The Week That Will Be

Event Announcements (More details on the Events Calendar)

Monday, July 13, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation and Operations will hold a hearing on ICE contractors' response to COVID-19. The subcommittee will hear testimony from Damon Hininger, the president and CEO of CoreCivic; George Zoley, the chairman and CEO of The GEO Group; Scott Marquardt, president and CEO of Management & Training Corporation; and Rodney Cooper, the executive director of LaSalle Corrections.

Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.: The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) will host the first session of its tenth annual South China Sea conference. The session will feature a keynote address by Assistant Secretary of State David R. Stillwell and a panel discussion with Richard Javad Heydarian, resident analyst at CSIS, Nong Hong, executive director and senior fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies, Nguyen Hung Son, director general of the East Sea Institute at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, and Gregory B. Poling, senior fellow for Southeast Asia at CSIS. The panelists will analyze developments in the South China Sea in 2020.

Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at 12:00 p.m.: The House Homeland Security Subcommittees on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery and Oversight, Management and Accountability will hold a hearing on federal and state pandemic supply preparedness and response. The subcommittees will hear testimony from Craig Fugate, the former administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; Mark Ghilarducci, the director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services; and Chris Currie, the director for the Homeland Security and Justice team at the Government Accountability Office.

Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.: The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy and the Environment will hold a hearing on the importance of transatlantic cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The subcommittee will hear testimony from Michael Froman, the former U.S. trade representative; Karen Donfried, the former senior director for European affairs at the National Security Council; Rachel Ellehuus, the former principal director for European and NATO policy in the office of the secretary of defense; and James Jay Carafano, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at 8:30 a.m.: The CSIS Economics Program will host an online event on the state of allied cooperation on China. Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom and co-chair of the International Parliamentary Alliance on China will deliver keynote remarks, followed by a panel discussion with economic policy experts from Canada, the European Union and Japan. Speakers will focus specifically on the international efforts to coordinate the use of economic policy tools in diplomatic relations with China.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at 12:00 p.m.: The House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing on children in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, examining deaths, medical care and improper spending. The committee will hear testimony from Roger Mitchell, Jr., the chief medical examiner for D.C.; Fiona Danaher, a pediatrician on the Massachusetts General Hospital Child Protection Team; Joseph Cuffari, the inspector general for the department of homeland security; and Rebecca Gambler, the director for the Homeland Security and Justice team at the Government Accountability Office.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.: The Brookings Institution’s Governance Studies program will host a webcast on how coronavirus is changing politics and public opinion. Molly E. Reynolds will moderate a discussion with panelists Elane Kamarck, Camille Busette and John Hudak examining the 2020 election landscape amid the COVID-19 pandemic and protests against racial inequality in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at 4:00pm: CSIS will host a panel discussion on countering China’s influence activities in Australia featuring remarks from Malcom Turnbull, former Prime Minister of Australia, Dr. John Hamre, CSIS President and CEO and Dr. Amy Searight, CSIS Senior Associate for Asia. The conversation will focus on China’s efforts to disrupt democratic politics and society in Australia, and how democracies can best respond to Beijing’s manipulative activities.

Thursday, July 16, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism will hold a hearing on the threat from accelerationists and militia extremists. The subcommittee will hear testimony from JJ MacNab, a fellow in George Washington University's Program on Extremism; Heidi Beirich, the co-founder and executive vice president of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism; and Jack Donohue, the former chief of strategic initiatives at the New York City Police Department.

Friday, July 17, 2020, at 12:30 p.m.: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation will hold a hearing on the recommendations of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. The subcommittee will hear testimony from the commission's co-chairs, Sen. Angus King and Rep. Mike Gallagher, and one of its commissioners, Samantha Ravich.

Employment Announcements (More details on theJob Board)

The following are job announcements of potential interest to Lawfare readers. If you have an announcement to add to the page, email us.

