Chief Counsel

About the role

Serves as the Chief Counsel responsible for the oversight of all legal issues facing DEA and the leadership and management of the Office of the Chief Counsel (CC).

Under the Chief Counsel's direction and guidance, CC provides timely, accurate, and proactive legal support to the DEA field offices and Headquarters (HQ) components as well as to state and Federal prosecutors in investigations and prosecutions of drug trafficking organizations.

What you will do

• Reviews, evaluates and initiates necessary changes in laws and regulations relating to controlled substances.
• Directs evaluation of proposed bills in Congress and prepares reports in connection with bills in which DEA has an interest.
• Participates as necessary at proceedings before Congressional committees and works with staffs of these committees with respect to such legislation.
• In cooperation with the State Department, drafts and participates in negotiations for new international and bilateral drug control agreements.
• Frequently represents DEA as alternate representative or adviser to U.S. delegations at international conferences.
• Acts as legal advisor to the Administrator and key DEA officials; Represents the Administrator in presentations and discussions on legal matters within or outside DEA, including Committees of Congress.
• Resolves legal problems in the application of the several international agreements relating to the control of narcotics and psychotropic substances.
• Directs the review of electronic eavesdropping applications.
• Directs evaluation and preparation of show cause orders for signature of the Administrator for denial or revocation of registration to engage in controlled substances activities.
• Directs evaluation of legal adequacy of decision to control, reschedule or decontrol a substance under the Controlled Substances Act.
• Advises and assist in the formulation of the legal curriculum, prepares legal text materials, and provides legal instructions at DEA sponsored schools.
• Directs legal assistance to DEA task forces and State Diversion Investigations Units as appropriate.
• Directs the work of attorneys assisting in field activities in connection with investigations and prosecutions.
• Performs liaison functions with legal officers in other departments, agencies, and bureaus, with representatives of the drug industry, trade associations, and similar organizations in regard to drug control.
• Represents the Administrator in all administrative proceedings under the Controlled Substances Act; represents the Administration in personnel related hearings before the Merit Systems Protection Board; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and grievance examiners; and assists U.S. Attorneys in preparing for civil and criminal litigation.

Education

Education requirements for the General Attorney, you must have a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

How you will be evaluated

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at ***

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 Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (MTQ) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (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. BASIS OF RATING: Candidates will be evaluated on the qualifications identified above based on their total background, i.e., education, training, self-development, awards, outside activities, performance appraisal, as well as work history.

Only candidates meeting all of the mandatory technical qualifications will be deemed eligible for further consideration.

Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and capability.

You should be aware that your ratings are subject to evaluation and verification. Later steps in the selection process may be used to verify your stated level of experience and capability. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience.

Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Documents you must provide

• A complete application includes items described below.
• Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit.
• Some documents may not apply to all applicants.
• RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience.
• Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs.
• PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER.
• COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS: Must provide a copy of transcripts in your application package.
• Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.
• Therefore, provide only the transcripts from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency.
• If selected, an official/sealed transcript may be required prior to appointment.
• ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable: CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
• SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification.
• CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee.
• STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Most recent performance evaluation Resume: Your resume MUST include the starting and ending of dates of employment and your position title, pay plan, series, and grade level of position held for all applicable federal work experience.
• NOTE: Please ensure that your resume contains the basic information outlined under the Applying for a Federal Job link: ***
• Submission of Supporting Documents, such as SF-50, SF-15, certifications or transcripts is permitted.
• Political Appointee Status (if applicable) - Disclosure Requirement Current or former Political Appointees (if applicable) - please note on your resume and attach a SF-50.
• 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 appointee (with or without Senate Confirmation), a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information For additional information about this position, please contact Katrina Flowers at ***.
• The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
• The Department of Justice provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.
• Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should notify the servicing human resources office directly.
• Determinations on requests will be on a case-by-case basis.

What to expect next

We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the recruitment process has been completed. Once you successfully complete the application process, you will receive an acknowledgement letter of receipt. Your application package will be reviewed to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and qualifications requirements.

A review will be made of your online questionnaire and the documentation you submitted to support your responses. A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. You will receive a notification letter of the results of the review of your application package via email.

We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement. Regarding Interviews: The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision. Accommodations may be made to conduct telephonic interviews to preclude travel hardships for applicants.

NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a withdrawal from further consideration for employment regarding this vacancy.

Additional information

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 members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement. Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Drug testing is required for this position.

All non-DEA applicants must complete a drug use questionnaire. Applicants who are found, through investigation or personal admission, to have experimented with or used narcotics or dangerous drugs, except those medically prescribed, will not be considered for employment with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Exceptions to this policy may be made for applicants who admit to limited youthful and experimental use of marijuana. Such applicants may be considered for employment if there is no evidence of regular, confirmed usage, and the full-field background investigation and results of other steps in the process are otherwise favorable.

Compliance with this policy is an essential requirement of the position. It is highly suggested that you complete the Drug Questionnaire form when submitting your application package. However, if you do not complete and submit this form with your application package it will not disqualify you from the application process.

You will be asked to complete the Drug Questionnaire form before extended a conditional offer. Click the following link to access the Drug Questionnaire. ***

Selective Service: MALE APPLICANTS BORN AFTER 12/31/1959 must certify prior to job offer that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under Selective Service law. EEO Policy Statement: ***

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: *** In accordance with 5 CFR 2635.704, applications will not be accepted in postage-paid Government envelopes.

The Drug Enforcement Administration participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-VERIFY - ***). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.