Duties

Serves as the Deputy Associate Chief Counsel (DACC) of the Litigation Division and reports to the Associate Chief Counsel of the Litigation Division. The DACC is a senior expert legal advisor for the agency and involved in the most difficult and complex legal issues relating to the adjudication of administrative tort claims and administrative litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The DACC of the Litigation Division also provides legal advice and counsel to the Department of Justice in defending lawsuits filed against ATF and its employees arising under Title VII and other federal personnel laws, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Bivens v. Six Unnamed Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, and other civil defensive litigation; and prepares recommendations concerning the settlement, compromise, termination, or appeal of civil litigation.

The DACC supervises all litigation related legal work including administrative litigation before the MSPB and the EEOC; and Federal Court litigation arising under Title VII and other federal personnel laws, the FTCA, the FOIA, Bivens v. Six Unnamed Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics; and from decisions to deny or revoke licenses for Federal Firearm Licensees.

The DACC serves as the Division's first line supervisor and is required to review work relating to all legal areas covered by the Litigation Division. Additionally, the DACC is required to perform a full range of supervisory duties including establishing overall office policies, practices, work priorities, and goals; directly assigning work to staff and evaluating their performance; coordinating and facilitating the work of the office with higher management levels; making selections for subordinates (subject to internal approval requirements); resolving disciplinary problems and other conflicts raised within the office; monitoring employee training programs, to ensure personnel are trained in their areas of responsibility; evaluating subordinates; and approving performance standards.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements described in this announcement by the closing date.

MOBILITY PLAN: New employees hired pursuant to this vacancy announcement must sign a mobility agreement. The purpose of ATF's mobility policy is to enhance career development and progression, and achieve mission and business effectiveness. To accomplish these objectives, the mobility plan will facilitate the movement of employees through special short-term assignments or permanent reassignments throughout the Bureau. Applicants who decline to sign a mobility agreement, as required, will be removed from the hiring process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Benefits

  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.

  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.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  • Resume showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education, and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/date/year to month/date/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions.
  • Veterans' preference documentation (Member Copy 4 of DD-214, Revised October 2013 SF-15 https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf and VA letter, if applicable. NOTE: The revised October 2013 SF-15 is the latest copy and all others are not usable.
  • Must provide a legal writing sample (no more than 15 pages)
  • Law school transcript (Note: If you're selected for this position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.)

  It is your responsibility to ensure all documents are received on time and the materials are legible. If applying on-line poses a hardship to any applicant, please contact us at the telephone number listed on this announcement. Applicants MUST CONTACT US PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE to speak to someone who can provide assistance for on-line submission. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Paper applications submitted without prior approval from the agency point of contact may be handled as incomplete. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If your contact information changes after the closing date of this vacancy announcement, update your profile information in MYUSAJOBS as well as contact the Human Resources Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement to ensure you can be contacted throughout the selection process.
  
  Prior to selection, the candidate may be required to provide an original copy of any supporting/ validating documentation as well as other documentation to verify eligibility. The candidate may also be required to provide official college and law school transcripts. All required materials must be uploaded using the supporting documentation instructions described in the announcement.
  
  Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in elimination of further consideration for this position.

  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.

• How to Apply

  Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. You must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/05/2023 to be considered. The application process is as follows:

  • To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.

  • Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.

  • Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.

  • After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.

  • If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements

  • Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the Track this application link for the corresponding application.

  
  To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit My Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement is closed.
  
  To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. Your applications will appear on the Welcome page. Navigate to the job application and click Track this application to view your application status. The link will take you to the hiring agency application system, which has the most up-to-date status of your application. There you can review any notifications sent to you related to this application, including the invitation to take the USA Hire assessment. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means click here.

  Agency contact information

  Tawn White

  Phone

  0000000000

  Email

  Tawn.White@usdoj.gov

  Address

  Office of Chief Counsel
  99 New York Ave. N.E.
  Washington, DC 20226
  US

  Next steps

  Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
  
  Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.
  
  After the vacancy closes, the Human Resources Office will use the application package to automatically rate, rank and certify candidates. You can check the status of your application anytime by accessing the USAJOBS online application system at http://www.usajobs.gov. You will need to provide your USAJOBS User ID and Password to access the Track your Online Job Application feature. You may also click on the link provided to access additional information on USAJobs. All applicants will be notified at four (4) stages in the hiring process:
  
  (1) upon receipt of your application;
  
  (2) after your qualifications have been assessed;
  
  (3) whether or not you've been referred to the Selecting Official; and
  
  (4) whether or not you've been selected for the position. The hiring manager makes a selection from well qualified applicants.

  If your name is sent to the hiring manager, you may be invited for an interview.

  After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer to selectee(s) upon favorable completion of the background.

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. citizens. This is an Excepted Service position.