Director, Criminal Section

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Director, Criminal Section

Department of Justice

Offices, Boards and Divisions

Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section

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• Summary
• This job is open to
• Duties
• Requirements
• How you will be evaluated
• Required documents
• How to apply

Summary

The Civil Rights Division (CRT or Division) is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as the Director, Criminal Section.

Learn more about this agency

Summary

The Civil Rights Division (CRT or Division) is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as the Director, Criminal Section.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

05/08/2026 to 05/26/2026

Salary $151,661 - $228,000 per year Pay scale & grade ES 00

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Washington, DC

Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. Relocation expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Senior Executive

Promotion potential

None

Job family (Series)

• 0905 Attorney

Supervisory status Yes Security clearance Top Secret Drug test Yes Position sensitivity and risk High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness
• National security

Financial disclosure Yes Bargaining unit status No

Announcement number 26-CRT-SES-006 Control number 868626400

This job is open to

Help

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Managements hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Senior executives

Individuals looking for an executive-level job and who meet the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens, Senior Executive Service (SES), and Federal Employees in the Excepted or Competitive Service.

Duties

Help

As the Director of the Criminal Section, the successful candidate:

• Manages the Section, setting national federal civil rights prosecution priorities, and supervises an office of managers, trial attorneys, and professional administrative support staff. Coordinates and builds coalitions with law enforcement partners (FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Labor, Department of State, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and local agencies), United States Attorney Offices, and non-governmental groups. Manages national civil rights training program that provides civil rights skills trainings to thousands of law enforcement officers.
• Conducts, supervises, and reviews the enforcement of federal criminal civil rights and related statutes. Investigates and prosecutes persons for violations of federal criminal statutes, including civil rights violations under color of law, hate crimes, conspiracies, and related crimes such as obstruction, false statements, and immigration and visa crimes.
• Supervises preparation of each aspect of cases including the investigation, records analysis, drafting and filing of indictment and information, plea negotiations, trial, and sentencing of the case; timely directs strategy and planning.
• Consults and advises, sometimes on an emergency basis, with the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, and the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, reporting on the immediate status of civil rights matters involving criminal violations; advises and consults with the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and Deputy Assistant Attorney Generals; coordinates with other litigation section chiefs and United States Attorneys; and functions or confers closely with the public (and their delegations), law enforcement agencies and boards, et al.
• Authorizes and supervises prosecution of cases by United States Attorneys, including filing of indictment and information, trial and appellate proceedings, post-trial collateral attacks on convictions, and the like.
• May be required to personally present evidence to the grand jury on cases of national and in some cases international importance. Personally may direct the preparation and trial of important cases.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to qualify for this position.
• The Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualification must be demonstrated in your resume.
• You must complete a background investigation, to include pre-employment drug testing. Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion and adjudication of your background investigation and award of a Top-Secret security clearance.
• You must have a Juris Doctorate degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the US, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service are subject to a one-year probationary period.
• Veterans preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service.
• Selective Service - If you are a male applicant born 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.
• This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
• Resume cannot exceed two (2) pages.

Qualifications

• READ THIS JOB OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY. It contains detailed information required to ensure you are appropriately considered for the position.*

The application process for Senior Executive Service (SES) is RESUME-ONLY. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.

Your resume file must be 5 MB or smaller. For best results, save and upload your resume as a PDF to preserve its formatting and page count. You may also upload files in GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, ODT, or Word (DOC or DOCX) formats. Do not upload PDF portfolios, as the system will not accept them.

It is recommended that applicants use a clean, common font such as Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open Sans, Source Sans Pro, Roboto, or Noto Sans. Set margins to 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point font for section titles and 10-point font for the main text.

The Resume Builder can also support these recommendations and uses information from your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.

Note: If you are a current SES career appointee, a former SES member having reinstatement eligibility, or an OPM-certified graduate of an approved SES Candidate Development Program and have had their ECQs certified by OPM, you must provide a copy of your certificate. Possessing an SES certification does not remove the requirement to address the positions MTQs. You must submit the appropriate SF50 (showing SES status) or an OPM Qualifications Review Board certificate.