Policy Portfolio Director, R Street Institute

The R Street Institute—a free-market think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., and with regional offices across the country—seeks an organized, energetic, experienced Portfolio Director to oversee our technology and innovation, cybersecurity and national security policy efforts. The core aspects of this role focus on development, fundraising and project management. If you want to join an organization and do something extraordinary, this may be just the opportunity you need.

Your typical day at R Street may include helping divide responsibilities for a new project between experts on our various teams, helping outline a potential organizational response to a recent cyber attack and meeting with a foundation program officer to discuss R Street’s potential role in a new effort. This role is part of our management team and will report to and work closely with the Associate Vice President of Policy.

Other Aspects of Your Role

• Establish a clear policy strategy for the Technology and Innovation, Cyber and National Security portfolio, demonstrating broad familiarity with programming and serving as a brand ambassador.
• Oversee portfolio budget and facilitate cross-functional processes for fundraising, proposal development, and financial analyses.
• Lead fundraising efforts, including: ideation, proposal development, pitching and closing deals.
• Apply uniform standards for business assessment to analyze viability of policy programming and develop growth strategies where appropriate.
• Supervise portfolio staff and ensure project deliverables are high quality, highly credible and timely.
• Oversee hiring and managing staff with competency-based learning and assessment methods.
• Leverage contextual decision-making to manage conflict.
• Serve as a catalyst for activities which create high morale by demonstrating organizational norms and leading with integrity, humility, and resilience.
• Prioritize the organization’s needs while concurrently demonstrating empathy to build strong internal and external relationships.

Skills and Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to oversee and deliver sophisticated, multi-part projects and budgets. Familiarity with Salesforce and project management software preferred.
• A record of success in development/fundraising, with an emphasis on articulating and realizing strategic business goals, particularly in a nonprofit environment.
• At least five years of management experience involving oversight of multiple full-time W-2 employees.
• Demonstrated ability to make difficult management choices, often without full information.
• No particular educational background is required; proven ability to achieve results is far more important than credentials.
• Aligned with our mission for free markets and limited, effective government.
• A sense of humor and a desire to grow with a dynamic organization.

Demonstrated understanding and achievement in one or more of the particular policy areas is highly desirable but not absolutely required. This is a job for someone who has a firm grasp of fundraising, nonprofit business strategy and management. In other words, while familiarity with our policy content is a plus this job is not primarily about doing our policy work.

This is a full-time job based in Washington, D.C. However, for the duration of COVID-19 related closures, this position will be required to work remotely until our office reopens. The job will require some travel, almost all of it within the United States.

R Street strives to provide a compensation package superior to those at other think tanks and nonprofits. In addition to a competitive salary, we provide a health insurance option entirely paid by the employer (even for families); wellness benefit; employer-subsidized mobile phones benefit; 401(k) contributions with up to a four percent match; and an exceptionally generous vacation policy. We were named to Washingtonian Magazine’s “Great Places to Work” List and take pride in providing an exceptional environment for our employees.

R Street does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, era of military service, gender identity, relationship structure or anything else that's illegal, immoral or stupid to use as a basis for hiring.

We currently plan to accept applications for this job until filled. We will contact ideal individuals for video interviews and plan to conduct them on a rolling basis. Due to COVID-19, we will hold interviews virtually via Zoom until our DC office reopens. To apply, please upload a cover letter and resume in Microsoft Word or PDF format.

Digital Services Intern Summer 2020, The National Security Institute

The National Security Institute (NSI) seeks a Digital Services Intern for summer 2020 with the potential to extend through the fall.

About NSI:

The National Security Institute (NSI) at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School is dedicated to finding real-world answers to national security law and policy questions. We strive to provide balance to the public discourse on the most difficult national security challenges facing the United States and its allies.

NSI also serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development that incorporates a realistic assessment of the threats facing the United States and its allies as well as an appreciation of the legal and practical challenges facing our intelligence, law enforcement, border security, and cybersecurity communities.

As a Digital Services intern, you will work closely with the NSI staff to

• Widen digital reach of NSI events and programs;
• Promote the work of NSI’s group of experts, including its Fellows, Advisory Board, and faculty; and
• Develop new media products, such as promotional and/or educational videos.

