Clarification from the agency

The public

This position is that of a Deputy Associate Chief Counsel within the Office of Associate Chief Counsel Ethics, Labor, and Employment in Washington, DC or Minneapolis, MN. The Office of Chief Counsel is one of the Government's largest and oldest legal offices. OCC attorneys work on cutting-edge legal issues and provide critical advice across the CBP portfolio, including trade enforcement, search and seizure, immigration, and government ethics. They also represent the agency in labor and employment matters and provide litigation support to the Department of Justice.

This position starts at a salary of $161,291.00 (GS-15, Step 1) to $197,200.00 (GS-15, Step 10).

In this position, you will become a key member of the legal team of The Office of Chief Counsel. Typical work assignments include:

• Supervising subordinate supervisors, staff attorneys, paralegals, and OCC support personnel in their Area of Responsibility (AOR), to include assigning workloads, conducting performance management, and conducting professional development and recruitment;
• Providing oversight of the business management functions of the Associate Chief Counsel's AOR and works to ensure effective and efficient support for the AOR's legal operations;
• Acting with full delegated authority on behalf of the Associate Chief Counsel in their absence including representing OCC in high-level meetings, interagency coordination, and providing guidance on CBP's operational and enforcement missions;
• Coordinating with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on litigation involving CBP, including administrative and federal court proceedings, immigration law, civil rights, labor disputes, tort claims, and constitutional challenges while serving as a liaison with other DHS components e.g.,the Office of Special Counsel, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Office of Government Ethics on complex legal issues; and
• Assisting in the development and implementation of legal strategies and priorities and independently developing, creating, writing, and implementing legal strategies for the Office of Chief Counsel (OCC) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
• You may be required to pass a background investigation
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
• As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
• DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
• Financial Disclosure is required.
• Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Qualifications

Specialized Education: Applicant must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active 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.

Qualifications Required: Applicants must have a minimum of five years of substantive legal experience as a licensed attorney and a minimum of one year of federal service at the GS-0905-14 grade level by the closing of this announcement and the following:

Applicants should also possess and demonstrate the ability to supervise the work of others.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 02/27/2026.

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 5 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.

Supervisory Probationary Period: CBP Directive No. 51250-009 requires that all first-time supervisors and managers serve an 18- month probationary period upon initial appointment. You may also be required to complete an appropriate supervisory training course within 90 days of assignment to this position.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.

Financial Disclosure: The applicant selected for this position will be required to file a new entrant OGE Form 450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Report no later than 30 days after assuming this position, and on an annual basis thereafter while encumbering this position. If, however, the applicant has, within 30 days prior to assuming this position, left another position for which the filing of an OGE Form 450 is required and has previously satisfied the reporting requirements applicable to that former position, no new entrant OGE Form 450 shall be required. 5 C.F.R. Section 2634.903.

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process, which may include personal interview(s) and a writing exercise.