Clarification from the agency

Senior executives, the public. All U.S. Citizens, Senior Executive Service, and those Federal Employees in an Excepted or Competitive Service Status.

The Deputy Branch Director helps provide oversight of and coordinates the Federal Programs Branch litigation activities and programs, especially those involving national security and foreign relations. The incumbent provides critical supervision of and guidance to attorneys and support staff, who handle a broad range of challenges to policies and actions relating to the defense and foreign policy of the United States; these litigation matters include, among others, a full range of constitutional, statutory, and regulatory challenges. Defense of these actions involves representation of agencies and officials (in their official capacities) of the Department of Defense and military services, elements of the Intelligence Community, the Department of State, the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Treasury Department, and the White House. One of the main objectives in defending these suits is to protect the constitutional prerogatives of the Executive Branch in the areas of national security and foreign policy. In addition to managing attorneys and office staff, the incumbent works closely with others in management and with officials at senior levels of the Department, in client agencies, and in the U.S. Attorneys Offices. The incumbent also analyzes and reviews proposed and pending legislation that may affect the office's areas of expertise. The incumbent also assists the Branch Directors in setting litigation and resource-allocation priorities for the Federal Programs Branch. And the Deputy Director may be expected to handle some of the office's high-stakes litigation, arguing major cases in court and conducting negotiations with opposing parties in sensitive situations. Finally, as determined by the Branch Directors, the Deputy Director may be required to handle such administrative responsibilities of the Branch as may be needed.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• Veterans' preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service.
• 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 will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check for the security level designated for this position.
• You may be required to undergo a drug screening and obtain favorable results prior to being appointed.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain a final Sensitive Compartmented Information Clearance. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in withdrawal of the job offer or removal.
• You may be subject to a one-year probationary period effective from the date in which you are appointed.
• This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
• You must meet all minimum qualifications to be deemed eligible. Only experience obtained by closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Qualifications

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 the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications.

Applicants must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be a 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.

We recommend that your application emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of federal practice litigation managed and your 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 of the position. 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 (MTQs): Your responses to the MTQs should be submitted in one document that includes separate narrative statements addressing each of the 2 Mandatory Technical Qualifications (NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES PER MTQ).

1. Demonstrated legal experience and expertise in federal practice that includes litigation involving national security issues.

2. Demonstrated experience in overseeing the activities of a legal organization including developing legal strategies in the federal courts, providing sound and timely legal counsel, managing staff, and handling administrative matters in support of federal practice with a focus on national security and foreign litigation.

IN ADDITION, YOU MUST CLEARLY DOCUMENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQ) EVIDENCE BY ADDRESSING EACH OF THE (5) ECQs IN A SEPARATE RESPONSE FOR EACH (not to exceed 2 pages per ECQ, total of 10 pages):

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.

Fundamental Competencies: These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Continual Learning, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, and Public Service Motivation. The Fundamental Competencies are crosscutting and should be addressed over the course of each ECQ narratives. It is not necessary for you to address the Fundamental Competencies directly as long as the narrative, in its totality, shows mastery of these competencies on the whole.

Qualifications include both general management skills and characteristics that are applicable to all SES positions and technical or program responsibilities specific to this position. Applicants must have a substantive general experience that provides a good basic or general knowledge of the principles of organization, management, and administration; and substantive specialized (operating, administrative or managerial) experience in a type of work or a combination of functions directly related to this position.

Applications without separate narrative statements will not be considered.

Note: Applicants who have completed the SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and have had their ECQs certified by OPM must provide a copy of their certificate as part of their application. Candidates must still satisfy the MTQs of the position.

Please refer to OPM's Guide to the Senior Executive Service Qualifications for more detailed information.
http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp
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

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Only experience obtained by 11:59 pm (EST) on the closing date (09/15/2023) of this announcement will be considered.

You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the qualifications required of the position and on the extent your total submission package demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the position. Please be sure to give concrete examples of your experience and demonstrate the complexity of the knowledge you possess. OPM is required by law to review the executive qualifications of each new career appointee to the Senior Executive Service (SES) prior to appointment.

If you are currently serving under a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program and been certified by OPM, you MUST address the MTQs, but do not need to address the ECQs.

To be considered for this position, applicants must show evidence of experience related to the five (5) ECQs. Applicants must address the ECQs and MTQs. In addition to your resume, this additional documentation 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 contact. Copies of the OPM's "Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications" may be obtained via the Internet at
http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf.

Applicants must address the ECQs and MTQs.

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.