General Counsel

This position serves as the General Counsel for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (“COPS Office”). The General Counsel reports to the Director of the COPS Office (a Senior Executive Service Member). The incumbent supervises and manages the legal activities of the COPS Office.

As the nation’s leading community policing experts at the Department of Justice, the COPS Office has invested over $14 billion in community policing since Congress established the Office in 1994. The COPS Office provides grant resources and technical assistance to support state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies, hire law enforcement officers, advance school safety, promote officer safety and wellness, support the National Blue Alert Network, prepare for active shooter situations, fight drug activities and advance other policing priorities to combat violent crime. This dynamic Office works closely with Administration leadership and the law enforcement field across the country. The incumbent will serve a vital role to ensure all COPS operations and programs comply with applicable laws, Congressional requirements, and ethical responsibilities as well as advance Administration, Attorney General, and Director priorities.

Our office places a high value on diversity of experiences and perspectives and encourages applications from all qualified individuals from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, veterans, LGBT individuals, and persons with disabilities.

Our office places a high value on diversity of experiences and perspectives and encourages applications from all qualified individuals from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, veterans, LGBT individuals, and persons with disabilities.

Job Description:

This is a permanent position. If you are selected as the General Counsel, your responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:

Supervises and manages the Legal Division staff in providing legal advice to COPS Office management, staff, and grantees, and in coordinating on related legal matters with other Justice Department components. Legal advice covers the full range of COPS Office operations and programs, including (but not limited to): the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act of 1994, the STOP School Violence Act of 2018, federal grant law, appropriations law, copyright law, administrative law, legislative drafting, labor relations, employment law, ethics, tribal law, procurement law, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Privacy Act.

Represents the COPS Office in all employment matters requiring legal assistance, including Equal Employment Opportunity and Merit Systems Protection Board cases, internal grievances, performance and conduct matters, and other sensitive employee matters such as, providing expert direction to staff investigating allegations of misconduct, conducting legal sufficiency reviews of adverse action proposals and decisions, and advising on personnel policy issues.

Provides expert legal, policy, and programmatic advice to the Director and other executive level positions within the COPS Office based on knowledge of relevant law and COPS Office operations and programs. Represents the COPS Office in legal matters facing the office, including matters involving the priorities and initiatives of the Attorney General, the Administration, and the Director.

Interprets applicable executive and administrative orders, rules, regulations, and statutes relevant to the COPS Office. Provides the Director and other executive level staff with sound legal advice that may influence policy and program decisions.

Ensures that the Legal Division incorporates the Director’s priorities into strategic planning initiatives.

Ensures that the workloads of Legal Division staff is equitable and advances the Administration’s priorities and the COPS Office mission.

Ideal candidates for this position will have:

Extensive knowledge of the federal laws governing grant programs and agency operations, including (but not limited to) federal grant law, appropriations law, legislative drafting, administrative law, employment law, federal ethics requirements, labor relations, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Privacy Act.

Knowledge of the full range of federal agency operational requirements to advise the Director and other executive level positions in managing, including (but not limited to) federal budget development and execution, the federal appropriations process, grant program development and implementation, internal and external communication strategies, employee staffing and engagement, organizational structure, and strategic planning.

Demonstrated supervisory skills, such as recruiting, hiring, training, managing performance and conduct, assessing and assigning workloads, coaching, and mentoring.

Demonstrated ability to analyze complex matters and appropriately identify legal and policy issues, both orally and in writing. Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Demonstrated ability to interact successfully with employees from diverse personal and professional backgrounds, senior Justice Department officials, and members of the public.

Ability to develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships at all levels.

Demonstrated ability to determine and give effect to Congressional intent on enacted bills, including researching and analyzing legislative history to find support, clarification, or precedence on the interpretation of federal statutes.

Demonstrated ability to review and revise proposed legislation and amendments and analyze the impact of proposed legislation on COPS Office programs and activities.

Demonstrated ability to provide guidance on the use of appropriated funds, including a comprehensive understanding of the Principles of Federal Appropriations Law and Comptroller General decisions.

Demonstrated experience with federal labor relations/unions.

Qualifications:

Applicants must have a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar, and have a minimum of five years of professional legal experience

A minimum of two years of legal supervisory experience.

A minimum of one year of litigation or advisory employment law experience.

Salary:

GS-905-15 ($137,849 to $166,500 / Per Year)

Travel:

Occasional travel may be required.

Application Process:

To apply, applicants must submit their resume and a cover letter that highlights their interest in the position and addresses in detail how they meet the qualifications. Applicants must also submit a short writing sample or part of a longer writing sample (not to exceed ten pages), which should be exclusively or primarily the applicant’s work and should include legal analysis, and a current list of references. Please submit applications via email by clicking Apply to this Job below. Applications are due no later than 11:59 PM (EST), February 7, 2020. Please note that if you previously applied for this position in response to the ad that closed on November 25, 2019, your application remains under consideration, and you do not need to reapply.