Duties
The Civil Division's Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Program administers claims for benefits filed under RECA as amended by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, 42 USC § 2210 note. This unique statute provides partial restitution to individuals who contracted certain illnesses as a result of exposure to radiation while extracting uranium ore for defense related purposes, or as a result of atmospheric nuclear weapons testing during the Cold War. On July 4, 2025, the Act was reauthorized and expanded and now covers more areas of the country and individual workers and adds compensation for injuries presumptively connected to the Manhattan Project.
As an Assistant Director you will be responsible for supervising Program attorneys and, when assigned, support personnel, including Claims Analysts, Program Specialists, and other professionals. The incumbent is also responsible for overseeing work carried out by contract employees. The Assistant Director is responsible for ensuring claims are adjudicated consistent with statutory requirements and strict time frames; supervising development of novel workflows to address the high volume of matters under RECA; developing regulatory and sub-regulatory approaches that are consistent with the statute and positions of Department leadership; and collaborating with other Civil Division, Department, and Executive Branch offices to achieve the RECA Program's objectives under the supervision of the Director and Deputy Director. The incumbent is also responsible for personally handling and managing exceptionally complex RECA claims, including claims that may result in district-court litigation. Such matters may include cases in which the Assistant Director must coordinate and lead attorney teams comprised of personnel across multiple Division and Department offices. The Assistant Director is recognized as possessing outstanding administrative, operational, and litigative skills and is regarded as an expert in the assigned program area. Claims and related cases often involve significant legal problems; the facts are complex, voluminous, or very difficult to develop and prove, and may involve precedential cases that touch on legal issues that are often difficult to establish or on novel matters of policy. Generally, significant amounts of money or vital legal precedents are at stake.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Must complete a Background Investigation to include drug testing.
- All male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the selective service. If selected, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
- May require completion of a 2-year trial period. (Please refer to the trial period statement under Qualifications.)
- Must successfully complete a background investigation and may be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance depending on the organizational assignment, duty location, or other factors.
- It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment.
- This position has supervisory/managerial responsibilities. A one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period is required upon selection. This may be waived if you have successfully completed the supervisory/managerial probationary period.
Qualifications
Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.
- To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must possess at least four (4) years of post-J.D. legal experience.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Preferred qualifications: Applicants with proven advocacy and legal writing skills preferred. Experience drafting and arguing motions, handling discovery, taking, and defending depositions, developing expert witness testimony, and trying cases are highly desirable.
Trial Period Statement
As a condition of employment for accepting this position in accordance with section 11.5 of Executive Order 14284, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Education
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov.
OR
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications
All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
Additional information
Veteran Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veterans' preference (VP), you should indicate the type of veteran preference (5 or 10 points) you are claiming on your resume. In order to determine your eligibility, you can find additional information at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/.
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (
e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website,
www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdffor a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s).
DOJ EEO Statement/Policy: U.S. Department of Justice Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Issued December 31, 2025
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: 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.
Schedule A: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities and is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department. DOJ also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes to resume@benderconsult.com, and reference "Federal Career Opportunities" in the subject line. Additional information is found at:
www.benderconsult.com.
Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalffrom inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement. 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.
Applications will be evaluated by a reviewing panel.
Please Note: The Selecting Official may select additional candidates if more positions become available within 120 days after the closing date of the vacancy.
Required Documents
You must submit the following documents:
- Cover Letter
- Resume showing relevant experience (not to exceed 2 pages)
- Writing Sample (not more than 10 pages in length, and written in the past 3 years)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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 attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.