Attorney-Adviser (General)

Closing Date: 25th September, 2026

Description:

Summary:
The Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties (OPCL) supports the duties and responsibilities of the Department's Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer (CPCLO), who is a member of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General and the principal advisor to the Attorney General, Department Leadership, and components on issues involving privacy and civil liberties policy and compliance.

Duties:
About the Office:
The Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties, United States Department of Justice, is responsible for ensuring the Department's compliance with privacy and civil liberties-related laws, policies, and technical requirements, and appropriately minimizing related risks. OPCL also plays a central policy-making role in the Department's development and evaluation of legislative, regulatory, and other policy proposals affecting privacy, both domestically and internationally. OPCL also develops and provides Departmental privacy training, oversees responses to data breaches, and ensures the Department has adequate procedures to receive, investigate, respond to, and redress complaints from individuals who allege violation of their privacy or civil liberties.

Job Description:
As an Attorney-Advisor (General) GS-0905-14/15, your typical work assignments may include the following:

• Provide legal advice and guidance to Department leadership and components on privacy and civil liberties matters;
• Provide policy advice concerning proposed legislative, regulatory, or policy proposals that impact privacy and civil liberties;
• Ensure the Department's compliance with privacy and civil liberties laws, regulations, and policies, and appropriately mitigate related risks;
• Develop and implement training program policy and specific training sessions;
• Oversee the Department's responses to data breaches;
• Ensure the Department has adequate procedures to receive, investigate, respond to, and redress complaints from individuals who allege violation of their privacy or civil liberties;
• Prepare privacy-related reporting to Congress and other oversight bodies;
• Represent OPCL in Department-wide working groups, such as the Emerging Technology Board;
• Assess and establish controls to minimize privacy-related risks in uses of artificial intelligence (AI); and
• Review the information handling practices of the Department to ensure that such practices are consistent with the protection of privacy and civil liberties, particularly in law enforcement and national security matters.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
• You may be required to complete a two-year trial period.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
• This position requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain a Sensitive Compartmented Information (Top Secret SCI) Security clearance.

Qualifications:
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, be an active member of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and have at least three (3) years relevant J.D. experience. Applicants must have demonstrated experience in handling issues involving privacy and civil liberties and working in a demanding, fast-paced environment.

The successful applicant will also possess:

• Exceptional writing and oral communication skills;
• Strong speaking and presentation skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, especially the abilities both to lead a team and to be part of a team collaborating to achieve a common goal;
• Creative problem-solving skills to resolve unusually complicated legal matters, often with little on-point legal authority, with the goal of supporting a client's mission while minimizing privacy-related risks;
• Working knowledge of privacy laws, regulations, and policies that apply to the U.S. Government, and familiarity with law enforcement and national security law and policy;
• Highly developed ability, to learn new skills quickly and to recognize and seek support where any are lacking;
• Demonstrated ability to adapt, quickly shift priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment;
• Preferred qualifications: Relevant certification in a privacy-related field, for example, one of the International Association of Privacy Professionals Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) certifications.

Education:
See Qualification section above for education requirement.

Education must be reviewed and certified by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, in order for it to be creditable towards your qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from an accredited institution.

Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional Information:
Additional selections may be made from this announcement.

Salary:
This is a GS-14/15 position, with an annual salary range of $143,913 - $197,200 per year.

Remote job
No.

Telework eligible
Telework is available in accordance with Department policy.

Number of Positions
Three.

Travel:
Minimal travel required.

Relocation Expenses
Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.

DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/reasonable-accommodation#policy

Selective Service: If you were born male, on or after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at: www.sss.gov.

Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: The Fair Chance Act prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOJ employee or Federal contractor acting on its behalf has violated your rights under this Act, you may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement. Note: In accordance with 5 U.S. Code 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R 920.201(b) certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance Act.

Additional Information:
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits: