Clarification from the agency

U.S Citizens

NOTE: The Assistant Director for Policy position is designated as SES General and may be filled by either a Career or Noncareer Senior Executive Service member.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) seeks highly-qualified individuals to join our team of expert professionals in becoming a part of our challenging and rewarding Agency. The primary mission of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is to adjudicate immigration cases by fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly interpreting and administering the Nation's immigration laws. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR conducts immigration court proceedings, appellate reviews, and administrative hearings. EOIR consists of three adjudicatory components: The Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which is responsible for managing the Immigration Courts 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 employment cases.

The Assistant Director for Policy will establish and direct the activities of the Communications and Legislative Affairs Division, Legal Education and Research Services Division, and the Immigration Law Division. The Assistant Director (AD) will provide executive leadership, direction, and operational support in accomplishing EOIR's strategic goals and mission. The AD serves as the primary policy advisor to the Director and Deputy Director of EOIR in the following areas: the review and coordination of all regulations promulgated by EOIR and its components to facilitate EOIR's statutory and compliance requirements; directing EOIR's communication efforts, including preparation for non-budgetary congressional hearings and/or meetings as well as internal communication efforts; directs the team responsible for legal training programs and research efforts; and overall identification, development, drafting, and standardization of agency priorities and policies.

Typical work assignments will include:

• Directing the communication and formulation of agency priorities and policies.
• Formulating strategic plans for the execution of integrated processes of communicating data, programs, and policies that effectively present statutory and regulatory goals.
• Leading management in the evaluation of existing EOIR policies to determine currency and relevance to agency operational programs, assessing the necessary resources required and the proper approach for revision and implementation.
• Anticipating and advising on policy implications and issues.
• Formulating the direction and directs programs of the Communications and Legislative Affairs Division, the Legal Education and Research Services Division and the Immigration Law Division.
• Providing oversight and continuity in the development, standardization and archiving of agency priorities and policies and the development and deliverance of legal education and training efforts.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• You must complete a background investigation, credit check, and drug test.
• You must file a financial disclosure statement in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
• Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.
• Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service are subject to a one-year probationary period.
• Executive qualifications of each new career appointee to the SES must be certified by an independent Qualifications Review Board based on criteria established by OPM.
• Applicants who completed a Candidate Development Program (CDP) and have ECQs certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board must provide a copy with their application.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Assistant Director for Policy position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Education: Applicants must possess an LL.B. or a J.D. degree. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your degree and the name of the College or University from which it was conferred/awarded.)

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• Licensure: Applicants must be an active member of the bar, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the U.S., or the District of Columbia. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your first license and the State from which it was issued.)

-AND-

• Experience: Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must have practiced as an attorney, post-bar admission, for a minimum of seven (7) years at the time the application is submitted with at least 1 year of experience at a level equivalent to the GS-15 in the Federal service.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your assessment questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your Resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name, position title, grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

In addition to the minimum qualifications listed above, you must possess the following Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications:

Executive Core Qualifications: Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must submit narrative responses addressing each of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ). Current or former SES members must submit an SF-50 and/or QRB Certification of ECQs to show current or former service in the SES. OPM's Guide to the Senior Executive Services Qualifications provides detailed information on the ECQs.

• ECQ1: COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDING. 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.

• ECQ2: DRIVING EFFICIENCY. Demonstrated ability to strategically and sufficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

• ECQ3: MERIT AND COMPETENCE. Demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

• ECQ4: LEADING PEOPLE. Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals; To drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture.

• ECQ5: ACHIEVING RESULTS. Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to state goals from superiors.

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Mandatory Technical Qualifications: All applicants must submit narrative responses addressing each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ).

• MTQ 1: Demonstrated expert knowledge of immigration law to ensure that study/compliance/policy matters are sufficiently probed; meet statutory and compliance requirements; reflect innovative analysis of critical, difficult, and unprecedented issues and matters, and provide authoritative answers to questions related to immigration law practice and procedure, regulations, and compliance.

• MTQ 2: Demonstrated ability to determine needs and formulate plans, policies and objectives to achieve organizational goals and successfully lead a wide range of divergent programs, including legal, policy, and advisory services, related to multiple aspects of immigration law, professional development and legal education; regulatory and policy affairs and media/community relations.

• MTQ 3: Expert communication skills to establish continuing, productive working relationships to resolve differences in approaches to interpretation of policies and procedures with managers, officials and advocacy groups interested in or affected by programs of EOIR and to provide advice and guidance to the Director, EOIR.

How you will be evaluated

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. The information in your Application Package will be compared with your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you possess the minimum qualifications listed above.

If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ) listed above. You must submit a separate document addressing each of the five ECQs by-number and separate document addressing each of the three MTQs by-number. Failure to submit these documents will result in an ineligible determination. You must be thorough in addressing the ECQs and MTQs. A response stating only that you do not have experience with a particular qualification will not be considered as addressing the subject ECQ and/or MTQ and will result in an ineligible determination. Conclusory statements will receive little or no weight in the evaluation of ECQs and MTQs.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/05/2026, which includes:
1. Your Resume showing relevant legal experience; cover letter optional.

You must submit a resume (a two page or less resume is required) containing the following information for each job entry listed in your employment history:

-Official position title,
-Employer name and contact information,
-Start and end dates (including month and year),
-Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and
-A list of duties performed and accomplishments.

2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire.
3. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must submit narrative responses addressing each of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ).
4. Current or former SES members must submit an SF-50 and/or QRB Certification of ECQs to show current or former service in the SES.
5. All applicants must submit narrative responses addressing each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ).

Note: Please ensure your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name, position title, grade level held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

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