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Assistant Director, Enforcement Division

Department of Homeland Security
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Enforcement and Removal Operations

Summary

The Assistant Director of the Enforcement Division is responsible for all enforcement programs and initiatives within Enforcement and Removal Operations that support the removal of criminal aliens from the United States.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/26/2026 to 04/09/2026
Salary
$151,661 to - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
ICESES/26-12922363
Control number
862615600

Duties

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Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protects the homeland through the arrest and removal of individuals who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws. As part of its critical mission, ERO manages all aspects of the immigration enforcement process, including the identification, arrest, detention, and removal of aliens who are subject to removal or are unlawfully present in the United States.

The Assistant Director (AD) of the Enforcement Division develops, plans, coordinates, administers, manages, staffs, and supervises all enforcement initiatives and components through which ERO identifies and arrests aliens subject to removal from the United States.

As the AD, Enforcement Division, you will:

  • Perform strategic planning and establish policies and processes designed to augment ICE's ability to arrest and remove aliens from the United States.
  • Facilitate logistical and operational support to the 25 ERO field offices by developing, implementing, and overseeing plans and policies in support of national fugitive operations and at-large enforcement efforts.
  • Ensure law enforcement personnel effectively and efficiently identify and prioritize leads by leveraging technical capabilities and generating actionable, timely enforcement information.
  • Provide expert advice and consultation in the development of strategic plans, policies, operational matters, and procedures that enable the enforcement and targeting operations programs to effectively and efficiently achieve their missions.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  • File a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278e) within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  • You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
  • Experience in a primary law enforcement position or equivalent experience outside the federal government is a prerequisite.
  • This position requires the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime or domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9)).

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualifications requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the ECQs or TQs.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the TQs.

  • TQ 1: Expert knowledge of law enforcement principles and techniques, as well as the scope, application, and interpretation of laws and regulations relevant to ICE's law enforcement jurisdiction.
  • TQ 2: Demonstrated executive-level leadership in executing federal immigration laws, rules, and regulations related to ERO operations, including the identification, arrest, detention, and removal of individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety, as well as those who enter the United States illegally or otherwise compromise the integrity of U.S. immigration laws and border control efforts.
  • TQ 3: Expert knowledge of, and ability to direct and manage, complex large-scale programs or operations involving the identification, detention, and removal of criminal aliens, as well as broad and thorough knowledge of various ERO disciplines and their interrelationships within ICE and with external partners.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the TQs listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.
  • ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
  • ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
  • ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
  • ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
  • ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in a U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)-approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50 or certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Law Enforcement Retirement: This position carries secondary law enforcement coverage as provided by 5 U.S.C. § 8336(c) and § 8412(d) for eligible law enforcement employees, which does not carry mandatory retirement. However, some employees may be subject to mandatory separation depending on their individual status.

Veterans' Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm

Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to

Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).

OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents:

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

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

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your application package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the ECQs and TQs listed above. The ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your 2-page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual(s) selected must have their executive qualifications certified by the OPM SES QRB before appointment. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, QRB-certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible).

Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

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