This position is located in the Risk Surveillance Branch of the Division of Clearing and Risk (DCR). The Risk Surveillance Branch (RSB) is responsible for quantitative risk surveillance of the clearing eco-system – derivatives instruments, both cleared and uncleared, markets intermediaries and their clients, and clearinghouses. The program has three core functions: margin model oversight, daily risk surveillance, and supervisory stress tests.
Summary
This position is located in the Risk Surveillance Branch of the Division of Clearing and Risk (DCR). The Risk Surveillance Branch (RSB) is responsible for quantitative risk surveillance of the clearing eco-system – derivatives instruments, both cleared and uncleared, markets intermediaries and their clients, and clearinghouses. The program has three core functions: margin model oversight, daily risk surveillance, and supervisory stress tests.
NOTE: THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCMENT HAS BEEN AMENDED TO EXTEND THE CLOSING DATE TO 04/13/2020.
As a Risk Analyst (Margin Models) in the Risk Surveillance Branch, you will:
Draft documents describing margin methodology in both a high level over view and a detailed narrative;
Evaluate margin models for a diverse product mix, including futures, options on futures, Credit Default Swaps, Interest Rate Swaps and other cleared over-the-counter products;
Develop and build prototypes of margin model components to determine if they are fit for purpose. As well as perform statistical analysis such as value at risk, expected shortfall, etc., necessary for the evaluation of margin models;
Use financial and statistical software programs such as MATLAB, R, or Python and SAS to value and stress test futures, interest rate swaps, and credit default swaps instruments and portfolios;
Plan, coordinate, and conduct risk surveillance activities for evaluating market risk at clearing houses (CCPs) and clearing members(CMs), conduct stress test analyses, and identify market participants that pose unusual levels of risk;
Perform analyses of large trader and clearing member positions and prepare reports on information and data pertaining to the risk posed by specific registrants during times of unusual market volatility;
Develop historical knowledge of the types of risk facing CCPs, their members, and their clients. This work is applicable throughout the Commission’s programs of oversight over CCPs, self-regulatory organizations (SROs) and CMs;
Lead presentations for DCR senior staff and staff of other Commission offices/divisions regarding the margin model issues. Incumbent is able to answer questions from DCR and other Commission staff and from the public concerning the workings of CCPs margin models;
Plan, coordinate, and participate in the evaluation of risk management systems and functions of entities such as CCPs and CMs, and in non-routine reviews and reviews involving complex or unusual issues arising from the financial information and analyses of such entities. Prepare reports of review findings.
Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered for Selective Service
Additional selections may be made from this announcement as needed.
Qualifications
CT-12 Level: To qualify for the CT-12 level - Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of an GS/CT-11. Specialized Experience is defined as experience applying advanced statistical concepts including value at risk, extreme value theory, GARCH, and EWMA. In addition, experience using tools such as SAS, Matlab, R, and Python, ability to mine large databases, and create data visualizations. This experience can be gained either through academic coursework or research related to a master’s or doctoral degree, or work experience.
CT-13: To qualify for the CT-13 level - Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/CT-12 level. Specialized Experience is defined as experience applying advanced statistical concepts within a risk management or related frameworks including value at risk, extreme value theory, GARCH, and EWMA; knowledge of derivatives market structure, asset pricing and modeling techniques. In addition, experience using tools such as SAS, Matlab, R, and Python, ability to mine large databases, and create data visualizations.
CT-14: To qualify for the CT-14 level - Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of GS/CT-13. Specialized Experience is defined as experience applying advanced statistical concepts within the risk management framework including value at risk, extreme value theory, GARCH, and EWMA; knowledge of derivatives market structure and risks in financial market activities, asset pricing and modeling techniques, usage of statistical software (SAS, MATLAB, etc.) to value interest rate swaps and interest rate swap portfolios, value credit default swaps and credit default swap portfolios and to mine large databases, analyzing data, and creating data visualizations. Experience gained at a clearing house, bank, members of a clearing house, trading firm, or a regulatory agency with oversight authority over aspects of the financial markets is highly desirable.
The experience may have been gained in either the public or private sector. One year of experience refers to full-time; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis.
Additional information
Relocation. Relocation expenses will not be paid.
Must serve a one year probationary period.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). The ICTAP provides eligible displaced federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.ICTAP candidates MUST submit:
A copy of their agency reduction-in-force notice;
A copy of your most recent Performance Rating;
A copy of your most recent SF-50 noting current or last position held, the grade level, and the duty location; and
A copy of your notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area or documentation showing you were separated as a result of RIF or declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area.
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP).Provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the CFTC with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If CFTC has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must rate equivalent to the Well Qualified or better category using established rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Veterans Preference. If you are entitled to veteran preference, you should indicate the type of veteran preference you are claiming on your resume.
In order to verify your veteran preference entitlement, please submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.
In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the natural mother of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, “Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference,” and the other required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim.
Although veteran preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under “How You Will Be Evaluated,” veteran preference eligible are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which they are qualified. In addition, qualified veterans with a compensable service-disconnected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the highest quality category (i.e., Best Qualified).
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated and rated under CFTC Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Qualified. Names of all candidates in the best qualified category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. Candidates within the best qualified category who are eligible for veterans preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligible.
You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency (knowledge, skills, and abilities) in the following areas:
Skill in applying financial analysis and statistical modeling;
Knowledge of risk management concepts and applications;
Expertise using statistical software;
Experience communicating in a clear, concise and effective manner, both orally and in writing, in order to prepare reports that document analysis, findings, and conclusions.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Veterans Preference. If you are entitled to veteran preference, you should indicate the type of veteran preference you are claiming on your resume.
In order to verify your veteran preference entitlement, please submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.
In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the natural mother of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, “Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference,” and the other required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim.
Although veteran preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under “How You Will Be Evaluated,” veteran preference eligible are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which they are qualified. In addition, qualified veterans with a compensable service-disconnected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the highest quality category (i.e., Best Qualified).
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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 user name 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 user name 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 mgshelp@monster.com or phone at 1-866.656.6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST.
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.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
CFTC
Three Lafayette Centre
1155 21st Street, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20581
United States
Next steps
Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on “Application Status,” and then click “More Information.”
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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 user name 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 user name 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 mgshelp@monster.com or phone at 1-866.656.6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST.
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.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
CFTC
Three Lafayette Centre
1155 21st Street, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20581
United States
Next steps
Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on “Application Status,” and then click “More Information.”
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
