Director, Educational Opportunities Section

Offices, Boards and Divisions • Washington, DC

5d

About The Position

The Civil Rights Division is seeking an experienced attorney to direct the Educational Opportunities Section. The Director oversees Section operations, including litigation, investigations, policy development, outreach, and strategic planning, and leads enforcement of federal civil rights laws addressing discrimination in education based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, and English learner status. The role oversees complex, high-profile litigation and investigations involving systemic discrimination and constitutional or statutory violations; reviews and approves litigation recommendations, settlement agreements, investigative findings, and legal memoranda; and advises Division and Department leadership on legal, policy, and operational matters related to educational civil rights enforcement.

The Director represents the Section and Division with federal agencies, educational institutions, advocacy organizations, congressional staff, and other stakeholders. The role supervises attorneys, investigators, analysts, and administrative staff; manages workforce planning, performance, and employee development; establishes priorities and allocates resources; ensures compliance with Department policies and management requirements; and coordinates with United States Attorneys' Offices, Department components, and federal agencies on enforcement and policy initiatives.

The position requires a J.D. from an American Bar Association-accredited law school and active membership in good standing of a qualifying U.S. bar. Candidates must demonstrate the specified Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications in a resume of no more than two pages. The position is in the Senior Executive Service and requires U.S. citizenship, a background investigation and pre-employment drug testing, and successful adjudication for a Top-Secret security clearance. A Public Financial Disclosure Report is required upon entry and annually thereafter.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Juris Doctorate degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
• Active membership in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state or territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Demonstrated commitment to the Constitution, rule of law, the American system of government, and service to the American people.
• Demonstrated ability to strategically manage resources and budgets, reduce wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technology upgrades.
• Demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to produce exceptional-quality work.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams, meet organizational goals, and foster a high-performance, high-accountability culture.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve individual and organizational results aligned with superiors' goals.
• Demonstrated expertise applying and enforcing federal civil rights statutes in education, including Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Experience providing authoritative legal analysis and guidance, developing and implementing enforcement strategies, and overseeing complex investigations and litigation.
• Demonstrated experience managing a complex organization, a broad workforce, and challenging organizational issues while enforcing policies and law.
• Demonstrated effective oral and written communication on complex technical issues, including successful advocacy with stakeholders and external partners with differing or conflicting interests.
• Successful completion and adjudication of a background investigation and award of a Top-Secret security clearance; pre-employment drug testing is required.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the announcement closing date.
• Applicants seeking an initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service are subject to a one-year probationary period.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify Selective Service registration or exemption.
• Submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) upon entry and annually thereafter.
• Resume must not exceed two pages.
• If an SES career appointee, former SES member with reinstatement eligibility, or OPM-certified SES Candidate Development Program graduate with ECQs certified by OPM, provide the applicable certificate and appropriate SF-50 or OPM Qualifications Review Board certificate; the MTQs must still be addressed.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee Section operations, including litigation, investigations, policy development, outreach, and strategic planning.
• Lead enforcement of federal civil rights laws concerning discrimination in educational settings based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, and English learner status.
• Oversee complex and high-profile litigation and investigations involving systemic discrimination and constitutional or statutory violations.
• Review and approve litigation recommendations, settlement agreements, investigative findings, and legal memoranda.
• Advise Division and Department leadership on legal, policy, and operational matters affecting educational civil rights enforcement.
• Represent the Section and Division in meetings with federal agencies, educational institutions, advocacy organizations, congressional staff, and other stakeholders.
• Supervise attorneys, investigators, analysts, and administrative staff, including workforce planning, performance management, and employee development.
• Establish Section priorities, allocate resources, and ensure compliance with Department policies and management requirements.
• Coordinate with United States Attorneys' Offices, Department components, and federal agencies on enforcement and policy initiatives.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package, with benefits available to employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree