ATTORNEY ADVISOR
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW
FALLS CHURCH, VA
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: EOIR-09-0057
About the Office:The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), United States Department of Justice, is seeking applications for the position of Counsel for Legislative and Public Affairs, which will be available at the Agency’s headquarters office in Falls Church, Va.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is responsible for adjudicating immigration cases. Specifically, under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR interprets and administers the Federal immigration laws by conducting Immigration Court proceedings, appellate reviews, and administrative hearings. EOIR consists of three components: The Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which is responsible for managing the numerous Immigration Courts located throughout the United States where Immigration Judges adjudicate individual cases; the Board of Immigration Appeals, which primarily conducts appellate reviews of these Immigration Judge decisions; and the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, which adjudicates immigration-related cases. EOIR is committed to providing the fair, expeditious, and uniform application of our Nation’s immigration laws in all cases.
Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered: The incumbent is responsible for the overall planning, management, and direction of the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs. Responsible for defining problems, opportunities and issues; determining and analyzing relevant facts; and supervising such task groups as may be formed to facilitate the effective performance of those responsibilities. Represents EOIR in communications with principal Department officials, staff members, and high-ranking officials of other agencies. Directs the preparation of testimony and presentations which the Director and other EOIR senior management officials give at hearings, Department functions, and other official occasions. Works directly with other EOIR components in developing background materials useful in formulating agency policy as it relates to legal and legislative affairs. Serves as technical authority in the area of public affairs and legislative issues; plans, directs and executes national campaigns to convey complex information concerning the programs, responsibilities, and litigation activities of the various EOIR components. Analyzes EOIR or Department of Justice information materials and offers recommendations for improving the delivery of program information to affected individuals and groups. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with members of the news media, as well as specialized groups interested in EOIR’s programs and field office activities. Responds to information requests from the news media and public inquiries on EOIR’s programs. Provides assistance and consultation to the Director, senior EOIR officials, and key personnel in the Immigration Courts in initiating and maintaining direct contacts with the general public, specialized groups and community and governmental entities using their services. Evaluates overall effectiveness of media programs and makes recommendations on ways to enhance the mission and programs of EOIR through good media relationships. Plans, writes and edits responses to Congressional inquiries addressing the spectrum of issues pertaining to EOIR program activities.
Qualifications:You must possess an LL.B. or a J.D. degree and be an active member of the bar, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of a state, a territory, or the District of Columbia (include the date of your admission to the bar); be a U.S. citizen; and have a minimum of 5 years of relevant post-bar admission legal experience.
QUALITY RANKING FACTORS:
1) Knowledge of the principles, methods, practices, and techniques regarding legislative and public affairs strategies; 2) Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with representatives of the Congress, the news media and outside interest groups; 3) Skill in writing and editing to explain matters of law and other complex ideas in plain language; 4) Skill in speaking logically and clearly to a variety of audiences in order to convey agency policies and goals; 5) Ability to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of a legislative and public affairs program; 6) Ability to initiate process improvements, plan and coordinate work activities, and supervise a diverse staff.
You will be evaluated on the basis of the quality of your experience.
Travel: No travel is required.
Salary Information: $120,830 - $153,200 PA (based upon 2009 salary chart).
Location: Falls Church, Virginia
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be paid.
Submission Process: Interested applicants should provide a résumé, a writing sample, and the Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612) or any other written format you choose. Applicants should also submit a supplemental statement addressing the Quality Ranking Factors stated above, a copy of their most recent performance appraisal and a copy of their latest SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action. When submitting a résumé, please include specific dates employed and if work was performed on a part-time or full-time basis. All applications must be submitted to: U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Human Resources Staff, Administrative Division, 5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2300, Falls church, VA 22041, Attention: Kathy Tolson.
Please Note: All applications must contain the announcement number, title, and grade(s) of the job for which you are applying. Applications must also contain your full name, mailing address (with Zip code), day and evening phone numbers (with area code), social security number, any other country of citizenship (if applicable), date and state of bar admission, and the highest Federal civilian grade held (also give job series and dates held).
In addition, you are required to submit a separate detailed narrative statement (describing experience as it relates to the qualification requirements listed above) to:
U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Office for Immigration Review
Human Resources Staff, Administrative Division
5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2300
Falls Church, VA 22041
Attn: Kathy Tolson
Telefaxed copies of résumé/application or other electronic copies will not be considered unless specifically authorized.
Applications sent using government paid postage will not be considered.
Closing Date: All applications MUST be received in the Human Resources Office by the close of business on May 20, 2009.Internet Sites: http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/
Other attorney vacancy announcements can be found at: http://www.usdoj.gov/oarm/attvacancies.html.
Department Policies: Equal Employment Opportunity
The 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, politics, marital status, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, membership or nonmembership in an employee organization, or on the basis of personal favoritism.
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.
Security Clearance Policies
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. 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.
Veterans’ Preference
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans’ preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans’s preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans’s preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.
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.