General Counsel
Office of Inspector General
Posted: January 16, 2026 (1 day ago)
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U.S. Marshals Service
Department of Justice
Location
Arlington, Virginia
Salary
$151,661 - $228,000
per year
Type
Full Time
More Legal jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This role is for the top legal advisor to the U.S. Marshals Service, where you'll guide the agency on legal matters, manage risks, and oversee lawsuits in a high-stakes law enforcement setting.
It's ideal for a seasoned lawyer with deep experience in federal law and leading legal teams, who is passionate about the U.S. Constitution and improving government operations.
The job demands strong leadership to ensure the agency follows the rule of law while handling national security challenges.
About the position: You will serve as the General Counsel, ES-0905-00, Office of the Director, United States Marshals Service located in Arlington, VA.
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 Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ) related to this position within your resume.
Your Resume must be no more than 2-pages using no less than 10-point font with no less than 1-inch margins all around to describe your qualifications.
If you submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitations stated herein, you will immediately be deemed ineligible for this position and will receive no further consideration.
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.
Do NOT submit a separate narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs).
MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications: MTQ 1: Demonstrated executive-level ability to provide authoritative legal counsel, strategic risk assessment, and litigation oversight for a federal law-enforcement organization operating within a complex national security and public safety environment.
Mastery of Federal Law, Litigation, and Law-Enforcement Authorities in a National Security Environment.
MTQ 2: Executive Leadership of a Complex Federal Legal Office and Enterprise Legal Risk Management.
Demonstrated executive-level ability to lead a multifaceted legal office, direct enterprise-wide compliance and ethics programs, and manage organizational legal risk for a federal agency.
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 reflect demonstrated 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.
Sub-Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government: Demonstrates understanding and appreciation of the American system of government, including the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, separation of powers, federalism, and the historical development of the American Nation.
Commitment to the Rule of Law: Upholds the principles of the American Founding, including equality under the law and democratic self-government. Ensures the law is applied fairly and consistently.
Civic-Mindedness: Stays up-to-date on important developments in American government and aligns organizational objectives and practices with presidential and public interests.
Demonstrates a 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.
Sub-Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility: Strategically manages, allocates and monitors financial resources. Aligns priorities and initiatives to justify budget proposals.
Monitors expenditures, cuts unnecessary costs, and uses cost-benefit analysis to set priorities.
Managing Resources: Manages resources efficiently and effectively based on current and projected organizational goals, skills, budget considerations, and staffing needs.
Leveraging Technology: Explores emerging technology and potential applications. Incorporates technology to enhance efficiency and achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems.
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.
Sub-Competencies: Technical Skill: Possesses the requisite technical knowledge and subject matter expertise to consistently produce timely, high-quality work.
Is considered a strong contributor in his or her domain. Problem Solving: Engages in critical and data-driven thinking when diagnosing root causes and evaluating options.
Identifies and promptly addresses the most pressing, high-priority problems. Agility and Resilience: Anticipates and adapts to change, new ideas, new information, and new conditions.
Is committed to continuous improvement. Deals effectively with pressure and remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity.
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.
Sub-Competencies: Accountability: Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, trained, and retained.
Takes swift action to address performance- or conduct-based deficiencies in employees supervised. Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
Developing Others: Recognizes and rewards outstanding achievement in others.
Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
Cultivates a dynamic environment in which employees are not afraid to make mistakes.
Executive Judgement: Makes well-reasoned, timely, and effective decisions and considers short- and long-term implications.
Communicates effectively with stakeholders across all organizational levels, sharing and guarding information where appropriate.
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.
Sub-Competencies: Operational Mindset: Effectively translates strategies into actionable steps and processes.
Partners effectively with stakeholders to drive adoption and addresses blockers to ensure successful implementation.
Innovation: Applies creativity to improving products and processes, challenges convention, takes measured risks, and considers ways to simplify and remove unnecessary requirements.
Strategic Thinking: Formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization by evaluating conditions, resources, capabilities, constraints, and organizational goals and values.
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 must attach proof; e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES. Major Duties:
As a General Counsel at the ES-0905-00 level some of your typical work assignments may include: The incumbent of this position serves as the General Counsel with full technical responsibility for Serves as the principal legal advisor to the Director and Deputy Director on all legal matters.
Provides legal representation for the Director and other United States Marshals Service officials; Interprets cases, statutes, and administrative regulations affecting the general conduct and operation of the United States Marshals Service; Represents the United States Marshals Service in all courts, administrative hearings and proceedings, and labor negotiations.
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