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 theDirector, Criminal Section. Be sure to give concrete examples of your experience and demonstrate the complexity of the knowledge you possess. Applicants must clearly demonstrate their leadership abilities by addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) in their resume. Make sure your accomplishments clearly show how you meet each qualification.

ECQS

1. 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.

2. DRIVING EFFICIENCY. Demonstrated ability to strategically and sufficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

3. MERIT AND COMPETENCE. Demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

4. LEADING PEOPLE. Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organizations vision, mission, and goals; To drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture.

5. ACHIEVING RESULTS. Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to state goals from superiors.

MTQs

1. Demonstrated expertise leading complex criminal investigations and prosecutions, including evaluating evidence, making charging decisions, and directing trial strategy. Provides authoritative legal analysis and guidance on civil rights statutes. Experience includes advising and mentoring attorneys; guiding federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners; and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders on sensitive and high-impact matters. Exercises sound judgment, ensures consistency with Department policies, and drives timely, mission-focused outcomes.

2. Demonstrated experience managing a complex organization, a broad workforce, and challenging organizational issues while enforcing policies and law.

3. Demonstrated experience communicating effectively on complex technical issues through oral and written communication, including the ability to advocate successfully with diverse stakeholders, external partners and individuals or groups having differed and often conflicting interests, on matters related to the successful execution of a large-scale organizations mission, programs and projects.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar. (Include in your resume the month and year in which you obtained your degree and the name of the College or University from which it was conferred/awarded.)

Additional information

Only experience obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

EEO Policy Statement: : The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. The complete DOJ EEO Statement/Policy is found at: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/page/file/1394116/download.

Reasonable Accommodation: 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. DOJ offers a comprehensive benefits package. Please see the "Benefits" area below for details.

Legal and Regulatory Guidance

• Social Security Number - Your Social Security Number is requested under the authority of Executive Order 9397 to uniquely identify your records from those of other applicants who may have the same name. As allowed by law or Presidential directive, your Social Security Number is used to seek information about you from employers, schools, banks, and others who may know you. Failure to provide your Social Security Number on your application materials will result in your application not being processed.
• Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
• Signature - Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application.
• False Statements - If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.
• Selective Service - If you are a male applicant born 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.

Expand Hide 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

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Only experience obtained by the 11:59pm EST on the closing date 05/26/2026 of this announcement will be considered.

After this announcement closes:

• An HR Specialist will review your resume and supporting (required) documentation.
• Applicants found minimally qualified will be referred to an Executive Resources Board (ERB).
• The ERB will evaluate applications to determine the best qualified applicants for referral to the hiring official.
• The hiring official may contact applicants to participate in an interview. Interviews may be in a virtual setting or in person at DOJ offices.
• The hiring official will make a selection, which must be approved by CRTs Assistant Attorney General.
• The selectee will receive a tentative offer from the agency; however, before an agency can appoint a new SES member, the selected individual will be subject further evaluation through a structured interview by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) as required by law. OPM must review the executive qualifications of each new career appointee to the SES prior to appointment.

NOTE: You MUST address all MTQs as required above, but do not need to address the ECQs if you:

• Are currently serving under a career SES appointment;
• Are eligible for reinstatement into the SES; or
• Have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program and been certified by Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Proof of Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certification must be provided in your application.

Benefits

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Required documents

Required Documents

Help

To be considered for this position, you must provide a complete application package in the format outlined in this job announcement. Applications that do not include all of the required documents or exceed the 2 page resume requirement will not be considered.

• A comprehensive 2 page resume that includes the name of the college or university, and month and year, from which you obtained your J.D.
• Your resume must clearly demonstrate your leadership abilities by addressing the ECQs and MTQs.
• Recent SF-50 that shows Official Title, Grade Level, Status
• Certification of OPM QRB approval (for graduates of SES Candidate Development Programs)
• Other supporting documentation as required.
• Transcripts
• Proof of active bar

Applicants who fail to submit all information as described in this job announcement WILL NOT receive consideration for this position.

