Attorney Advisor (International and Head of Supervisory Cooperation)
About This Position
The Office of International Affairs serves as the primary focal point for the agency's international activities. In this connection, OIA assists the Chairman and the Commission in its formulation of international matters and coordinating the Commission's varied international activities, provides information to the Commission concerning foreign regulatory systems, and analyzes foreign regulatory developments.
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following: J.D.; and Active membership of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Note: proof of bar membership will be required before entry on duty) AND CT-15: At least 5 years of relevant legal experience after completion of law school. Examples of relevant legal experience include: • Applying advanced legal theory, principles, and regulatory requirements to develop recommendations, interpret policy, and advise on matters involving significant public‐policy implications. • Leading complex projects requiring expert‐level knowledge of supervisory cooperation practices, international regulatory frameworks, and self‐regulatory organization and industry trends, including drafting and interpreting regulatory and technical documents. • Conducting high‐level negotiations with foreign regulatory authorities and communicating complex legal and policy issues clearly and effectively in both written and oral form. • Applying extensive knowledge of law and the legislative process to issues that significantly affect agency operations, and providing authoritative guidance based on specialized areas of responsibility. Relevant legal experience is defined as attorneys, law clerk, or other legal experience which was obtained after graduation from a law school.
Legal and non- legal experience gained in the Federal government or private sector prior to completing a law degree cannot be used to satisfy the legal experience requirement. Work while in law school does not count.
Major Duties
As an Attorney-Advisor (International and Head of Supervisory Cooperation) in the Office of International Affairs (OIA), you will: • Lead major supervisory‐cooperation projects, including drafting, negotiating, and finalizing memoranda of understanding and other international cooperation instruments; coordinating cross‐divisional teams; researching Commission and foreign regulatory frameworks; and developing recommended policy positions for senior leadership. • Support the Commission's international coordination and cooperation initiatives by developing bilateral and multilateral arrangements, preparing supporting documents and analyses, reviewing and commenting on drafts, and coordinating directly with foreign authorities on information‐ and data‐sharing matters. • Research foreign regulatory, exchange, and intermediary developments; prepare written analyses and summaries for senior officials; and maintain ongoing awareness of international regulatory trends through review of primary sources and engagement with foreign counterparts. • Assist other Commission offices on international matters, including reviewing proposed actions, consulting on foreign regulatory developments, and obtaining information from foreign regulators as needed. • Support the Commission's participation in international standard-setting and coordination bodies, including the International Organization of Securities Commissions and the Financial Stability Board, by reviewing and commenting on working papers, drafting responses to inquiries, preparing briefing materials and talking points, and coordinating with foreign authorities.
Education
Successful completion of a full course of study (J.D.) in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
You must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criterion, see www.ed.gov.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
How You Will Be Evaluated
This job is being filled under a Schedule A hiring authority 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102 and is excepted from the competitive civil service.
You will be evaluated and deemed either eligible or ineligible based on the relevance and quality of your experience and education, bar membership, and desired qualifications described above. These positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures. There is no numerical rating system through which to apply veterans' preference; however, CFTC considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in hiring.
Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume, and to attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD Form-214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions. All eligible applicants will be further evaluated by subject-matter experts.
Your resume will be referred to the selecting official if you have submitted a complete application package to include resume, bar membership details, and any applicable transcripts. This does not mean you are considered qualified for the position. A qualification analysis will be conducted to ensure the selectee meets all requirements, including education and minimum qualifications listed on the vacancy announcement.
A complete application package is required to be considered qualified and eligible for selection. Please review the "Requirements" section of the vacancy announcement to understand the list of required documents for a complete application package. Additional information may be requested later in the recruitment process.
Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must indicate their preference in response to the appropriate question in their assessment questionnaire (it is also recommended that information is included in their cover letter or resume) and they must submit supporting documentation (e.g., DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) which verifies their eligibility for preference. 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, http://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 non-service-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).
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Additional Information
Relocation: Relocation expenses will not be paid. Trial Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: Your performance and conduct; The needs and interests of the agency; Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary/trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. This is a Bargaining Unit position located in the National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU) Chapter 337. More than the number of positions listed may be filled through this vacancy announcement.
The overall salary range is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade. A new hire's direct and overall experience are critical factors in determining a salary offer, therefore, it is important that your resume fully reflects all of your work experience. Note that the upper end of each range is typically applicable only to candidates with significant years of work experience and qualifications Please review the CFTC Compensation Program website for additional information.
The law prohibits public officials from appointing, promoting, or recommending their relatives. The law prohibits requesting, making, transmitting, accepting, or considering political recommendations for employment or other personnel actions for non-political positions. This includes recommendations from Members of Congress, Congressional employees, elected state or local officials, and political party officials and any recommendation based on party affiliation.
How to Apply
RESUME REQUIREMENT: Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. Please ensure your resume clearly demonstrates how you meet the qualifications for the position within the two-page limit.
YOU MUST APPLY ONLINE: Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement.
You must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at USAJOBS.GOV. To begin, click the Apply Online button within the vacancy announcement and follow the prompts to create an account using LOGIN.GOV, if you have not done so already. LOGIN.GOV will walk you through each step of the account set-up and will automatically link your USAJOBS profile to LOGIN.GOV.
Once you have established an account using LOGIN.GOV, you will then go back to USAJOBS.GOV using your LOGIN.GOV username and password to answer the questions and submit all required documents. If you already have established an LOGIN.GOV account or want to return to your saved application, go to USAJOBS.GOV using your LOGIN.GOV username and password to apply or view your profile. If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by e-mail at [email protected] or phone at 1-866.656.6831.
The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen.
The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Required Documents
Resume showing all relevant and related experience (two pages max). If selected, your resume will be used to determine your initial pay setting decision; JD/Transcripts (unofficial copy is accepted for application package, but an official copy with date degree was awarded is required prior to a firm offer letter being extended); Bar membership details; Writing sample demonstrating analysis of complex legal issues (optional)