The Natural Resources Section has one of the most dynamic and complex practices in the Environment and Natural Resources Division, representing virtually every federal agency in federal district courts, the Court of Federal Claims, and state courts in novel litigation arising under more than 80 natural resource, environmental, and cultural resource statutes.
The Natural Resources Section is seeking an Assistant Section Chief in Washington, DC or Denver, for one of its six litigating teams.
Much of our work involves challenges under the Administrative Procedure Act or the Just Compensation Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Natural Resources Section has a dynamic practice with a diverse docket and attorneys may choose to focus on brief writing, trial practice, or both.
On any given day, the Section's attorneys handle a vast portfolio of cases involving: Vital federal programs ranging from national energy policy to nuclear materials management to military preparedness; The balanced use of federal natural resources for varied uses, including mineral extraction, conservation, preservation, recreation, and commercial uses; The stewardship of our national parks, forests, rangelands, wildlife refuges, and offshore resources; Original actions in the U.S.
Supreme Court to resolve boundary and water allocation disputes in the western part of the country; Real property claims arising under the Just Compensation Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which involve issues such as military readiness, transportation infrastructure, and flood control; and The United States' trust relationship with Native Americans and Tribes.
The Section is soliciting applications from experienced attorneys for the position of Assistant Section Chief for one of its six litigating teams. The Assistant Section Chief will supervise seven to twelve trial attorneys and will manage a team with primary responsibility for National Environmental Policy Act and other natural resource litigation involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S.
Department of Justice, and the U.S. Postal Service. The team also litigates Quiet Title Act cases and affirmative trespass matters. The subject areas and matters that the Assistant Section Chief will supervise are subject to change, according to the needs of the Section.
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials.
More information may be found at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
carmen.browne@usdoj.gov · (202) 616-3127
This position is with Offices, Boards and Divisions, Department of Justice.
The posted pay range is $164956 – $197200/yr.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-09-18.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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