Director, Office of Policy and Legislation

Duties
The OPL Director:
Manages staff of attorneys, policy analysts, and statisticians who complete interdisciplinary research and analysis on legal, policy and legislative issues as determined by the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) and other senior management officials within the Division
and Department. The staff monitor and analyze crime, prosecution, sentencing, and other data at the national, regional, local, and district levels to keep senior Division and Department managers informed about patterns, anomalies, and emerging issues or trends.Serves as a primary liaison with Department components outside the Division, other federal agencies, and state and local investigative and prosecutorial agencies in undertaking joint analytical studies and research on issues of mutual interest pertaining to criminal justice law enforcement.Develops and implements operational procedures to improve legislative processing; facilitates the distribution and collection of comments and tracking tools to monitor the progress of legislative review.Provides oversight to the review and response of all Government Accountability Office (GAO) matters that OPL must review and approve.Coordinates and supervises the review of all legislative matters, including draft testimony, statement of administration position, draft legislation, and questions for the record, on behalf of the Division.Establishes and maintains a proactive Division legislative agenda in order to provide the necessary legal tools for the Division and law enforcement partners to succeed in their missions. Pursue all legislative matters, both reactive and proactive, and advocate towards enacting legislation addressing the fight against violent crime, trafficking of illegal drugs, white collar crime, cybercrime, and other Department priorities.Provides legal and other analytical support to the Department's ex-officio member on the U.S. Sentencing Commission to develop a Departmental agenda before the Commission and to coordinate the Department's comments on pending Commission guideline amendment proposals.
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.
Requirements Conditions of EmploymentYou must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position.If the selectee is not a current employee of the Department of Justice, they will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.The managerial qualifications of a selectee who is not a current or former career Senior Executive Service (SES) employee must be approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) before appointment.Individuals entering the SES career service for the first time are subject to a one-year probationary period. Qualifications
Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Applicants must be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction) in good standing and have at least 5 years post-J.D. experience. Applicants must also have a high level of management/supervisory experience.
Applicants must submit a resume and a separate narrative statement/response that addresses each of the Mandatory Professional/Technical Qualification factors related to this position as well as the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) related to all positions in the Senior Executive Service.
OPM's Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications can assist you in writing an effective SES application. In particular, please note the Challenge-Context-Action-Result Model that is recommended and very helpful when drafting ECQ narrative responses. The Guide is available on OPM's Website at: .Professional/Technical Qualification RequirementsExperience in providing analytic support and substantive input to legislative and policy initiatives and Congressional inquiries related to criminal justice matters.Experience utilizing data to inform legislative proposals, public policy, or strategic initiatives.Experience with federal criminal law and the U.S. criminal justice system, including U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines/Federal Rules of Criminal Procedures.Experience establishing and maintaining harmonious relationships with the public, members of Congress, and Federal officials.Executive/Managerial Requirements:
ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE. This core qualification encompasses the ability to develop and implement an organizational vision, which integrates key national and program goals, priorities, values, and other factors. Inherent to it is the ability to balance change and continuity--to continually strive to improve customer service and program performance within the basic Government framework, to create a work environment that encourages creative thinking, and to maintain focus, intensity and persistence, even under adversity.

Leadership Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, Continual Learning, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Service Motivation, Strategic Thinking, VisionECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE. This core qualification involves the ability to design and implement strategies, which maximize employee potential and foster high ethical standards in meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals.

Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Cultural Awareness, Integrity/Honesty, Team BuildingECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN. This core qualification stresses accountability and continuous improvement. It includes the ability to make timely and effective decisions and produce results through strategic planning and the implementation and evaluation of programs and policies.

Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN. This core qualification involves the ability to acquire and administer human, financial, material, and information resources in a manner which instills public trust and accomplishes the organization's mission, and to use new technology to enhance decision making.

Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Technology Management, Human Resources Management
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS. This core qualification involves the ability to explain, advocate and express facts and ideas in a convincing manner, and negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally. It also involves the ability to develop an expansive professional network with other organizations, and to identify the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization.

Leadership Competencies: Influencing/Negotiating, Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Partnering, Political Savvy, Written CommunicationEducation
A J.D., or equivalent, degree.
Applicants who possess an equivalent degree rather than a J.D. may be subject to additional review by the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management.
Additional informationThe 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 color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a parent, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, on the basis of personal favoritism, or any non merit 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. 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. Additional information on DOJ's EEO policy can be found on our website.
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. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys' Offices. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, non-U.S. citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that appointments of non-U.S. citizens are 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.
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. Help

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 EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Candidates will be evaluated on the mandatory Professional/Technical Qualification Requirements identified above. Based on their total background, i.e., education, training, self-development, awards, outside activities, performance appraisal, as well as work history. If candidates are found to possess all technical requirements, they will then be evaluated based on the Executive Core Qualifications as established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) outlined above.