Responsibilities:

• Creating social media content for platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn;
• Researching technology trends to better understand digital topics and staying up to speed on the latest industry terminology;
• Drafting content and updating the NSI website;
• Editing and uploading videos of virtual events and NSI promotional materials;
• Editing audio content of NSI’s “Fault Lines” podcast; and
• Assisting with other projects as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Holds an undergraduate degree or currently enrolled in an undergraduate program;
• Has a passion for the digital space and a deep understanding of digital trends and technologies;
• Has deep knowledge of social media platforms;
• Has Microsoft Office Suite;
• Has availability to work 20 hours/week and
• Has availability on some evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree or current undergraduate program in Public Relations, Marketing, Communications or a related field;
• Experience with WordPress, Canva, Tweet Deck, Hootsuite, Mailchimp and/or Audacity; and
• Based in the DC Metro area.

How to Apply:

If interested, please submit a resume and cover letter to nsi@gmu.edu with the subject line, “Application: NSI Digital Services Intern, [Lastname]”

Senior Fellow, Cybersecurity and National Security, R Street

The R Street Institute—a free-market think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., with regional offices across the country—seeks a skilled, energetic and experienced senior fellow to join and help shape the direction of our national security and cybersecurity program. We want somebody who lives and breathes cybersecurity—who knows the field from many angles and has a passion for applying practical knowledge to pressing policy challenges—and who understands it in the context of the broader national security interests of the United States.

Cybersecurity is one of R Street’s premier policy areas. Our current team brings extensive knowledge from long careers at high levels in the military, government and private industry. Our staff regularly appear on major television networks, testify before Congress and write for the nation’s largest newspapers. We want somebody to join and further advance an already strong and healthy team. In this context, we are particularly interested in candidates who offer diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Your typical day at R Street might include finishing edits on a paper about 5G technology, consulting with a congressional staffer about the cybersecurity elements of a proposed financial services bill, giving a colleague comments on an op-ed they have written and meeting with allies to discuss plans for a joint briefing on Capitol Hill.

Other Aspects of Your Role

• Oversee two resident fellows and three non-resident senior fellows that comprise the cybersecurity and national security team.
• Help formulate a national security and cybersecurity policy strategy with internal operational (strategy and business development) and integrated policy (technology and innovation) units.
• Build connections between the cybersecurity and national security communities.
• Work with R Street’s external collaborators to advance joint objectives in the cybersecurity realm.
• Speak to the media and at public gatherings with comfort across omnichannel communications.
• Develop alliances and partnerships with industry, governmental and nonprofit players.

Skills and Qualifications

• 10 or more years of experience in cybersecurity, with connections to the law enforcement, national security and intelligence communities. People who have approached the field from a variety of perspectives—such as those who have worked in both the private sector and for law enforcement—are particularly desirable.
• Proven public speaking skills; experience on television is a plus.
• Experience dealing with the media.
• Excellent writing ability, ideally as demonstrated by a meaningful mix of scholarly and non-academic publications.
• A proven network of contacts relevant to the position and a reputation in the field.
• Alignment with our mission of advancing free markets and limited, effective government.
• A sense of humor and a desire to grow with a dynamic organization.

This is a full-time job. For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be done from your home. Going forward, it will be based in Washington, D.C. The job will require some travel inside and outside the United States.

R Street has experience working with individuals whose work must go through review for national security purposes. Previously having worked extensively with sensitive information should not be a barrier to applying for this job. No particular educational background is required: Proven ability to achieve results is far more important than credentials.

R Street is proud to be on Washingtonian Magazine’s Great Places to Work list and we’re proud to provide a top-notch working environment. As such, we strive to provide a compensation package superior to those at other think tanks and nonprofits. In addition to a competitive salary, we provide a health insurance option entirely paid by the employer (even for families), wellness benefits, an employer-subsidized mobile phones benefit, 401(k) contributions with up to a 4 percent match and an exceptionally generous vacation policy.

