Federal
Supervisory Attorney (External Auditing Branch)
Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System ยท Department of Justice
About This Position
Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.
Qualifications
Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least four (4) years of post-J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience. Preferred qualifications: Prior experience in external auditing matters is preferred, but not required.
Major Duties
The External Auditing Branch (EAB) serves as a liaison for contacts with external auditing agencies such as the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). EAB is also responsible for the monitoring of the BOP Strategic Plan, providing support for Executive Leadership meetings, and monitoring Institution Character Profiles (ICPs) and pilot initiatives. EAB is also responsible for preparing the Integrity Act Report for the Director, which is forwarded to the Attorney General for inclusion in the Annual Accountability Report for the Department of Justice. The selected individual will supervise Management Analysts, attorneys, and/or a section chief(s) and will be responsible for overseeing the external auditing engagements with entities, including but not limited to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The selected individual will be required to prepare responses to reports, inspections, and recommendations for Executive Leadership review. The selected individual is also responsible for the monitoring of the BOP Strategic Framework as well as the assistance the agency provides the Department of Justice for its Strategic Plan. The selected individual is also responsible preparing the Integrity Act Report for the Director, which is forwarded to the Attorney General for inclusion in the Annual Accountability Report for the Department of Justice. The selected individual assists in the analysis of legal standards in implementing tracking and compliance standards stemming from audits by external entities. The selected individual serves as the legislative, administrative, and operational expert on statutory and regulatory requirements, obligations, decisions, policies, practices, precedents, and procedures, specifically, but not limited to, documents to be provided to external auditing, congressional, and internal entities. The selected individual reviews and evaluates the implementation of procedures in compliance with 31 U.S.C. Chapter 7 and other GAO and/or congressional oversight authorities, the Inspector General Act (i.e. 5 U.S.C. APP. 3) and other authorities as they relate to interactions with the DOJ OIG, and other legal authorities pertaining to external and internal assessment of the Bureau. The selected individual will provide guidance and assistance to Bureau employees, including Executive Leadership, during external auditing engagements. The selected individual will also provide training to Bureau staff nationwide on external auditing engagements. The selected individual will work closely with the Senior Deputy Assistant Director and Assistant Director of the Program Review Division and provide briefings and recommendations on how to improve related administrative practices and procedures. The practice areas related to this position are: Compliance, Government Contracts, and Administrative Law.
Conditions of Employment
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
Education
See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable. ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). 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, Click Here. Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.
How You Will Be Evaluated
This position is processed under Direct Hire, veteran's preference and Category Rating procedures do not apply. Applicants will be evaluated utilizing the documentation submitted and considered for the grade level in which the resume and/or educational transcripts supports. You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Additional Information
Special Conditions of Employment Section: Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee's Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation. All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check and must pass a review of their income tax filing history. Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate. Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances. Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement. Current Federal Law Enforcement Employees: This is a non-law enforcement position. Attorneys who do not have 20 years of primary/secondary law enforcement officer (LEO) service may lose their LEO retirement benefit.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit a cover letter highlighting relevant experience, resume (not to exceed two pages), writing sample, and a list of legal references by February 13, 2026 to Corinne M. Nastro, Assistant Director, Program Review Division, at [email protected]. Please include in the subject line "PRD Supervisory Attorney." Applications must be received on or before the application deadline date below: February 13, 2026 FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE REFER TO: www.justice.gov/legal-careers/job/supervisory-attorney-external-auditing-branch-1 DO NOT SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ON-LINE. Submit a complete/detailed resume or curriculum vitae. Limit your resume to 2 pages. If the only resume(s) received is/are longer than two pages, your application is ineligible for further consideration. Address quality ranking factor, if required. Resume or curriculum vitae must contain all information listed in the Qualifications Section. Submit supporting documents (i.e. transcripts, certification, registration, and/or license, if applicable).
Required Documents
Resume: Resume limited to 2 pages showing relevant experience (cover letter optional). Experience that would not normally be part of the Federal employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence of qualifying experience (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, Human Resource Manager, SF-52, etc.) To receive credit for experience contained in an application, the experience must be documented: Reflecting start date and end date in month/year format (MM/YYYY) AND Include the number of hours worked per week. College transcript: includes the School Name, Student Name, Degree, and Date Awarded (if applicable). NOTE: If you are selected, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day. SF-50: for proof of prior LEO coverage, if applicable. Failure to provide legible required documents and/or follow the prescribed format often results in removal from consideration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Supervisory Attorney (External Auditing Branch) position at Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System?
The salary range for this position is $169,279 - $197,200/yr. This is a GS-15 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Supervisory Attorney (External Auditing Branch) job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least four (4) years of post-J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience. Preferred qualifications: Prior experience in external auditing matters is preferred, but not required.
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Feb 13, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GS-15 mean?
GS-15 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.