Principal Deputy Chief Counsel

Clarification from the agency

All groups of qualified individuals within the Civil Service and individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility may apply. Additionally, current career Senior Executive Service (SES) members, OPM certified graduates of an SES Candidate Development Program (CDP), and individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility may be considered noncompetitively. This announcement is not open to the general public.

USCIS is an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). We lawfully administer immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establish immigration services policies and priorities. The operations of the USCIS OCC Headquarters and Field legal teams, manages USCIS OCC's budget, and serves as the agency's primary legal point person on substantive legal immigration issues involving all USCIS operational clients. The incumbent will be responsible for managing day-to-day operations in the USCIS legal program.

Major Duties

Legal advice will involve complex, novel or precedent-setting issues. Additional duties to be assigned may include providing legal advice and support to the other government agencies and DHS components and providing litigation support to the Department of Justice in matters in the federal courts.

Assist the USCIS Director, USCIS Chief Counsel, USCIS components, and the DHS General Counsel in managing a full range of legal advice and services for all program offices in USCIS.

Direct research and analysis on a wide variety of court decisions, legislation, regulations and policies and provide legal counsel in the development, negotiation, and execution of legal agreements or contracts in support of the USCIS mission.

Participate on various panels and committees, ensure that USCIS issues are considered in appropriate departmental planning and policy development.

Coordinate with the Deputy Chief Counsel for Headquarters and Deputy Chief Counsel for Field Management, and subdivisions in OCC to drive and guide comprehensive legal services support to USCIS.

Participate with the USCIS Director, the USCIS Chief Counsel, and the General Counsel in making recommendations on overall office programs.

Represent USCIS with senior management, other Federal agencies, business representatives and others on legal issues involving USCIS.

Responsible for coordinating adjudications-related legal advice and litigation for all USCIS OCC personnel nationwide. The incumbent will also oversee both USCIS OCC headquarters and field divisions to ensure consistency in support of USCIS's mission.

Manage day-to-day USCIS OCC operations and oversee the USCIS OCC budget.

Provide legal advice and guidance to the USCIS Director, USCIS Chief Counsel, and components on policy and operational issues involving naturalization, derivative citizenship, nonimmigrant, immigrant and special immigrant categories, legalization, visa petitions, adjustment of status, employment authorization, international adoptions, asylum, refugee, and other international protection issues.

Provide legal advice and guidance to the USCIS Director, USCIS Chief Counsel, and components on policy and operational issues involving procurement, employee and labor relations, FOIA and Privacy Act, fiscal law, Federal Torts Claims Act, and Bivens cases, as well as the legal development and review of legislation and regulations relating to all areas of USCIS Operations.

Provide legal advice and guidance to the USCIS Director, the USCIS Chief Counsel, and components on policy and operational issues involving training, knowledge management, ethics advice, conflicts of interest, gifts from outside sources, gifts between employees, questions of maintaining impartiality in the workplace, seeking private sector employment while still employed in the Government, misuse of official position, teaching, speaking, and writing, postemployment restrictions, and professional responsibility issues relating to the federal practice of law.

As a member of the agency's executive team, you will implement the President's Management Agenda within your specific area of responsibility. For an overview of the various responsibilities USCIS carries out within the Government, visit our website at http://www.uscis.gov.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National to apply for this position
• You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
• Excess pages will not be considered, if documents exceed page limits.
• File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.For a sample resume, see Appendix 2 of OPM's Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications and the Qualifications Review Board.

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs). The ECQs and TQs should be evident in the 2-page resume.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

• TQ 1: Expert-level knowledge of U.S. immigration laws, regulations, and policies, as well as a proven ability to advise agency leadership on litigation risk mitigation, complex policy considerations, and compliance with immigration-related statutes, regulations, and policies.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not effectively demonstrate evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs:

• ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a 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.
• ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
• ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
• ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
• ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Our evaluation will be based on the information you provide. Verification of performance, suitability and security information from reference checks will be taken into consideration when making offers of employment.

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.

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/

A complete application includes items described below. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you will 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.

1. REQUIRED: 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, no less than 11pt font and 0.8 margins) 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.

2. REQUIRED VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy.

3. REQUIRED: Documentation of Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.).

4. REQUIRED: Proof that you are an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.

5. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable:

• CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEMBERS: 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.

6. REQUIRED: If you are not a current U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services employee, a copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (i.e., within the last 18 months form the closing date of this vacancy announcement, from either the Federal or private sector) is REQUIRED. Please remove your social security number and date of birth from any documentation you provide. If you are unable to provide your most recent annual performance appraisal, please provide a written justification explaining why you could not provide the requested documentation. Applicants who fail to provide the most recent annual performance appraisal or written justification explaining why you did not provide the requested documentation will be disqualified for further consideration because your application will be incomplete.

Next steps