R Street does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, era of military service, gender identity, relationship structure or anything else that's illegal, immoral or stupid to use as a basis for hiring.

We currently plan to accept applications for this job until filled. We will contact ideal individuals for telephone interviews and conduct them on a rolling basis. We will plan to conduct later round interviews by video conference but may request in-person interviews at some point depending on the operating status of Washington, D.C.

To apply, please upload a cover letter and resume in Microsoft Word or PDF format. If you are unable to describe previous positions in detail or name the particular places you worked, please use your resume and cover letter to outline your competencies and interest in this job.

Associate Editor, Lawfare

Lawfare is accepting applications for a new associate editor. If you’ve ever listened to our podcasts and read our articles and thought, “I want to be part of that team,” now is your chance.

This is a highly demanding job. The associate editor plays a pivotal role in the editorial process—ensuring that articles, documents, podcasts and myriad other things that go up on the site every day are up to Lawfare’s editorial standards--and you will assist with long-term research projects carried out by members of the Lawfare team. The position also provides great writing opportunities for the right person.

Lawfare is a growing, fast-paced, ever-changing organization. The ideal candidate thrives independently in such environments and wants to help shape our publication’s future.

The associate editor works at the direction of the managing editor to perform or assist with significant aspects of Lawfare's work, including:

• Reviewing submissions for possible publication on the Lawfare website;
• Soliciting submissions from contributors based on current developments and perceived gaps in Lawfare's coverage;
• Processing accepted submissions to prepare them for publication;
• Working with our podcast team to development new audio content and daily podcasts
• Contributing to long- and short-term research projects at the direction of the senior team;
• Ensuring final copyediting and posting of publications to the website;
• Maintaining the Lawfare publication schedule;
• Contributing as needed to Lawfare podcasts on topics of particular expertise or need;
• Managing the website, including rotating highlighted pieces, posting relevant documents and livestreams, and controlling quality, in coordination with web hosting team;
• Coordinating with book review editors and Lawfare staff to manage the workflow of book reviews;
• Scheduling and other administrative responsibilities;
• Assisting with fundraising and donor-required documentation, as needed;
• Managing and hiring Lawfare interns;
• Completing other duties as assigned by Lawfare management.

This role is an entry-level position, well-suited for recent college graduates or those with a year or two of work experience. Candidates will have a bachelor's degree, preferably in a field related to political science, government, journalism, or history. Interest in issues pertaining to national security is required, as are outstanding writing, analytical, and research skills, demonstrated through prior relevant research and other experiences. The ability to write clearly and with minimal supervision is particularly important, as are thorough knowledge of library and online research resources and the capacity to conduct independent research. Candidates must have excellent interpersonal, verbal and organizational skills as well as the ability to take initiative and work in a fast-paced environment.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits include health and dental care (with premiums fully paid by Lawfare), flexible hours, and 401(k) with Lawfare matching contribution.

Lawfare is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

HOW TO APPLY: Please submit a note to applications@lawfareblog.com with the subject line [ASSOCIATE EDITOR APPLICATION: your name] that contains these two items (and only these two items) within a single document: (1) a resume that shows the experience and education requested above; and (2) a cover letter of no more than two pages that explains how you plan to apply your skills and experiences to Lawfare and includes at least two references, with email addresses, of people directly familiar with your work. We anticipate many applications; not following these instructions will result in your application not being considered.

