Principal Deputy Chief Counsel

This position is located in the Office of the Chief Counsel for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), in Camp Springs, MD. As Principal Deputy Chief Counsel you will serve as the alter ego for the USCIS Chief Counsel responsible for assisting with the direction, control, & performance of a nationwide legal program & is responsible for planning, coordinating & ensuring consistent implementation of legal approaches that address the nationwide strategic & operational objectives.

USCIS is an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). We lawfully administer immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establish immigration services policies and priorities. The operations of the USCIS OCC Headquarters and Field legal teams, manages USCIS OCC's budget, and serves as the agency's primary legal point person on substantive legal immigration issues involving all USCIS operational clients. The incumbent will be responsible for managing day-to-day operations in the USCIS legal program. Major Duties Legal advice will involve complex, novel or precedent-setting issues. Additional duties to be assigned may include providing legal advice and support to the other government agencies and DHS components and providing litigation support to the Department of Justice in matters in the federal courts. Assist the USCIS Director, USCIS Chief Counsel, USCIS components, and the DHS General Counsel in managing a full range of legal advice and services for all program offices in USCIS. Direct research and analysis on a wide variety of court decisions, legislation, regulations and policies and provide legal counsel in the development, negotiation, and execution of legal agreements or contracts in support of the USCIS mission. Participate on various panels and committees, ensure that USCIS issues are considered in appropriate departmental planning and policy development. Coordinate with the Deputy Chief Counsel for Headquarters and Deputy Chief Counsel for Field Management, and subdivisions in OCC to drive and guide comprehensive legal services support to USCIS. Participate with the USCIS Director, the USCIS Chief Counsel, and the General Counsel in making recommendations on overall office programs. Represent USCIS with senior management, other Federal agencies, business representatives and others on legal issues involving USCIS. Responsible for coordinating adjudications-related legal advice and litigation for all USCIS OCC personnel nationwide. The incumbent will also oversee both USCIS OCC headquarters and field divisions to ensure consistency in support of USCIS's mission. Manage day-to-day USCIS OCC operations and oversee the USCIS OCC budget. Provide legal advice and guidance to the USCIS Director, USCIS Chief Counsel, and components on policy and operational issues involving naturalization, derivative citizenship, nonimmigrant, immigrant and special immigrant categories, legalization, visa petitions, adjustment of status, employment authorization, international adoptions, asylum, refugee, and other international protection issues. Provide legal advice and guidance to the USCIS Director, USCIS Chief Counsel, and components on policy and operational issues involving procurement, employee and labor relations, FOIA and Privacy Act, fiscal law, Federal Torts Claims Act, and Bivens cases, as well as the legal development and review of legislation and regulations relating to all areas of USCIS Operations. Provide legal advice and guidance to the USCIS Director, the USCIS Chief Counsel, and components on policy and operational issues involving training, knowledge management, ethics advice, conflicts of interest, gifts from outside sources, gifts between employees, questions of maintaining impartiality in the workplace, seeking private sector employment while still employed in the Government, misuse of official position, teaching, speaking, and writing, postemployment restrictions, and professional responsibility issues relating to the federal practice of law. As a member of the agency's executive team, you will implement the President's Management Agenda within your specific area of responsibility. For an overview of the various responsibilities USCIS carries out within the Government, visit our website at http://www.uscis.gov.