PD_DHS_General-Counsel

Position Description

GENERAL COUNSEL, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Overview

Senate Committee

Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs

Agency Mission

To ensure that homeland is safe, secure and resilient against terrorism and other potential threats.

Position Overview

The general counsel (GC) is the chief legal officer of DHS and is responsible for all of the department’s legal determinations and for overseeing all of its attorneys. The GC is also the department’s regulatory policy officer, managing the rulemaking program and ensuring that all DHS regulatory actions comply with relevant statutes and executive orders.

Compensation

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)¹ _{The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.}

Position Reports to

Secretary of Homeland Security

Responsibilities

Management Scope

In fiscal 2015, DHS had $42.573 billion in outlays and 166,777 total employment. The Office of the General Counsel has over 1,800 dedicated attorneys at headquarters and at operating components. The GC has four direct reports:
® Two deputy general counsels
® Principal Deputy General Counsel
® Chief of Staff
In addition, the GC indirectly manages a team of seventeen.

Primary Responsibilities

® Provides complete, accurate and timely legal advice on possible courses of action for the department.
® Ensures that Homeland Security policies are implemented lawfully, quickly and efficiently.
® Protects the rights and liberties of any Americans who come into contact with the department and ensures that the department’s efforts to secure the nation are consistent with the civil rights and liberties of all citizens.
® Facilitates quick responses to congressional requests for information.
® Represents the department in venues across the country, including in the immigration courts of the U.S.
® Identifies legal requirements that apply to departmental policies and procedures and assists in policy and operational initiative planning, as well as reviews and develops proposed legislation.
® Key subject areas include federal contracting, immigration, border search, Title 10/32: DOD/civilian Interaction, FEMA statutes and state and local u2013 federalism issues.
® Partners closely with the secretary of Homeland Security, the U.S. Coast Guard Office of the Judge Advocate General, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Office of Legal Counsel, TSA Office of Legal Counsel, Customs and Border Protection Office of Chief Counsel, U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services Office of Chief Counsel and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.

Strategic Goals and Priorities

Depends on the policy priorities of the administration

Requirements and Competencies

Requirements

® Ability to work smoothly with the DNI, across the intelligence community and with other government agencies.
® Experience working with or in Congress is beneficial
® Familiarity with or ability to manage a complex, highly secretive mission set
® Experience working in intelligence, foreign affairs or the military, either directly or in an oversight capacity
® Diplomatic skills and demeanor to work with foreign liaison services
® High degree of discretion
® Familiarity and fundamental understanding of emerging technologies

Competencies

® Strategic Orientation: Demonstrates complex thinking abilities, incorporating both analytical and conceptual abilities to manage and develop legal plans and strategies.
® Results Orientation: Demonstrated ability to be proactive, exercise independent judgment and manage multiple projects simultaneously. A strong work ethic and a track record of producing high quality work under deadline pressures.
® Team Leadership: Experience effectively managing geographically-dispersed staff of legal and administrative support professionals.
® Collaboration & Influencing: Proven track record of creating and managing relationships with peer executives inside the organization, outside counsel and third parties/institutions.

Past Appointees

Stevan Bunnell (2013-2017): Managing Partner at O’Melveny & Myers LLP; Federal Prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division
Ivan Fong (2009-2012): Chief Legal Officer and Secretary at Cardinal Health; Senior Vice President and General Counsel at GE Vendor Financial Services; Deputy Associate Attorney General at U.S. Department of Justice
Gus Coldebella (2007-2009): Deputy General Counsel of DHS; Special Assistant District Attorney at the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office
Philip Perry (2005-2007): Acting Associate Attorney General at the Department of Justice; General Counsel of the Office of Management and Budget
Endnotes
This position description was created with the help of Egon Zehnder, a global executive search firm.
The Partnership’s Center for Presidential Transition helps ensure the efficient transfer of power that our country deserves. The Center’s Ready to Govern· initiative assists candidates with the transition, works with Congress to reform the transition process, develops management recommendations to address our government’s operational challenges, and trains new political appointees.