Staff Attorney 1, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) - Georgetown University Law Center

The ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will bring to bear advanced legal skills and extensive litigation experience to drive ICAP' s complex litigation work, including with responsibilities (1) to pursue impact litigation in defense of constitutional rights and values and (2) to involve Georgetown Law students in such efforts. The ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will have duties that include, but are not limited to:

• Engage in legal research and fact gathering, as well as draw on legal research and fact gathering provided by students, research assistants, and other ICAP attorneys, to assist in crafting constitutional impact litigation strategies in close coordination with the lnstitute's Legal Director and Executive Director.
• Draw on extensive previous legal experience, will carefully draft, revise, and edit briefing materials to be filed in court pertaining to those cases; will assist in mooting the advocates presenting and arguing the cases; and may have opportunities to present and argue cases at the trial court and appellate level.
• Support ICAP's leadership in overseeing a practicum seminar designed to involve Georgetown Law students in understanding the nature of constitutional impact litigation and in contributing to ICAP's work.
• Responsible for conceptualizing and implementing litigation strategies and tactics in complex court cases, including cases involving multiple plaintiffs and defendants; class actions; cases involving a wide range of legal claims, potentially to include a mix of federal-law and state- law claims; and cases arising in federal courts as well as in state courts around the country.

The ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will be supervised by ICAP's Executive Director and Legal Director. The ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will work closely with ICAP's other attorneys engaged in factual development, legal research, writing, and case presentation in support of ICAP's litigation efforts. Additionally, the ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will, as circumstances dictate, interact with other Georgetown Law faculty supporting ICAP's work on particular cases and with students participating in the practicum seminar offered in connection with ICAP's work. In doing so, the ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will be critical to fulfilling ICAP's mission of harnessing the talent and expertise of Georgetown Law's faculty and students in contributing to strategically selected, complex constitutional litigation on cutting-edge issues and exposing the law school community to such work.

Qualifications

• Required are a B.A. and a J.D., and 2 years of experience.
• Preferred is experience as a federal court clerk, ideally to include at the district court level, as well as 2-5 years of experience in legal work after law school (including clerkship time), ideally in litigation

Staff Attorney 2, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) - Georgetown University Law Center

The ICAP Staff Attorney 2 will drive results in complex, fast-moving, high-impact litigation to defend key constitutional rights and values, as well as related legal rights. He or she will do so by employing diverse litigation experience as well as exceptional legal abilities. The ICAP Staff Attorney 2’s responsibilities will include (1) conceptualizing and effectuating high-impaction litigation in defense of constitutional rights and values and (2) ensuring that Georgetown Law students are meaningfully and materially integrated into those litigation efforts. In particular, the ICAP Staff Attorney 2 has duties that include, but are not limited to:

• Engage in factual development and legal research, and will draw on legal research provided by students, research assistants, and other ICAP attorneys to assist in conceiving of and then driving constitutional impact litigation strategies in close coordination with the Institute’s Legal Director and Executive Director. This will include determining when litigation represents a promising mechanism for pursuing the defense of constitutional rights, then conceptualizing how litigation might be used in such circumstances and exploring the possibilities of filing such a suit—to include the identification of, and outreach to, potential plaintiffs and partner organizations.
• Draw on high-level previous litigation and legal writing experience and the years of feedback received on it, will carefully draft, revise, and edit briefing materials to be filed in court pertaining to those cases, at times with ultimate responsibility for the filings themselves; will assist in mooting the oral advocates presenting and arguing the cases; and will present evidence and oral argument directly in courts, potentially at all levels of the state and federal court systems.
• Often assume the lead role in individual cases, subject to the supervision of the Legal Director and Executive Director.
• Closely support ICAP's leadership in overseeing a practicum seminar designed to involve Georgetown Law students in understanding the nature of constitutional impact litigation and in contributing to ICAP's work.
• Responsible for identifying opportunities for, then developing and acting on, litigation strategies and tactics in extremely complex court cases, including cases involving multiple plaintiffs and defendants; class actions; cases involving a wide range of legal claims, potentially to include a mix of federal-law and state- law claims; and cases arising in federal courts as well as in state courts around the country.

