and provides input as requested to produce the Section's budget requests and periodic performance reports.
- Evaluates and acts as the rating official for the Section's Deputy Chiefs, Judicial Attaches, and Administrative Officer.
- Assists in the management of several important NDDS policy functions to help reduce the threat, trafficking, and related violence of illegal drugs.
- Compiles U. S. legislative initiatives and foreign legislative proposals and the drafting of strategic plans.
- Provides oversight of NDDS' work with the intelligence community and on classified matters.
- Serves as a representative on a wide range of Department of Justice, Criminal Division, interagency and other committees and task forces regarding a broad range of policy and legal matters related to the enforcement of federal criminal drug laws and emerging drug threats.
- Provides assistance and support to the Criminal Division's overseas training and development programs in narcotics-related areas.
- Demonstrates a strong commitment and support for the Division's equal employment policies and programs to enhance workforce diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility; promotes merit promotion principles in all aspects of personnel hiring, promotions, training and development and employee retention.
Conditions Of Employment:
- You must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position.
- If the selectee is not a current employee of the Offices, Boards, or Divisions of the U.S. Department of Justice, they will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
- The managerial qualifications of a selectee who is not a current or former career Senior Executive Service (SES) employee must be approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) before appointment.
- Individuals entering the SES career service for the first time are subject to a one-year probationary period.
Qualifications:
Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Applicants must be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction) in good standing and have at least 5 years post-J.D. experience. Applicants must also have a high level of management/supervisory experience.
Applicants must submit a resume and a separate narrative statement/response that addresses each of the Mandatory Professional/Technical Qualification factors related to this position as well as the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) related to all positions in the Senior Executive Service.
OPM's Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications can assist you in writing an effective SES application. In particular, please note the Challenge-Context-Action-Result Model that is recommended and very helpful when drafting ECQ narrative responses. The Guide is available on OPM's Website at: http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/guidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf .
Professional/Technical Qualification Requirements
- Experience developing and litigating complex federal criminal cases involving violations of the federal narcotics and related laws.
- Experience in supervising criminal cases and reviewing the work product of attorneys.
- Knowledge of federal regulatory and investigatory agencies, on-going programs, and key national goals and priorities relating to domestic and international narcotics law enforcement.
- Knowledge of and experience with intelligence community/sensitive law enforcement information sharing issues.
Executive/Managerial Requirements:
ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE. This core qualification encompasses the ability to develop and implement an organizational vision, which integrates key national and program goals, priorities, values, and other factors. Inherent to it is the ability to balance change and continuity--to continually strive to improve customer service and program performance within the basic Government framework, to create a work environment that encourages creative thinking, and to maintain focus, intensity and persistence, even under adversity.
- Leadership Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, Continual Learning, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Service Motivation, Strategic Thinking, Vision
ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE. This core qualification involves the ability to design and implement strategies, which maximize employee potential and foster high ethical standards in meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals.
- Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Cultural Awareness, Integrity/Honesty, Team Building
ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN. This core qualification stresses accountability and continuous improvement. It includes the ability to make timely and effective decisions and produce results through strategic planning and the implementation and evaluation of programs and policies.
- Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN. This core qualification involves the ability to acquire and administer human, financial, material, and information resources in a manner which instills public trust and accomplishes the organization's mission, and to use new technology to enhance decision making.
- Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Technology Management, Human Resources Management
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS. This core qualification involves the ability to explain, advocate and express facts and ideas in a convincing manner, and negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally. It also involves the ability to develop an expansive professional network with other organizations, and to identify the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization.
- Leadership Competencies: Influencing/Negotiating, Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Partnering, Political Savvy, Written Communication
Education:
A J.D., or equivalent, degree.
Applicants who possess an equivalent degree rather than a J.D. may be subject to additional review by the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management.
How You Will Be Evaluated:
Candidates will be evaluated on the mandatory Professional/Technical Qualification Requirements identified above. Based on their total background, i.e., education, training, self-development, awards, outside activities, performance appraisal, as well as work history. If candidates are found to possess all technical requirements, they will then be evaluated based on the Executive Core Qualifications as established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) outlined above.
Required Documents:
To receive consideration, applicants must submit:
- A resume
- A separate statement addressing each of the Mandatory Professional/Technical Qualification Requirements.
- A separate statement addressing each ECQ that describes your managerial experience. While individuals who are current or former career SES members (approved by OPM and have completed an initial probationary period) need not submit an Executive Core Qualifications statement, they are required to provide an SF-50 or SES certificate to demonstrate their current or prior service. Otherwise, the absence of ECQs will be identified as a failure to comply with the requirements of the vacancy. Applicants must meet qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- If you are a current or recent Federal employee, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) and a performance appraisal issued within the past 12 months, or if none exists, please include a statement to that effect.
How To Apply:
Submit all the required documents listed above to: SES.CRMJOBS@USDOJ.GOV .
If you cannot submit your application via email, please call the agency contact below for alternate procedures.
All applications MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM EST on 03/29/2024.
Agency Contact Information:
Questions About This Job:
Sydney Tavares
(202) 514-0030
sydney.tavares@usdoj.gov
Agency Information:
Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section
c/o Human Resources
1400 New York Avenue NW, Suite 600
Washington , DC 20004
Next Steps:
We will notify you of your status as a candidate after each step of the recruitment process. After extending a tentative job offer and receiving acceptance by the selectee, we will conduct an employment suitability/security background investigation to confirm that the selectee meets all requirements to fill the position. We expect to make a final job offer once all such reviews have been completed.
$147,649 - $221,900 per year. SES pay is determined within the pay range, commensurate with experience and other factors, contingent on DOJ pay-setting rules.
Pay Scale & Grade: ES-00
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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 race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit 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.
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.
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 their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
USAO Residency Requirement: Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
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