It is highly encouraged that applicants submit their most recent performance appraisal.

DO NOT SUBMIT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Extraneous materials not requested in this job announcement will not be considered.

How to Apply

Help

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.

Failure to submit a complete application (resume and all supporting documents) by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 05/26/2026 may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully as missing application information will not be requested. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

If more than one resume is received, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed.

Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account: https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email select Application Status and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.

The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Do not email or send hard copy resumes/applications to the Contact Information or Agency Information listed in this vacancy announcement. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement.

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative method to apply from the Human Resources Office. Please contact Civil Rights Division at Diane.M.Turner@usdoj.gov.

Agency contact information

Diane Turner

Email Diane.M.Turner@usdoj.gov Address Civil Rights Division

950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20530

US

Next steps

An Executive Resources Board (ERB) will conduct a review of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The best qualified candidates will be referred to a hiring committee for further consideration and possible interview.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

Required Documents

Help

To be considered for this position, you must provide a complete application package in the format outlined in this job announcement. Applications that do not include all of the required documents or exceed the 2 page resume requirement will not be considered.

• A comprehensive 2 page resume that includes the name of the college or university, and month and year, from which you obtained your J.D.
• Your resume must clearly demonstrate your leadership abilities by addressing the ECQs and MTQs.
• Recent SF-50 that shows Official Title, Grade Level, Status
• Certification of OPM QRB approval (for graduates of SES Candidate Development Programs)
• Other supporting documentation as required.
• Transcripts
• Proof of active bar

Applicants who fail to submit all information as described in this job announcement WILL NOT receive consideration for this position.

It is highly encouraged that applicants submit their most recent performance appraisal.

DO NOT SUBMIT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Extraneous materials not requested in this job announcement will not be considered.

How to Apply

Help

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.

Failure to submit a complete application (resume and all supporting documents) by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 05/26/2026 may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully as missing application information will not be requested. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

If more than one resume is received, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed.

Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account: https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email select Application Status and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.

The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Do not email or send hard copy resumes/applications to the Contact Information or Agency Information listed in this vacancy announcement. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement.

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative method to apply from the Human Resources Office. Please contact Civil Rights Division at Diane.M.Turner@usdoj.gov.

Expand Hide how to apply

Agency contact information

Diane Turner

Email Diane.M.Turner@usdoj.gov Address Civil Rights Division

950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20530

US

Next steps

An Executive Resources Board (ERB) will conduct a review of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The best qualified candidates will be referred to a hiring committee for further consideration and possible interview.

Expand Hide next steps

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

Offices, Boards and Divisions

Are you interested in a rewarding and challenging career? Join the U.S. Department of Justice!

The Civil Rights Division (Division) of the Department of Justice (DOJ or Department), created by the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The Division enforces federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, religion, familial status, national origin, and citizenship status.

The Criminal Section (Section) enforces laws that date to the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era. Originally a part of the Criminal Division, the Section and its enforcement authority was moved to the Civil Rights Division when the Division was created in 1957. The Section is the only component of the Civil Rights Division that prosecutes criminal violations, while the remainder of the Division handles civil matters.

Agency contact information

Diane Turner

Email Diane.M.Turner@usdoj.gov Address Civil Rights Division

950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20530

US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what its like to work at Offices, Boards and Divisions, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.justice.gov/crt

Summary

The Civil Rights Division (CRT or Division) is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as the Director, Criminal Section.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

05/08/2026 to 05/26/2026

Salary $151,661 - $228,000 per year Pay scale & grade ES 00

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Washington, DC

Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. Relocation expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Senior Executive

Promotion potential

None

Job family (Series)

• 0905 Attorney

Supervisory status Yes Security clearance Top Secret Drug test Yes Position sensitivity and risk High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness
• National security

Financial disclosure Yes Bargaining unit status No

Announcement number 26-CRT-SES-006 Control number 868626400

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