Special Assistant

Summary

View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement. Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, in Washington, District of Columbia. These are non-bargaining unit positions.

Duties

• As a Special Assistant, GS-13 you will perform the following duties: Serves as the principal executive staff expert, operational analyst, and advisor to the Principal Legal Advisor (SES), other SES level manager(s), or either division/office chiefs, on a wide range of issues related to organizational and managerial directives, theory, practices, and guidelines governing administrative OPLA programs. Executes detailed assessments and evaluations of issues related to administration, human resources and/or other programmatic reviews and evaluations associated with work unit core mission functions. Handles the planning and logistics of special initiatives and programs initiated by senior leadership. Perform a full range of executive and management support, administrative support, research and program assessment and evaluation duties, a variety of liaison activities, and special assignments related to the sensitive missions and functions of the office.

Qualifications

Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Ensuring documents incorporate and consider most recent and operational guidance; AND Reviewing and assessing materials to ensure submissions meet standards for content, clarity, and conciseness; AND Planning, scheduling, and logistics for reoccurring events or special events, training, or conferences for multiple senior leaders or executives. You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Designing, developing, and implementing new projects to improve program efficiencies and general operations; AND Performing operational research, document reviews, creating reports, submitting written proposals, briefings, or other working documents for managers; AND Serving as an advisor to a member of a senior leadership team or division or office chief manager in support of a program related to administration, organizational and managerial directives, theory, practices, program oversight and analysis, or procedures governing administrative programs; AND Performing detailed assessments of issues related to administration, human resources or other programmatic reviews and evaluations. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. 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 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 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. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. If selected, you will be assigned to provide administrative support to one of the following key OPLA executive- and senior-leadership positions: The Executive Deputy Principal Legal Advisor (EDPLA) serves as the senior advisor to the Principal Legal Advisor on all matters affecting OPLA's operations. The EDPLA, along with the Deputy Principal Legal Advisors (DPLAs), is a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), and oversees the DPLAs and the Chief of Staff (COS). The DPLA for Legal Operations is responsible for OPLA's largest directorate, overseeing OPLA's 25 field locations across the United States. Staffed by over 1,500 attorneys and nearly 200 support staff, FLO is responsible for the litigation of the nearly four million immigration-related cases pending before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), including contested removals, custody redeterminations, and applications for relief from removal, as well as the provision of legal advice and counsel to ICE's operational clients in the field. The DPLA for General and Administrative Law (GAL) oversees four OPLA headquarters divisions responsible for all general law advice and litigation within OPLA, counseling ICE leadership, operational directorates, and other OPLA divisions on matters ranging from commercial and administrative law, ethics and professional conduct, information law, and labor and employment law. The DPLA for Enforcement and Litigation (E&L) oversees six OPLA headquarters divisions that focus on close client engagement and specialized legal advice and counsel to enforce our nation's immigration, customs, and criminal laws and policies, defending the operational authorities and decisions of ICE officers and agents in the federal courts, and guiding and supporting the advocacy of ICE attorneys before the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals, with special emphasis on cases involving criminal noncitizens, human rights violators, and noncitizens who threaten our national security. OPLA's Chief of Staff (COS) advances OPLA's mission through strategic initiatives and collaboration, and by overseeing four divisions charged with ensuring that all members of OPLA's workforce have the information, training, administrative support, and resources they require to successfully carry out their duties and responsibilities.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13054486, assessment, and submit all the required documentation as specified in he HOW TO APPLY and the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section. The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/30/2026. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. We encourage you to apply online. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, your online questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM eastern standard time on 09/30/2026. It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application. One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.