Assistant Director - Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation

Full Job Description

The Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch seeks Assistant Directors to oversee high-impact affirmative litigation that protects public health and safety and ensures nationwide compliance with federal law.

The Branch handles cutting-edge matters enforcing consumer protection statutes and challenging laws that undermine federal policy.

For attorneys seeking impactful public service, the Branch offers a front-line role in the Department's major civil enforcement initiatives.

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.

Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level.

To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have a minimum of 4 years post-JD legal experience.

Preferred Qualifications Applicants must have excellent academic credentials and outstanding advocacy and legal writing skills.

Experience supervising teams and leading investigations and litigation, drafting and revising dispositive motions, and overseeing discovery are highly desirable.

Successful applicants will be highly motived, exhibit sound judgment and creativity, and have several years of active litigation and supervisory experience.

Judicial clerkship experience and familiarity with constitutional challenges and the enforcement of federal laws is strongly preferred.

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. Major Duties:

The Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch safeguards Americans' health, safety, economic security, and data privacy through proactive enforcement and high-impact affirmative litigation.

The Branch's mission is to bring affirmative litigation to enforce federal laws and regulations, enjoin actions that conflict with or violate federal law, obtain declaratory judgments regarding the laws of the United States, and seek monetary penalties where appropriate.

The Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch is seeking Assistant Directors to supervise a broad range of affirmative civil litigation.

The Branch is structured into two sections: an Enforcement Section that pursues cases under key consumer protection and public-safety statutes, and an Affirmative Litigation Section that files lawsuits against state, local, or private actors to ensure nationwide compliance with federal law.

The incumbent serves as a Supervisory Trial Attorney, with an organizational title of Assistant Director, Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch, Civil Division, Department of Justice.

The incumbent reports to the Deputy Director, supervises Senior Litigation Counsels, Trial Attorneys, and Paralegal Specialists, and serves as lead attorney on more complex or difficult cases.

If selected you may, at the discretion of the Director or designee, be assigned work in both the Affirmative and Enforcement Sections, or other areas of the Branch, that involves supervising the work of attorneys in those areas.

The incumbent supervises and serves as rating official to attorneys, as well as support staff and detailed employees. Additionally, the incumbent may oversee and review the work of contract employees.

The duties of the incumbent include: supervising and planning the work to be accomplished by subordinates; assigning work based on priorities; assigning work based on priorities and on consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments and the capabilities of employees; developing performance standards; evaluating work performance and serving as rating and reviewing official on performance appraisals, as appropriate; giving advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters; interviewing candidates for positions; recommending appointments, awards, promotion, and reassignment to such positions; hearing and resolving complaints from employees; referring group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to a higher-level manager; effecting minor disciplinary measures, such as warnings and reprimands, and recommending other action in more serious cases; identifying developmental and training needs of employees and providing or arranging for needed development and training; and determining how to improve production or increase the quality of the work performed.

The incumbent also handles the oversight, planning, and preparation of litigation; ascertains, reviews, and analyzes the facts pertaining to the cases; develops the necessary strategies to most effectively represent the U.S.

Government, including meeting and corresponding with the various federal agencies that may be involved in the cases, and expert witnesses or authorities and other knowledgeable parties in order to obtain information or materials; reviews drafts and final versions of pleadings, motions, interrogatories, findings of fact, memoranda, and other legal documents and court filings; coordinates with other Division elements and Department components, as necessary.

Finally, the incumbent works closely with and advises the Section Deputy Director, the Branch Director, and the Deputy Assistant Attorney General in planning strategy or tactics to be employed in the preparation and presentation of the cases.

The incumbent recommends approaches, courses of action, and possible negotiating points; assists attorneys litigating cases by recommending sound legal strategies and supplying relevant precedent or past practices and closely guiding the positions taken in litigation; reviews legal pleadings and memoranda and makes suggestions regarding changes and procedures to be followed; prepares, as required, all types of pleadings and assists as the need arises; responds to inquiries from the White House, Congress, federal departments and agencies, foreign authorities, and private individuals on matters within the scope of assigned statutory responsibilities; makes recommendations with respect to proposed changes in legislation relating to provisions of law; and provides advice concerning legal and policy questions related to statutes or practice areas administered by the Office.

This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person five days a week.