As Pardon Attorney in the Office of the Pardon Attorney, you will be responsible for the preparation of letters of advice and reports of the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General to the President of the United States. The Pardon Attorney provides confidential advice and assistance on a regular basis to the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General and the Office of White House Counsel. You will direct and conduct investigations and inquiries into the fitness and suitability of applicants for clemency, evaluate the results of these investigations, determine whether the applicants have met the required standards and rules, and notify all clemency stakeholders concerned of the final action taken by the President. You will manage the preparation of all papers and documents, interpret decisions and rulings, prepare opinions and necessary briefs and memoranda based on points of law to resolve cases involving the utmost delicacy, universal public attention, or complexity of law. You will interview applicants and supervise attorneys of lower grade on the staff in reviewing and analyzing cases and related problems. In order to obtain information, interpret and clarify actions, and secure recommendations, you may confer with Members of Congress, United States Attorneys, Federal judges, representatives of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, and prison wardens.
You will also serve as a focal point for clemency related matters. As requested, you will advise and make recommendations to the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General.
You will establish policy for subordinates in such areas as determining program emphasis, developing operational guidelines and communicating agency policies and priorities. Additionally, you will plan internal organization, develop budgetary justification and determine training needs of key personnel and initiate improvements in work processes and procedures.
You must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position.
You must submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result before you can be appointed into this position.
You will need to successfully complete a background security investigation before you can be appointed into this position. Entrance on duty is contingent upon preliminary completion of a security clearance.
Veterans' preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service.
You must meet all minimum qualifications to be considered eligible.
Only experience obtained by closing date of this announcement will be considered.
This position requires a Top Secret Clearance/SCI -- (Candidate must be able to obtain the required security clearance).
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.
The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME-ONLY. The applicant must address the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) within their resume. Your resume must not exceed seven (7) pages.
Please see Application Procedures for specific instructions.
Qualifications
We recommend that your resume emphasize your progressive leadership responsibilities for positions in which you have held to include the scope and complexity of the programs managed, your program accomplishments, and 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 of the Pardon Attorney. 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 embedded/addressed within your resume not to exceed seven (7) pages.
MTQ 1: Demonstrated experience in investigating, analyzing, and evaluating complex legal issues in federal criminal cases.
MTQ 2: Demonstrated experience advising and assisting high level officials on difficult legal matters in federal criminal cases.
MTQ 3: Ability to exercise sound judgment in developing effective persuasive legal positions and harmonize conflicting views of participants in decision-making processes.
IN ADDITION, YOUR RESUME MUST CLEARLY DOCUMENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs) EVIDENCE WITHIN YOUR RESUME NOT TO EXCEED SEVEN (7) PAGES. PAGES EXCEEDING SEVEN (7) PAGES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ECQ1 - 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.
ECQ2 - 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.
ECQ3 - 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.
ECQ4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN. This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
ECQ5 - 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.
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (OPM) REVIEW AND APPROVAL: OPM is required by law to review the executive qualifications of each new appointee to the Senior Executive Service (SES) prior to appointment. Upon selection, candidate must submit a written statement addressing the five (5) Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) listed above.
Education
You must be a graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.
The selectee will undergo a suitability review conducted by the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management.
Additional information
DOJ offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits.
EEO Policy Statement: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. The complete DOJ EEO Statement/Policy is found at: http://www.justice.gov/jmd/eeos/08-eeo-policy.pdf.
Reasonable Accommodation
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Legal and Regulatory Guidance
Social Security Number - Your Social Security Number is requested under the authority of Executive Order 9397 to uniquely identify your records from those of other applicants who may have the same name. As allowed by law or Presidential directive, your Social Security Number is used to seek information about you from employers, schools, banks, and others who may know you. Failure to provide your Social Security Number on your application materials will result in your application not being processed.
Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
Signature - Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application.
False Statements - If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.
Selective Service - If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants must address the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) within their resume. Your resume must not exceed seven (7) pages.
Please see Application Procedures for specific instructions. The resume should demonstrate the necessary level of management skills, characteristics, qualities, specialized knowledge, and technical competence that would indicate successful performance in the SES. This evidence must include clear and concise examples that emphasize the applicant's level of responsibilities, scope, and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives, and level of contacts.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Applicants who fail to submit all information and documents (i.e., resume, Performance Appraisal and other documents as applicable) WILL NOT receive consideration for this position.
If you are a current career member of the SES, or are eligible for reinstatement in to the SES, or have completed an SES Candidate Development Program and obtained Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Review Board certification, you can apply to be considered non-competitively.
To be considered non-competitively, you must submit your resume only, and other documents, as applicable. You must submit your application so that it will be received by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on the closing date of the announcement.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Complete Resume
- Most Recent Performance Appraisal
- Other supporting documentation as required. Please see the "REQUIRED DOCUMENTS" section and review the applicant checklist link to determine if there are other documents you are required to submit.
Failure to submit a complete application (resume and all supporting documents) by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 05/10/2019 may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully as missing application information will not be requested. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
If more than one resume is received, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed.
If you upload your documents, do not fax the same documents.
Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Do not email or send hard copy resumes/applications to the Contact Information or Agency Information listed in this vacancy announcement. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement.
Office of the Pardon Attorney
145 N Street NE
Room 9W.300
Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Applicants who fail to submit all information and documents (i.e., resume, Performance Appraisal and other documents as applicable) WILL NOT receive consideration for this position.
If you are a current career member of the SES, or are eligible for reinstatement in to the SES, or have completed an SES Candidate Development Program and obtained Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Review Board certification, you can apply to be considered non-competitively.
To be considered non-competitively, you must submit your resume only, and other documents, as applicable. You must submit your application so that it will be received by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on the closing date of the announcement.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Complete Resume
- Most Recent Performance Appraisal
- Other supporting documentation as required. Please see the "REQUIRED DOCUMENTS" section and review the applicant checklist link to determine if there are other documents you are required to submit.
Failure to submit a complete application (resume and all supporting documents) by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 05/10/2019 may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully as missing application information will not be requested. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
If more than one resume is received, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed.
If you upload your documents, do not fax the same documents.
Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Do not email or send hard copy resumes/applications to the Contact Information or Agency Information listed in this vacancy announcement. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement.
Office of the Pardon Attorney
145 N Street NE
Room 9W.300
Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
