The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is looking for the best and brightest to join our team. Our mission includes advocating for investors who seek to secure a future for their family, providing guidance and regulations for the nation's securities industry in an increasingly global market, and taking action with an eye toward promoting the capital formation necessary to sustain economic growth.
A career with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) offers work that is exciting, challenging and rewarding. You can contribute to securities regulation and enforcement while making a positive difference for the American investing public. The SEC provides:
Careers that broaden and deepen your already accomplished knowledge, skills and abilities;
An environment that allows you to work and learn with the nation's experts;
Benefits, compensation and career expansion opportunities; and
A balance between your professional and family life.
The SEC offers a number of enhanced pay and benefits plus the standard Federal benefits:
Paid dental and vision insurance;
Subsidy for health insurance, which supplements your health benefits premiums by $29.81 or self-only coverage, $55.69 for self plus one, and $59.61 for family coverage;
Domestic Partner Health Insurance Reimbursement Program;
Mass transportation subsidy;
"WorkSmart" - Opportunities for flexible work schedules.
As mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act, the Office of Credit Ratings was created in support of the Commission's mission to protect investors, facilitate capital formation, and maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets. The Office is charged with administering the rules of the Commission: for the protection of users of credit ratings and in the public interest; promoting accuracy in credit ratings issued by NRSROs; ensuring that credit ratings are not unduly influenced by conflicts of interest; with respect to the practices of NRSROs in determining credit ratings, and helping to ensure that firms provide greater disclosure to investors.
Summary
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is looking for the best and brightest to join our team. Our mission includes advocating for investors who seek to secure a future for their family, providing guidance and regulations for the nation's securities industry in an increasingly global market, and taking action with an eye toward promoting the capital formation necessary to sustain economic growth.
A career with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) offers work that is exciting, challenging and rewarding. You can contribute to securities regulation and enforcement while making a positive difference for the American investing public. The SEC provides:
Careers that broaden and deepen your already accomplished knowledge, skills and abilities;
An environment that allows you to work and learn with the nation's experts;
Benefits, compensation and career expansion opportunities; and
A balance between your professional and family life.
The SEC offers a number of enhanced pay and benefits plus the standard Federal benefits:
Paid dental and vision insurance;
Subsidy for health insurance, which supplements your health benefits premiums by $29.81 or self-only coverage, $55.69 for self plus one, and $59.61 for family coverage;
Domestic Partner Health Insurance Reimbursement Program;
Mass transportation subsidy;
"WorkSmart" - Opportunities for flexible work schedules.
As mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act, the Office of Credit Ratings was created in support of the Commission's mission to protect investors, facilitate capital formation, and maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets. The Office is charged with administering the rules of the Commission: for the protection of users of credit ratings and in the public interest; promoting accuracy in credit ratings issued by NRSROs; ensuring that credit ratings are not unduly influenced by conflicts of interest; with respect to the practices of NRSROs in determining credit ratings, and helping to ensure that firms provide greater disclosure to investors.
If selected, you will serve as the Director, Office of Credit Ratings. Your duties will include:
Leading the Office of Credit Ratings staff and providing overall strategic direction and management oversight for the office.
Leading oversight of credit rating agencies pursuant to the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act, including the production of studies and development of recommendations.
Managing a team of approximately 45 interdisciplinary team members that will examine, monitor and analyze developments at credit rating agencies registered with the Commission as nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs) under Section 15E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The results of this work inform senior policy makers at the Commission, and is frequently shared with other relevant regulators in the US and internationally.
Managing the annual examinations of the credit rating agencies required by the Dodd-Frank Act and the preparation and publication of an annual public report on such examinations.
Formulating, implementing and interpreting policies, rules and regulations applicable to registered credit rating agencies, consistent with the Commission's statutory mandates under the Exchange Act and subject to approval by the Chairman and other Commissioners as appropriate.
Managing office operations concerning on-site examinations of NRSROs for compliance with Commission's rules and applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and works closely with other Commission divisions/offices in the preparation of the studies and reports.
Assessing the economic impact, feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of existing and/or proposed legislation, standards, regulations, and/or policies in order to develop, review, and/or approve high-level policies that have a broad impact on the NRSROs.
Promoting the spirit and practice of diversity, and further the goals of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to ensure the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives, and adherence to nondiscriminatory employment practices.
You must be an active member of the bar in good standing
Important Notes:
This position is open to all U.S. citizens and persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence and seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B)
Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all the instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may result in you not being considered for this position.
Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
This position has promotion potential to the SO-02.
TRIAL PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a two-year managerial probationary period.
SECURITY CLEARANCE: Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. Favorable results on a Background Investigation may be a condition of employment or selection to another position.
DRUG TESTING: This position may be subjected to drug testing requirements.
PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS): Moving/Relocation expenses are not authorized.
DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
This position is not in the collective bargaining unit.
Qualifications
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; 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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Additional qualifications information can be found here. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following
J.D. or LL.B. degree --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.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement.
SO-01: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-14 level. Specialized experience includes: experience applying federal securities laws and rules, particularly those applicable to the credit rating agencies and its participants; applying the rules under Section 15E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and other applicable rules; providing advice on post rating reviews of corporate ratings, structured finance ratings, municipal ratings, and other ratings; compiling specialized written communications derived from a variety of sources; and planning organizing and overseeing the completion of difficult and sensitive projects that may have no precedent.
Education
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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
Surplus or Displaced Federal Employees: For information on how to apply through the Interagency Career Transition Assistance program (ICTAP) see http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must meet the Well Qualified criteria of the rating scale for this position.
Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation for disability to participate in the application process at the SEC, submit the form for Reasonable Accommodation for Participation in Job Application Process here. Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.
TTY/ASCII: Video Relay Service users are welcome to contact the appropriate SEC office or employee via the contact information listed above. If you do not otherwise have access to a Video Phone or Video Relay service, you may send us an email or use the Federal Video Relay Service via the internet. For more information about using the Federal Relay Service and to create a new account, please see: http://fedvrs.us/
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.
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 resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. All applicants found to be minimally qualified will be required to provide narrative responses (500 words or less per question) regarding the executive and technical qualifications below. After the announcement closing date, an HR specialist will determine if you meet the minimum qualifications described in the Qualifications Section. If you do, you will receive an email asking you to respond to the core and technical qualifications listed below. You must provide your responses within 72 hours of notification.
You will be evaluated on the following Competencies:
Core Qualifications:
1. Management Experience: Experience designing and implementing strategies which maximize employee potential and foster high ethical standards in meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals.
2. Leading Change/Achieving Results: Experience developing and implementing an organizational vision which integrates key national and program goals, priorities, values, and other factors of that organization. Examples should include experience implementing change in his/her organization, exercising leadership and motivating managers to incorporate vision and strategic planning into the process.
3. Building Coalitions/Communications: Experience explaining, advocating, and expressing facts and ideas (both orally and in writing) in a convincing manner. Work environment may be experience working with the press, political appointees, Congress, and other high-level organizations and staff on various types of important national issues. Experience includes working in groups and teams conducting briefings with outside groups and gaining cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.
Technical Qualifications:
1. Knowledge of Section 15E of the Exchange Act ("Section 15E") and Exchange Act Rules 17g-1 through 17g-10 which govern the registration and oversight program for credit rating agencies that are registered with the Commission as nationally recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSROs").
2. Knowledge of the Credit Rating Agency Reform Act of 2006 (the "Rating Agency Act") as amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the "Dodd-Frank Act").
3. Ability to analyze complex problems and devise innovative solutions.
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.
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.
You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:
Required: Your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.
Required: Your complete and comprehensive resume that includes a complete history of your work experience and the applicable employment dates with months and years. To determine if you qualify for this position, OHR will review your work history that is relevant to the specific position for which you applied. If you are selected for this position, OHR will review your complete work history to establish your starting salary.Note: Your resume must directly address the definition of specialized experience listed in the qualification section of this announcement and must NOT contain pictures.
Required, if applicable: Veteran's documentation (DD-214, member 4 copy or other documentation containing dates of service and character of discharge.)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
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/.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, sex (not limited to conduct which is sexual in nature, includes pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender status), age (40 and over), religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing discrimination. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination. For additional information, see https://www.sec.gov/eeoinfo/eeocomplaints.htm.
Office of Credit Ratings
100 F Street NE
Washington, DC 20549
US
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on "Track Your Online Application."
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired, you may be terminated after you begin work, or you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. You will be required to submit official documentation before appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, Veterans' Preference, certification of disability, etc.).
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:
Required: Your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.
Required: Your complete and comprehensive resume that includes a complete history of your work experience and the applicable employment dates with months and years. To determine if you qualify for this position, OHR will review your work history that is relevant to the specific position for which you applied. If you are selected for this position, OHR will review your complete work history to establish your starting salary.Note: Your resume must directly address the definition of specialized experience listed in the qualification section of this announcement and must NOT contain pictures.
Required, if applicable: Veteran's documentation (DD-214, member 4 copy or other documentation containing dates of service and character of discharge.)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
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/.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, sex (not limited to conduct which is sexual in nature, includes pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender status), age (40 and over), religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing discrimination. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination. For additional information, see https://www.sec.gov/eeoinfo/eeocomplaints.htm.
Office of Credit Ratings
100 F Street NE
Washington, DC 20549
US
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on "Track Your Online Application."
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired, you may be terminated after you begin work, or you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. You will be required to submit official documentation before appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, Veterans' Preference, certification of disability, etc.).
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
