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Offices, Boards and Divisions · Washington, DC · posted Nov 6, 2026

Deputy Director

$152K to $228K a year

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The role

The Civil Division (Division) of the U.S. Department of Justice (Department) is seeking an individual to serve as Deputy Director in its National Courts Section. Organizationally, the position is known as the Deputy Director, Court of International Trade. The International Trade Deputy oversees all litigation in the Court of International Trade, which is highly specialized and diverse.

The National Courts, Deputy Director (Court of International Trade): As delegated by the Director, the Deputy Director directs and supervises the work of attorneys and other personnel assigned to the thousands of international trade cases at the Court of International Trade and at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, either directly or by providing guidance to Assistant Directors, Senior Trial Counsel, or Trial Attorneys.

Assists in the assignment and distribution of work among the attorneys, reviews and approves of pleadings, briefs, and other papers filed with the courts and other fora and acts as the legal advisor and counsel to attorneys about approaches and strategies to be followed in preparing for or presenting a case or an appeal. Provides guidance and direction on all aspects of work performance and provides input to the Director for the preparation of performance appraisals and other personnel actions.

Advises and consults with the staff on new program orientations or directives. Oversees the trade and customs Assistant Directors, who directly manage the complex assignment, handling, and defense of the voluminous and highly specialized international trade docket at the Court of International Trade. Manages the National Courts Section's staffing of these matters and, where necessary, incorporates detailees from within the Commercial Litigation Branch and other Department components.

Oversees coordination with the court, client agencies, and opposing counsel to ensure the most optimal and efficient resolution of these disputes and that it is in the government's best interests. Personally leads cases and argues difficult and precedent-setting cases of unusual complexity. Represents the Department of Justice on interagency task forces, study groups, or litigation teams dealing with international trade issues.

Analyzes and reviews proposed and pending legislation to determine whether it may affect the work of the Section, particularly with respect to whether the proposed legislation could create significant claims in the Court of International Trade. Serves as an expert in a specialized area of law and is sought as a consultant not only within the Branch and throughout the Department, but also by other federal agencies. Assists the Director in responding to budgetary, operational, and other requests from the Assistant Attorney General.

The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME-ONLY. Applicants must show clear evidence of their demonstrated leadership ability by addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) embedded within their resume. The resume-based application should not exceed 2 pages (1-sheet double-sided or 2 sheets one-sided) **Note: Applicants who have completed the SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and have had their ECQs certified by OPM must provide a copy of their certificate as part of their application.

Candidates must still satisfy the MTQs of the position. We recommend that your resume emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs managed, and your program accomplishments, including the results of your actions. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required of the position and on the extent your application demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the Deputy Director.

Please be sure to give concrete examples of your experience and demonstrate the complexity of the knowledge you possess. ECQ1 - COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDING. Demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the Rule of Law, and commitment to serve the American people. ECQ2 - DRIVING EFFICIENCY. Demonstrated ability to strategically and sufficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ3 - MERIT AND COMPETENCE. Demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ECQ4 - LEADING PEOPLE. Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals; To drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. ECQ5 - ACHIEVING RESULTS. Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to state goals from superiors.

For this position, the following Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) have been established and should be addressed within the resume application. MTQ 1. Complex Litigation and Appellate Advocacy MTQ 2. Leadership and Management of a Complex Litigation Docket MTQ 3. Legal Strategy, Client and Stakeholder Coordination, and Policy Advice

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