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.)

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• 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. Ensure that your resume does not exceed two (2) pages and 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 address each of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) within the two (2) page resume. 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.

• ECQ 1: 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 address each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ) within the two (2) page resume.

• 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. 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. ECQs and MTQs 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.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/12/2026, which includes:

The new SES hiring process requires applicants to submit a two (2) page resume (only the first two (2) pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications), which includes information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet the ECQs and required MTQs. If you submit more than two pages, the remainder of the pages will not be reviewed nor considered. Note: Applications must be presented in a font size and font style that is legible, preferably Times New Roman font, no less than 11-point size with no less than half an inch margin all around. Reviewers of your application must be able to read your resume, or your application will be disqualified.

Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or MTQs. Only your resume capped at two (2) pages will be accepted and considered. Any additional documents submitted will not be accepted.

Thoroughly review the following list to determine the documentation you need to submit. If you fail to submit required documentation before the announcement closes, you will be rated "ineligible." Some documents may not apply to all applicants.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. ALL APPLICANTS - Two (2) page ECQ/MTQ-based Resume including the following:

• Full name, mailing and email addresses, day & evening telephone numbers
• Education information including:
  • Name, city, state of colleges/universities attended, major & type of degree received.
  • Report only schools accredited by the accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• All work experience (paid and unpaid) including:
  • Official Position title,
  • Duties/accomplishments,
  • Employer's name/city and state,
  • Start/end dates (include month, day, and year), and
  • Average hours per week worked, salary
• If you are currently serving under a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES (this means you were previously employed as a Career SES employee and you successfully completed a one-year probationary period) or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program and been certified by OPM, your resume must clearly state that you are a current career SES, eligible for reinstatement, or SES CDP certified and year of certification.

2. Current or former career SES members must provide a SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
3. Applicants who have successfully completed an OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Program must submit a copy of their certification.
4. Current or former Federal Civilian employees must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) documenting the following: 1) Full position title; 2) appointment type; 3) occupational series; 4) pay plan, grade, and step; 5) tenure code; 6) service computation date (SCD).
5. ALL APPLICANTS - If positive education requirement: you must submit a copy of your transcript(s) or a separate course listing showing the course title, department, hours earned (quarters or semester), and grade.

6. Optional - cover letter (one page maximum).

NOTE:

• All documents must be uploaded into the system; USAJobs Resume Builder resumes will not be accepted.
• Pages submitted in excess of the limits described above will not be considered. Substituting pages for other required documents in the application is not acceptable.
• Do not use borders, provide photos or list a Social Security Number or date of birth on any attachment.
• If you are selected for this position, you may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your responses.

Next steps

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