Duties
This position is located at the Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington D.C.
The Section Chief, Asset Recovery Section, serves as the senior executive responsible for the National Fraud Enforcement Division's asset recovery program, which comprises nationwide asset recovery, criminal and civil forfeiture, judgment collection, and financial litigation. The incumbent serves as a principal advisor to the Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Assistant Attorneys General, United States Attorneys' Offices, and Department leadership regarding Division's global trade and commerce enforcement program. And the incumbent collaborates extensively with other Department components, United States Attorneys' Offices, federal law enforcement agencies, Executive Branch agencies, Inspectors General, and other state, local, Tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement partners.
Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Leading the National Fraud Enforcement Division's nationwide asset recovery program by establishing strategic priorities and directing criminal and civil forfeiture, judgment enforcement, and financial recovery initiatives.
- Directing national litigation strategies involving criminal and civil asset forfeiture, judgment collection, financial investigations, and recovery of proceeds derived from complex fraud schemes.
- Advising Department leadership, United States Attorneys' Offices, and senior executives on legal, policy, and operational matters involving asset recovery, financial litigation, forfeiture authorities, and emerging recovery challenges.
- Overseeing precedent-setting and nationally significant litigation involving criminal and civil forfeiture, asset preservation, international asset recovery, and large-scale financial recoveries on behalf of the United States.
- Developing Department-wide policies and enforcement strategies governing financial investigations, forfeiture litigation, judgment enforcement, asset tracing, and recovery of fraud proceeds.
- Coordinating strategic partnerships with federal law enforcement agencies, Inspectors General, regulatory organizations, financial institutions, and international partners to advance nationwide asset recovery efforts.
- Representing the Department on complex asset recovery, financial litigation, and forfeiture matters requiring executive-level collaboration with domestic and international enforcement organizations.
- Managing the Section's strategic planning, workforce development, budget execution, litigation quality, resource allocation, and operational performance to maximize nationwide financial recovery outcomes.
- Implementing innovative investigative, litigation, and training strategies that strengthen financial investigations, asset recovery capabilities, and operational effectiveness across the Department.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
Conditions of Employment:
- You must be a United States Citizen or National.
- Veterans' preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service.
- Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
- You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check for the security level designated for this position.
- You will be required to undergo a drug screening and obtain favorable results prior to being appointed.
- You may be subject to a one-year probationary period effective from the date in which you are appointed.
- This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
- You must meet all minimum qualifications to be deemed eligible. Only experience obtained by closing date of this announcement will be considered.
As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications.
Qualifications
The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME-ONLY. Applicants must show clear evidence of their demonstrated leadership ability by addressing the the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) embedded within their resume. The resume-based application should not to exceed 2 pages (1-sheet double-sided or 2 sheets one-sided)
**Note: Applicants who have completed the SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and have had their ECQs certified by OPM must provide a copy of their certificate as part of their application. Candidates must still satisfy the MTQs of the position.
We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required of the position and on the extent your application demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the Section Chief Asset Recovery Section. Please be sure to give concrete examples of your experience and demonstrate the complexity of the knowledge you possess.
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.
For this position, the following Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) have been established and should be addressed within the resume application.
MTQ 1: Demonstrated expertise in criminal and civil asset forfeiture, asset recovery, judgment enforcement, financial investigations, and complex fraud enforcement. Experience must include developing national litigation strategies, advising senior officials on financial recovery authorities, managing precedent-setting or high-impact financial litigation, and coordinating domestic and international efforts to recover assets, enforce judgments, and maximize financial recoveries on behalf of the United States.
MTQ 2: Demonstrated expertise leading complex criminal investigations and prosecutions, including evaluating evidence, making charging decisions, and directing trial strategy. Provides authoritative legal analysis and guidance on criminal import, trade, and other fraud statutes. Experience includes advising and mentoring attorneys; guiding federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners; and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders on sensitive and high-impact matters. Exercises sound judgment, ensures consistency with Department policies, and drives timely, mission-focused outcomes.
MTQ 3: Demonstrated experience managing a complex organization, a broad workforce, and challenging organizational issues while enforcing policies and law.
MTQ 4: Demonstrated experience communicating effectively on complex technical issues through oral and written communication, including the ability to advocate successfully with broad stakeholders, external partners and individuals or groups having differed and often conflicting interests, on matters related to the successful execution of a large-scale organization's mission, programs and projects.
Education
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, have at least 5 years of relevant post-J.D. experience, and be an active member of the bar in good standing a state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. IMPORTANT: Applicants are responsible for citing J.D. and bar membership information (institution name, state(s) for bar, and dates) on their respective resumes.
Additional information
EEO Policy Statement: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. The complete DOJ EEO Statement/Policy is found at: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/page/file/1394116/download.
Reasonable Accommodation
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. The U.S. Department of Justice fosters an inclusive and diverse workforce, find our EEO statement online at: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/reasonable-accommodation#policy.
Legal and Regulatory Guidance
- Social Security Number - Your Social Security Number may be requested under the authority of Executive Order 9397 to uniquely identify your records from those of other applicants who may have the same name. As allowed by law or Presidential directive, your Social Security Number is used to seek information about you from employers, schools, banks, and others who may know you.
- Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
- Signature - Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application.
- False Statements - If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.
- Selective Service - If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Only experience obtained by the 11:59pm EST on the closing date (07/31/2026) of this announcement will be considered.
Once this announcement closes the following will occur:
- A review of your resume, clear evidence of the 5 ECQs and MTQs, and supporting documentation will be conducted by the HR Specialist.
- Applicants deemed minimally qualified will be referred to an Executive Resources Board (ERB) to further evaluate applications.
- The ERB will further evaluate applications to determine the best qualified applicants for referral to the hiring official.
- Best qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring official and may be invited to participate in a structured interview. Interviews may be in a virtual setting or in person at DOJ offices.
- The selectee will receive a tentative offer from the agency; however, before an agency can appoint a new Senior Executive Service member, the selected individual will be subject to further evaluation through a Structured Interview by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) as required by law. OPM must review the executive qualifications of each new career appointee to the Senior Executive Service (SES) prior to appointment.
NOTE: You MUST address all MTQs as required above, but do not need to address the ECQs if you:
- Are currently serving under a career SES appointment;
- Are eligible for reinstatement into the SES; or
- Have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program and been certified by Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Proof of Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certification must be provided in your application.