The ICAP Staff Attorney 2 will be supervised by ICAP's Executive Director and Legal Director. The ICAP Staff Attorney 2 will work closely with ICAP's other attorneys engaged in factual development and legal research and writing in support of ICAP's litigation efforts. Additionally, the ICAP Staff Attorney 2 will coordinate directly with ICAP’s co-counsel in litigation and, moreover, will interact with other Georgetown Law faculty supporting ICAP's work on particular cases and with students participating in the practicum seminar offered in connection with ICAP’s work. All told, the ICAP Staff Attorney 2 will be essential to fulfilling ICAP's mission of harnessing the talent and expertise of Georgetown Law's faculty and students in designing and effectuating strategically selected, complex constitutional litigation on cutting-edge issues and exposing the law school community, including students in the ICAP practicum, to such work in meaningful ways.

Qualifications

• Required are a B.A. and a J.D.
• Preferred is experience as a federal court clerk, ideally to include at the district court level, as well as 6-10 years of experience in legal work after law school (including clerkship time).

Executive Director, UnLocal

UnLocal, a community-centered nonprofit organization providing legal representation and community education to New York City’s undocumented immigrant communities, is seeking nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director.

UnLocal is committed to a community-centered, grassroots approach to protecting the rights and enhancing the lives of undocumented immigrants in New York City and providing legal representation to clients who are typically passed over by peer organizations. UnLocal’s model of addressing the needs of immigrants at a community level has promoted its rapid expansion to meet new levels of demand as local, state, and federal policies have been enacted that result in widespread violations of immigrants’ rights. In the past two years, UnLocal’s annual budget has nearly doubled from $700,000 to $1.3 million.

As it continues to build capacity through this period of growth, UnLocal seeks a leader who will steward a shared vision that is responsive to community needs and is driven by the passion and commitment of UnLocal’s team and Board members; who will build and cultivate relationships with all external stakeholders – including community leaders, funders, and partners; and who will lead operational and programmatic oversight across the organization. Succeeding UnLocal’s well-respected founder, Michele Lampach, the new leader will support UnLocal’s dedicated and talented team and direct the organization’s continued development to best serve New York’s immigrant communities. The ED will work closely with staff across the organization and at all levels to continue to foster UnLocal’s unique culture of creativity and collaboration and identify opportunities for increased support and development.

The ideal candidate will be an inclusive, passionate leader with a deep understanding of the tools and pathways for protecting the rights of and serving undocumented immigrants by delivering the highest quality legal and community education services. She/He/They will bring leadership experience in a legal and/or nonprofit setting and a deep focus on community centered advocacy. She/He/They will be adept at fundraising and skilled in developing new relationships and deepening existing relationships with funders. The new Executive Director will be a caring manager who excels at supporting, mentoring, and motivating staff; developing structures and processes that ensure services are customer and community centered; and supporting teams that work closely with individuals experiencing trauma. A deep connection to UnLocal’s mission to support and protect the rights of New York City’s undocumented immigrant communities is necessary, and lived experience and a personal connection to impacted communities is highly preferred.

Professional Staff Member/Security Officer, The House Committee on the Judiciary

Job Description:

The House Committee on the Judiciary seeks a Professional Staff Member/Security Officer. Responsibilities include participating in a wide range of oversight projects, assisting in preparation for Committee hearings and markups, providing research assistance, and managing access to the Committee’s secure facility. Ideal candidates should be highly detailed oriented, experience handling large volumes of information, and demonstrated ability to meet precise deadlines. An active security clearance is a plus. The Committee strives to ensure that our staff reflects the diversity of the country’s population; candidates from minority backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. The Committee does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including marital or parental status, sexual orientation, and gender identity), disability, age, or national origin. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Job.JDEM@mail.house.gov. Please include in the subject line: PSM/Security Officer.

Attorney-Advisor, Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB)

Job Title: Attorney-Advisor

Agency: Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board

Salary Range: $99,172 – $156,000/ Per Year

Series/Grade: The agency uses the Administratively Determined system in which rank is attached to the individual. The salary range for this position is statutorily capped at $156,000.

Position Information: This is an opportunity for permanent employment in the excepted service. You will be required to serve a two-year trial period.

Duty Location: Washington, DC

Who May Apply: Open to the public. U.S. citizenship required.

Security Clearance: Must have or be able to obtain a TOP SECRET – Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS-SCI) Security clearance. If you already have a TS/SCI clearance, please highlight your last investigation date in your application.

