Summary The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) is seeking an attorney to join our legal team as an Associate Legal Advisor with the OPLA Headquarters Knowledge Management Division (KMD) within the Chief of Staff portfolio. The attorney will advise on and evaluate artificial intelligence (AI) use. One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. Responsibilities OPLA is the largest legal program in DHS OGC, employing over 2,700 attorneys nationwide. In addition to Headquarters in Washington, D.C., there are 24 OPLA Field Locations in more than 90 cities throughout the United States. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices. KMD attorneys perform a critical role in maintaining and improving OPLA's information technology systems. The applicant selected for this position will be given significant responsibilities immediately. As a KMD attorney, you will perform the following duties: Advise and assist OPLA officials in carrying out ICE responsibilities with respect to technology development and acquisition programs; Serve as the AI policy and legislation expert for OPLA; Provide legal review, guidance, and advice on AI use; Liaise with OPLA's field locations, Headquarters divisions, and senior leadership to review and recommend AI-related enhancements; Coordinate and ensure routine AI training and maintain OPLA's AI resource library; Coordinate with the ICE Office of the Chief Information Officer to understand technical requirements and information security; Coordinate with DHS Headquarters on department-wide AI initiatives; Advise and assist in all matters within the KMD portfolio, as needed. OPLA will ensure that applicants with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations when appropriate. If reasonable accommodation is required for any part of the application process, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. Applicants must have the ability and willingness to learn new subjects at the intersection of technology and law. Applicants should be able to efficiently produce quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues, exercise sound legal judgment, prioritize competing assignments, and work effectively independently, as part of a team, and across work units. Applicants should be able to take initiative and demonstrate reliability, decisiveness, and professionalism. GS-13: The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two (2) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position, or two years of judicial clerkship. GS-14 and GS-15: The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization. Bar Membership: You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last five years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u), and Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. Education Applicants must be graduates of an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or LLM degree. A student loan repayment incentive may be available; if such an incentive is available and is authorized, a service agreement will be required. Additional Information E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities. Bargaining Unit Status: This is a non-bargaining position. Promotion Potential: This position has promotion potential to the GS-15 level. When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform duties at a higher level and administrative approval. Further, promotion from the GS-14 level to the GS-15 level is subject to OPLA's internal guidance. Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the Excepted Service; however, OPLA considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Financial Disclosure: If you are hired, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment. Suitability: If you receive a conditional offer of employment, you must complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. Background Investigation: DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo a background investigation and successfully obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Secret level as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and tax obligations, and a review of certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Incentive payments may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required. Drug Test: Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan, ICE is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace. All applicants tentatively selected for employment are subject to pre-employment drug testing, and a final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative result.
