Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney

About the role

The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania prosecutes federal criminal offenses, seeks recovery of government funds fraudulently obtained, litigates affirmative civil fraud and enforcement actions, and defends the U.S. Government's interest in civil cases. The office has staffed locations in Harrisburg, Scranton, and Williamsport, and an unstaffed office in Wilkes‑Barre.

The Civil Chief is a Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney who leads the Civil Division, reporting to the United States Attorney and the First Assistant United States Attorney. The Civil Chief is responsible for the overall management, supervision, and strategic direction of the Division's affirmative and defensive civil litigation on behalf of the United States. The Civil Division represents the United States, its agencies, officers, and employees in a broad range of civil matters in federal district court, bankruptcy court, and on appeal, including both defensive litigation and affirmative civil enforcement.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and manage all Civil Division attorneys (AUSAs and Special AUSAs) and support staff.
• Assign cases and matters, set priorities, monitor case progress and quality, and ensure timely and effective resolution of litigation.
• Personally handle a caseload of complex or significant civil matters, including trials, motions practice, and appeals.
• Provide leadership, mentoring, performance evaluation, and professional development for attorneys and staff.
• Oversee both major practice areas:
  • Defensive litigation: Federal Tort Claims Act (including medical malpractice), employment discrimination (Title VII and related), Bivens actions, Administrative Procedure Act challenges, immigration‑related litigation, FOIA/Privacy Act cases, constitutional challenges, prisoner litigation, and other suits against the United States or federal employees.
  • Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE): False Claims Act (including qui tam/whistleblower actions), healthcare fraud, procurement/grant fraud, civil rights enforcement, Controlled Substances Act civil violations, and other affirmative recovery actions.
• Supervise related functions such as bankruptcy proceedings, financial litigation/debt collection, social security, and (in many districts) asset forfeiture or civil monetary penalties.
• Coordinate closely with client federal agencies, Department of Justice Civil Division components (Main Justice), Inspectors General, and other U.S. Attorney's Offices.
• Develop and implement office priorities and policies for civil litigation consistent with Department of Justice guidance.
• Review settlement recommendations within delegated authority.
• Represent the Division in internal leadership meetings and external interactions with the court, bar, and agency partners.

Requirements

• Must be a United States citizen or national.
• J.D. degree and active membership in the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction.
• At least three (3) years post‑J.D. legal or other relevant experience.
• Initial appointment conditioned on a satisfactory pre‑employment adjudication (fingerprint, credit and tax checks, drug testing); continued employment subject to a favorable background investigation.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (male applicants born after December 31, 1959).
• Must reside in the Middle District of Pennsylvania or within 25 miles thereof (see 28 U.S.C. § 545).
• All Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney appointments are temporary, at‑will positions; may be extended or made permanent as an Assistant United States Attorney without further advertising.

Qualifications

Required

• J.D. degree
• Active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction)
• At least three (3) years post‑J.D. legal or other relevant experience
• United States citizenship

Preferred

• Superior academic record
• Strong analytical abilities and judgment
• Excellent oral advocacy and writing skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with attorneys, support staff, client agencies, opposing counsel, and court staff
• Superior research and writing abilities; capacity to prepare high‑quality, persuasive pleadings
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment

Education

J.D. degree required.

Pay

Assistant United States Attorney pay is administratively determined based in part on years of professional attorney experience. The range of basic pay is $154,169 to $197,100, inclusive of locality pay for the applicable location.

Benefits

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Telework eligibility
• Life insurance
• Health benefits
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Schedule & travel

Travel is required, primarily within the 33‑county Middle District of Pennsylvania, with occasional trips to other districts and to the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina for training and conferences.