Legal Careers
Section Chief
Washington, DC 20002 - United States
The Environmental Defense Section represents the United States in complex litigation arising under a broad range of environmental statutes and defends the United States against challenges to its cleanup and compliance actions at Superfund sites, federally-owned facilities, and private sites.
The Environment and Natural Resources Division is a great place to work. ENRD has been consistently ranked among the top agency sub-components in the annual rankings of Best Places to Work in the Federal Government. ENRD is the nation's chief environmental litigator, enforcing federal pollution abatement laws to protect the health and environment of the United States and its citizens. For more information about the Environment and Natural Resources Division, visit us at: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/about-division
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.
- The Chief, Environmental Defense Section performs the following duties:
Provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the Section through subordinate supervisors. - Serves as a consultant to the Division's Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Assistant Attorneys General with respect to all legal cases and matters that fall within the purview of the Section.
- Advises and consults with the Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Assistant Attorneys General, reporting on the status of all cases and matters within the Section.
- Prepares advice with proper regard for timeliness and bases advice on exhaustive legal research, pertinent factual and legal analysis, appropriate staff work, recommendations from interested federal agencies, and due regard for considerations of justice as well as the needs and concerns of client agencies and their programs.
- As needed, provides counsel and advice to attorneys responsible for representing the United States in direct negotiations and discussions with senior officials of states, counties, and cities throughout the United States and lawyers and high-level officials of some of the largest corporations in the country.
- Serves as a liaison between Department of Justice and decision-makers of client agencies. Authorizes settlements within delegated authority.
- Provides advice and policy determinations in matters involving discussions with opposing counsel and in the formulation of settlements that have far-reaching legal consequences.
As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications.
To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must address three Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) and the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) separately.
The application process used to recruit for this position is TRADITIONAL. Your resume must not exceed seven pages, including an optional cover letter.
Copies of the Office of Personnel Management's "Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications" may be obtained via the Internet at http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf. Please see Application Procedures for specific instructions.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of the Bar (any jurisdiction).
We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required of the position and on the extent your application demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Please be sure to give concrete examples of your experience and demonstrate the complexity of the knowledge you possess.
YOU WILL BE EVALUATED ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQ):
Your responses to the MTQs should be addressed separately, not to exceed two pages per MTQ.
MTQ 1 - Demonstrated litigation experience in federal district courts and courts of appeals, especially in complex high stakes matters.
MTQ 2 - Demonstrated experience in handling and managing complex legal issues, including cases arising under federal environmental laws and regulations, such as pollution control statutes and those aimed at recovery of cleanup costs, and cases involving defense of federal administrative agencies' decisions and actions.
MTQ 3- Demonstrated ability to handle complex, challenging legal matters, both in litigation and in negotiation.
IN ADDITION, YOU MUST CLEARLY DOCUMENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs), NOT TO EXCEED TEN PAGES. Please provide a separate response to each ECQ.
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.
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.
ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN. This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN. This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS. This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
Additional information on the Executive Core Qualifications can be found at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp.
Please refer to OPM's Guide to the Senior Executive Service Qualifications for more detailed information.
You must complete a background investigation to include pre-employment drug testing. You will be required to complete a Financial Disclosure Report, SF-278 before entrance-on-duty and will be required to provide this information annually thereafter. You must be a U.S. citizen or national to be eligible for this position. Veteran's preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service. Only experience obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. You must meet all minimum qualifications to be considered eligible. You must provide responses to the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) and the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). ECQs are not required if you are a current SES employee. Applicants must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of the Bar (any jurisdiction).
Please submit your application through USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/. Follow the prompts to login or create an account and upload all required documents by 11:59 PM on the closing date. Once you have an account, apply to the USAJobs vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/800150900 .
$147,649.00 to 221,900.00 Per Year
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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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This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.