Supervisory Attorney Advisor (Deputy Director)
About This Position
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC's or Commission's) Division of Market Oversight (Division) is responsible for the regulation of the commodity futures, associated options, and swaps marketplace. Commodity futures, associated options, and swaps markets are highly innovative and global in scope. The mission of the Division is to foster markets that are free from abusive trading activity and accurately reflect the forces of supply and demand for underlying commodities.
Qualifications
Bar Membership: Currently an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Applicants are responsible for citing minimum qualifications such as JD and Bar membership information (institution name, state for bar, and dates) on their respective resumes. Failure to supply details will result in an incomplete application.
AND To qualify for the CT-16 level you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS/CT-15 level). Specialized experience is defined as that through which one has gained substantial knowledge of the Act and the Commission's regulations and policies, so as to oversee exchange compliance programs, trade practice conduct and market surveillance activities to include managing and directing subordinate staff and the work of others. Additional Assessment: Applicants who meet the specialized experience requirements will also be assessed on the following MTQs.
The MTQs below should be evident in your resume. A supplemental narrative must be uploaded and attached to your application addressing each MTQ listed below. Please limit your response to one page for each MTQ.
MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. MTQ 1: Thorough knowledge of the Commodity Exchange Act, Commission regulations, and the Commission's policies related to the oversight of exchange compliance programs. MTQ 2: Expert level knowledge of the operational and technical aspects of derivatives trading on exchanges.
MTQ 3: Experience in operating and reviewing exchange compliance programs and procedures to identify and address potential problems of importance. EXECUTIVE CORE COMPETENCIES (ECCs):
In addition to the Mandatory Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, your resume will be assessed for executive competency against the following four mandatory ECCs. Leading the Organization - Develops and implements an organizational vision that integrates program goals, priorities, and values. Is able to build coalitions to execute the organizational vision with buy-in from internal and external stakeholders.
Leading Others - Provides a clear direction and inspires others towards meeting the mission and vision in a changing environment. Displays the ability to provide constructive feedback, supports the resolution of conflict, demonstrates a collaborative and cooperative approach. Leading Yourself - Understands personal strengths and weaknesses and objectively views their behavior.
Seeks and accepts constructive feedback and adapts personal leadership style/strategies as needed to most effectively build trust and lead their division/office. Takes advantage of learning opportunities to increase effectiveness. Driving Results - Ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations.
Makes decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Assesses and adjusts to implementing innovative solutions to make organizational improvements. Develops and executes plans that achieve outcomes for the organization.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional philanthropic, religious, community, student, social).
Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
Note: This position is being filled using the excepted service, Schedule A, hiring authority, 5 CFR 213.3102(d) Current Members of the SES, those that have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, MUST ensure the CFTC's ECCs are demonstrated within their experience and accomplishments. Proof of eligibility for a noncompetitive SES appointment (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) will not be accepted. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.
Major Duties
As Deputy Director for the Compliance Branch, DMO, you will serve as a key member of the agency's leadership team, directing one or more key programs and advising the agency on policymaking and collaborating across organizational lines on agency-wide issues. The Deputy Director will oversee a program that consists of comprehensive examinations of self-regulatory programs at regulated exchanges and the system safeguards operations of swap data repositories (SDRs) on an ongoing, routine basis to assess continuing compliance with applicable core principles under the Commodity Exchange Act (Act) and the Commission's regulations and policies. Additionally you will; Oversee routine, comprehensive examinations to assure that exchanges have adequate oversight programs and procedures as mandated by the Act and Commission regulations and policies, including, as applicable: the review of exchanges' market surveillance, trade practice surveillance, disciplinary and audit trail programs; system safeguards, and exchange programs for complying with governance and emergency action rules; and exchange rules, policies, and procedures involving exchange operations.
Oversee routine, comprehensive examinations to assure that SDRs have adequate system safeguards programs and procedures as mandated by the Act and Commission regulations. Monitor new developments in derivatives trading and practices and conducting studies and analyses as necessary, as well as writes applicable guidance and regulations. In coordination with the DCM, SEF, and SDR Branch, review applications for DCM designation and SEF registration, with primary responsibility for ensuring applicants satisfy statutory core principle and regulatory requirements relating to trade practice surveillance, real-time market monitoring, audit trail and recordkeeping, disciplinary programs, system safeguards, governance, and conflicts of interest.
Confer with officials of exchanges, clearing associations, SDRs, and brokerage firms and traders in promoting and securing compliance with the Act and CFTC regulations and promoting adequate emergency preparedness and business continuity plans. Conduct short- and longer-term studies of trading practices, rules and other matters relating to the futures, options and swaps markets, and developing regulations, guidance, acceptable practices and policy statements to implement the Act or to accommodate innovations in derivatives trading. Analyze proposed legislation related to oversight of regulated exchanges and exchanges' self-regulatory programs to identify the possible effects of such legislation upon the markets and the public.
Serve on advisory and international working groups with representation of other U.S. and foreign agencies and industry officials regarding the functions of derivatives markets and the Commission's oversight program. Provide training, orientation, or technical assistance to other Federal law enforcement or regulatory bodies, such as agencies of foreign governments in the areas of exchange oversight and emergency preparedness and business continuity. Provide technical assistance to foreign government officials and foreign exchanges regarding derivatives markets and the development of oversight programs.
Provide legal and management advice to the Director on matters within the responsibility of the Branch, including the development of regulations and decision documents. Advise the Director on legal and management aspects of Branch policies and programs and recommends changes in regulations and policies, as necessary. Represent the Division on intra and interagency task forces concerned with regulatory issues.
Formulate and implement important projects, programs, objectives and studies. Perform complex analyses and develops critical reports as required. In particular, conducting management studies, as requested by the Director, of Branch functions.
Independently conducts necessary research and interviews and making recommendations to the Director. Responsible for carrying out the Branch's activities, develops long-range as well as short-range plans, makes binding decisions in any area, and concentrates on the day-to-day administration of the functions of the Branch. Ensure that Division and Commission policies are applied consistently within the Branch, and coordinates actions taken by the section with other Commission divisions and offices.
Establish and evaluate the goals, and the progress made toward achieving them, and institute policies and procedures directed toward improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Branch. Determine resource needs and allocates personnel, funding, and material to achieve overall work objectives. Manage the human, financial and material resources of the Branch.
Build coalitions with other CFTC Directors and maintains effective relationships with regulated industry participants, other agencies, members of Congress and other interested parties.
Conditions of Employment
Your resume must include information that emphasizes progressive leadership responsibilities for positions held to include the scope and complexity, program accomplishments, and results of executive actions taken. Additionally the resume must include information that addresses how your qualifications relate to the Mandatory Technical Qualification (MTQs) and the Executive Core Competencies (ECCs).
You must show that you possess the ECCs and MTQs related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified.
Your resume should include examples of experience and accomplishments applicable to the MTQs and ECCs. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.
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
ECCs and MTQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your resume will be further evaluated by a panel of subject matter experts to determine how well you meet the Executive Core Competencies (ECCs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) criteria listed below. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Additional Information
This position is not in the Bargaining Unit. 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 trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. EEO Policy Statement.
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetic information, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. Reasonable Accommodation. Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. 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 and 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 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).
How to Apply
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 (2 pages max); MTQ Narrative Responses: Please upload narrative statements (one page per MTQ); JD Transcripts; Most recent performance evaluation (strongly recommended); Veterans' preference documentation, if applicable. OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.