Department of Justice Seal

U .S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
CRIMINAL DIVISION
RESIDENT LEGAL ADVISOR IN COLOMBIA

About the Office: The mission of the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) is to develop and administer technical and developmental assistance designed to enhance the capabilities of foreign justice sector institutions and their law enforcement personnel, so those institutions and their personnel can more effectively combat terrorism, organized crime, corruption, financial crimes, trafficking in persons and other types of crime, in a manner consistent with the rule of law, and can more effectively cooperate regionally and with the United States in combating such crime.

Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered: The Office seeks an experienced Assistant United States Attorney or Department of Justice Trial Attorney to serve as one of the Department’s Resident Legal Advisors (RLA) in Bogota, Colombia. This assignment is for a term of twelve months with the possibility of an extension contingent upon the availability of funding. (This is a reimbursable detail.) The RLA will join others assigned to the U.S. Embassy Bogota representing the Department through its Justice Sector Reform Program, a major U.S. law enforcement program to assist the Government of Colombia strengthen its criminal justice system. The RLA will focus on trial advocacy, the transition toward an accusatory system, implementation of a new criminal procedure code, advancing the justice and peace process, human rights, asset forfeiture, and narcotics. The RLA will work closely with Colombian law enforcement and government officials, particularly Colombian prosecutors, to design and implement technical assistance and development projects. These projects include technical advice to the Colombian Prosecutor General’s Office on the development of major task forces, including those dealing with human rights violations, narcotics, money laundering and asset forfeiture, corruption, kidnapping and terrorism. The RLA will manage assistance projects, including developing curricula, selecting experts, evaluating results, and reporting. When appropriate, the RLA will personally provide assistance. The RLA will interact with other U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, Customs, ATF, Secret Service, IRS and U.S. Marshals Service. The assistance and development projects managed by the RLA are closely coordinated with those of ICITAP, the police assistance entity of the Criminal Division. The RLA will also have financial management responsibilities.

Qualifications: Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia. Applicants must be a current Department Trial Attorney or Assistant United States Attorney and have at least four or five years of post J.D. experience to be qualified at the GS-14 or 15 level. An applicant must have excellent interpersonal skills; possess the ability to function effectively in a multi-cultural environment; be mature and self-sufficient; be able to efficiently initiate and manage work projects; and possess extensive experience investigating and prosecuting criminal conduct. Fluency in spoken Spanish is required, that is the ability to understand all forms and styles of speech and use spoken Spanish accurately on all levels normally pertinent to professional needs. Proficiency in written Spanish is also required.

Preferred qualifications: Task Force prosecutorial experience is highly desirable

Travel: The position will require travel within the country and the region.

Salary Information: Current salary and years of experience determine the appropriate salary level. (See OPM's Web page at www.opm.gov/oca/payrates/index.htm)

Location: The RLA will be stationed in Bogota, Colombia beginning in mid to late summer 2008 (starting date is flexible).

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are authorized.

Submission Process and Deadline Date: Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume, as soon as possible, to the attention of Faye Ehrenstamm, Deputy Director, U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), 10th and Pennsylvania Aves., NW, Washington, D.C. 20530, or Paul Vaky, Justice Sector Reform Program Manager, U.S. Embassy Bogota. E-mailed and faxed submissions are acceptable. The Fax number is: (202) 616-6770. Faye Ehrenstamm’s email address is Faye.Ehrenstamm@usdoj.gov. Paul Vaky’s email address is VakyP@state.gov or use Mr. Vaky’s internal JCON Email address.

This advertisement remains open until the position is filled.