Deputy Chief of Discipline, Employment Law Branch

Deputy Chief of Discipline, Employment Law Branch

Hiring Organization

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

Hiring Office

Central Office, Office of General Counsel, Employment Law Branch, Washington, DC

Attorney Appointment Type

Attorney Permanent

Location:

Office of General Counsel, Employment Law Branch - Various Locations Available

Washington or TBD, DC 20534 - United States

Application Deadline:

Friday, May 22, 2026

About the Office

The primary mission of the Employment Law Branch (ELB) is to represent the Agency in labor and employment cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), as well as the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The attorneys in the Branch provide assistance to attorneys outside of the Bureau. In civil complaints of employment discrimination, ELB attorneys provide legal assistance to Assistant United States Attorneys in United States District Court and in the United States Court of Federal Claims. ELB attorneys also provide assistance to DOJ Civil Division attorneys in matters before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the District of Columbia Circuit. ELB staff review disciplinary letters for technical and legal sufficiency, conditions of employment reviews, and compressed work schedules. They provide legal advice to management officials on labor and employment matters. In addition to the staff in Central Office, Washington, DC, ELB has satellite offices in Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, Annapolis, MD; Kansas City, Kansas; Atlanta, Georgia; Grand Prairie, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Stockton, California.

Job Description

As Deputy Chief, the incumbent supervises Employee Relations staff within the Employment Law Branch staff. This position has five possible duty locations: Central Office, Washington, D.C., Southeast Regional Office, Atlanta, GA, South Central Regional Office, Grand Prairie, Texas, North Central Regional Office, Kansas City, KS, or Phoenix. The incumbent will assist the Branch Chief and the Deputy Chief with the management of the Branch, particularly related to employee disciplinary cases. The incumbent will also provide training and guidance to subordinates in relation to preparation of disciplinary letters and hearings, as well as professional development.

Qualifications

Required qualifications: Applicants must have a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least three (3) years post-J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience.

In addition, incumbent must have prior litigation experience and must have experience practicing before a minimum of one of the following forums: the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; the Merit Systems Protection Board; the Federal Labor Relations Authority or before labor arbitrators. Further, the incumbent must have substantive knowledge of federal personnel laws, particularly in relation to the disciplinary process.

Preferred qualifications: Experience in federal sector labor and employment law is preferred. Prior supervisory experience is preferred.