Assistant Section Chief

Closing Date: 2nd June, 2026

Description:

Job Description:
WMRS litigates complex civil cases brought under the federal wildlife and marine resource statutes, including the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. WMRS primarily handles civil defensive litigation involving challenges to rulemaking and other decisions by federal agencies charged with implementing the various wildlife statutes and to decisions or actions of federal agencies taken to comply with such statutes. The Section also has responsibility for civil enforcement of the animal welfare laws. Our animal welfare enforcement cases often involve emergency motions practice seeking injunctive relief, including surrender or forfeiture of animals. The Section's docket is varied and fast-paced and often involves matters of national significance.

The Assistant Section Chief will have direct supervisory responsibility for a docket of more than 100 cases. This supervision involves, among other things, assigning legal casework to attorneys, ensuring the appropriate level of staffing on each matter, providing strategy and other guidance as needed, ensuring compliance with all relevant DOJ guidance and policies, reviewing all written briefs and other products for substantive accuracy and for consistency with positions in other litigation, coordinating with counterparts at client agencies and with other DOJ and ENRD components, briefing agency and DOJ leadership as necessary, determining settlement positions, and preparing attorneys for oral argument. The Assistant Chief also is responsible for performance management and serves as the rating official for attorneys. The Assistant also assists the Section Chief and Deputy Chief on non-litigation and administrative matters, and with overall management of the Section.

Qualifications:
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and be a U.S. citizen or national.

Applicants must have a minimum of 7 years post-J.D. or post clerkship litigation experience that includes significant federal litigation experience or substantive familiarity with the Administrative Procedure Act and natural resource statutes within the Section's jurisdiction.

Applicants should demonstrate outstanding legal writing skills; excellent judgment; the ability to mentor and manage attorneys and administrative staff to produce high quality work under tight time frames; the ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously and to adjust to meet new priorities; the ability to work cooperatively and effectively with client agencies and other ENRD and Department of Justice components; and a commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards.

Salary:
The possible salary range for Washington D.C. is:
GS-15 ($169,279 - $197,200)

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