Agency Mission
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board’s responsibilities comprise two basic functions: oversight and advice. In its oversight role, the Board is authorized to continually review the implementation of executive branch policies, procedures, regulations, and information sharing practices relating to efforts to protect the nation from terrorism, in order to ensure that privacy and civil liberties are protected. The Board is also authorized to continually review any other actions of the executive branch relating to efforts to protect the nation from terrorism, in order to determine whether such actions appropriately protect privacy and civil liberties and whether they are consistent with governing laws, regulations, and policies regarding privacy and civil liberties. In its advice role, the Board is authorized to review proposed legislation, regulations, and policies related to efforts to protect the nation from terrorism (as well as the implementation of new and existing policies and legal authorities), in order to advise the President and executive branch agencies on ensuring that privacy and civil liberties are appropriately considered in their development and implementation.

The primary purpose of this position is to perform duties as an Attorney-Advisor, working under general supervision in the form of broad policy and program guidance. Attorney-Advisors are expected to accomplish assigned functions on their own initiative, independently formulate requirements, responsibly allocate available resources, and develop, recommend, and monitor implementation of agency policies and procedures. Prior experience related to legal and policy issues implicating privacy, civil liberties, and/or counterterrorism or national security matters is strongly preferred.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

1. Serve as an attorney with limited supervision while gathering factual information, conducting legal and policy analysis, and providing legal expertise to the Board in complex investigations and/or reviews.

2. Prepare memoranda and make appropriate recommendations to the Board.

3. Respond in writing and orally to inquiries from Members of the Board regarding the status of investigations and/or reviews, research and analysis, and policy implications of existing and proposed programs and making recommendations to the Board.

4. Summarize reports received from the intelligence community and other agencies and extract essential information.

5. Assist the Board in reviewing and analyzing federal counterterrorism programs pursuant to its mission to ensure that both existing and proposed programs adequately safeguard privacy and civil liberties.

6. Advise and assist in the identification of issues and recommendations by providing policy advice, conducting research, and carrying out investigations, as required.

7. Analyze privacy and civil liberties-related issues, national security and counterterrorism programs and assist the Board in understanding how programs operate.

8. Assist in drafting Board reports evaluating efforts to protect the nation from terrorism and other Board reports to the President, Congress and the public, as well as drafting congressional testimony, letters, and other documents to carry out the Board’s responsibilities.

9. Represent the Board in interactions with officials from other departments and agencies of the Federal government, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations, as required.

10. Utilize superior oral and written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, logical, and concise products that are targeted to and meet the needs of diverse audiences with different perspectives and objectives, while demonstrating analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to identify issues and to develop process improvements, and working effectively and collaboratively with team members and other agency employees.

Educational Requirements
Must possess a J.D. or LL.B. and be a member in good standing of a state bar or the District of Columbia bar.

Application Process
Please send the following required documents to jobs@pclob.gov with the title “Attorney-Advisor”: Cover letter, resume, and writing sample (10 pages or less). If you are less than 3 years out of college or law school, please also include a transcript. All submitted materials must be at the UNCLASSIFIED level. If all the materials above are not received, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Candidates selected for an interview may be asked to provide references and undergo a writing assessment.

A candidate’s application may be considered for other eligible vacant positions at the agency. The candidate will be contacted if considered for another eligible vacant position.

Closing Date
A panel will convene to evaluate applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. A review of your application will be made to determine whether you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be evaluated. Candidates will be placed into categories of “best qualified”, “qualified”, and “not qualified”. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be placed in a different category. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your categorization.

No Travel Expenses for Interview
Candidates from outside the Washington, D.C., area may be selected for a telephone or in-person interview. If selected for an in-person interview, any travel or lodging will be at the applicant’s personal expense.

Telework, Travel and Benefits
Telework may be made available per agency policy.

If you use public transportation, part of your transportation costs may be subsidized. Our budget office can provide additional information on how this program is run.

A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.