The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor OPLA) is seeking an experienced and dedicated attorney to serve as a Deputy Chief of the ICE Ethics Office (IEO). This position is in Washington, D.C. These positions may offer up to $50,000 in signing and retention bonuses.
Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time on 11/07/2025. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification. Applicants must possess the following characteristics and competencies: significant experience practicing, and superior knowledge of, federal ethics law or the rules governing attorney professional conduct; leadership integrity; organizational skills; excellence in time management; reliability; perseverance; decisiveness; initiative; professionalism; discretion; the ability to function independently and as part of a team; interpersonal relationship skills including managing conflict and fostering productive relationships with internal and external partners; and outstanding written and oral advocacy skills. The applicant selected will be given significant responsibilities immediately. Prior supervisory experience is preferred but is not required. Attorneys are eligible for this position if, as of the date the application, they (1) are at the GS-15 level; have been at the GS-14 level for at least 18 months and have demonstrated the ability to operate at the GS-15 level, consistent with the criteria above, during the preceding rating period; or have been at the GS-14 level for at least 12 months and have at least one year of prior supervisory experience; and (2) on their most recent performance appraisal, received a rating of "exceeded expectations" or higher if they were not subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), or "meets expectations" if they were subject to the CBA. Bar Membership: You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 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 5 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/or 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.
OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employing nearly 2,000 attorneys nationwide. OPLA provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices. The IEO provides training and guidance on the Executive Branch Standards of Conduct for Executive Branch employees and on attorney professional responsibility matters. The responsibilities of this position will consist primarily of: supervising attorneys and assisting the Division Chief in the general management of workflow and personnel within the division; providing legal advice, guidance, and training on substantive federal ethics law topics and policy; providing legal advice, guidance, and training on substantive attorney professional conduct matters; ensuring the quality of attorney written work product; working with OPLA and ICE leadership on complex federal ethics matters; representing OPLA in meetings with the DHS's Office of the General Counsel and other DHS components; and strategic planning. Selectee will immediately be given significant supervisory responsibilities. Selectee will be expected to routinely provide timely legal opinions to ICE officers and agents, division management, and leadership within OPLA, ICE, and the DHS Office of the General Counsel.