Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all groups of qualified individuals.

The Deputy Director for Consumer Protection provides executive leadership and oversight of Bureau components that prepare economic analyses of consumer protection cases at the evaluation, Commission review, and compliance stages of matters, as well as provides economic support for the Commission's consumer protection rule-making process. This support entails statistical and analytical efforts to ascertain facts, provide a sound economic basis for actions, and dispel incorrect economic arguments. The incumbent also examines selected policy issues to provide evidence and analysis that will inform Commission policy on significant consumer protection questions.

Bureau staff consists of economists, research analysts, financial analysts, and administrative personnel. BE provides economic analysis in support of antitrust and consumer protection investigations and rulemakings, advises the Commission and other government entities on the impact of government regulation on competition, and analyzes the impacts of various economic phenomena on competition, consumer protection, and consumer welfare.

The Deputy Director is a key member of the Bureau's executive team and is delegated to act for the Bureau Director in interpreting and carrying out the Commission's objectives in a wide area of economics. In fulfilling these duties, the incumbent is responsible for strategic planning regarding the Bureau's role in the consumer protection mission. The incumbent, along with assistant directors and supervisors, serves as the primary link on consumer protection matters between the division, other bureau leaders, and the Bureau Director. Delegated responsibility in this regard involves content review and comprehensive quality control over professional work products, as well as consistency with Commission goals and objectives.

The Deputy Director is the principal source of the Commission's economic advice on broad questions of consumer protection policy, such as evaluation of questionable business practices, business relationships, and proposed remedies. Upon request, the incumbent oversees economic and statistical investigations preparatory to the investigation and trial of cases, provides economic analyses in the investigation and expert witnesses in trial of such cases, analyzes economic and statistical evidence submitted by respondents, and makes recommendations as to the economic aspects of proposed orders. This work has far-reaching implications for the welfare of American consumers.

The Deputy Director evaluates the ideas of those who propose studies and advocacy projects on consumer issues and is ultimately responsible for ensuring that final economic analyses provided are economically sound, empirically based, and informative regarding the Commission's mission. During the course of most assignments, the incumbent collaborates with senior attorneys, managers, and other professionals and staff assigned to the case. The incumbent has ultimate responsibility for overseeing the development of the economic theory of a case, research strategy to be followed, decisions regarding the type and quantity of economic evidence necessary, and selection and evaluation of information sources.

The Deputy Director serves as an advisor to the Commission and may be called on as an expert witness at trial, as a representative of the Commission on interdepartmental committees, or to represent the Commission before federal, state, or local regulatory bodies. The incumbent may perform independent research related to the economic effects of consumer protection or other government regulations on consumers and competition.

The Deputy Director monitors the Bureau's progress toward organizational goals and makes appropriate adjustments in the Consumer Protection Division. This includes monitoring work status through formal and informal means to evaluate progress toward objectives, assessing the overall effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of the Bureau, identifying, diagnosing, and consulting on problem areas related to implementation and goal achievement, and making decisions on alternative courses of action. In directing the work of the Consumer Protection Division, the incumbent assesses policy, program, and project feasibility, determines program goals, develops implementation plans, structures the deliverables of the organization to promote effective task accomplishment, sets effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity performance requirements, implements management and/or internal control standards, and administratively and professionally directs and oversees-through one or more supervisors-the work of 30-35 economists, research analysts, financial analysts, and administrative personnel.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position.
• Background investigation (Public Trust) is required.
• You will serve a one-year probationary period unless you have previously completed the probationary period in the Senior Executive Service (SES).
• The individual selected will be required to file an Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278) in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants must possess the Basic Education requirement and demonstrate competence in terms of the Mandatory Professional/Technical Qualifications listed below, as well as executive leadership capabilities in terms of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) of the SES. Typically, experiences of this nature are gained at or above the GS-15 grade level or its equivalent in federal service or with state or local government, private industry, or nongovernmental organizations.

If you are a current career member of the SES, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have completed an SES Candidate Development Program and have been certified by the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB), please submit your resume, proof of education requirement, written statements addressing the Mandatory Professional/Technical Qualifications, and other applicable qualifications. You must also provide documentation of QRB certification (i.e., SF-50 showing career SES status or OPM-issued SES qualification certificate).

MANDATORY PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (should not exceed two pages per qualification. Six pages maximum):

1. In-depth knowledge and thorough comprehension of econometric, applied microeconomic, and quantitative economic theory with skill in one or more sub-fields (e.g., economics of information, regulatory economics, law and economics, or industrial organization) and the research skills necessary for effective written and oral contribution on public policy issues.

2. Ability to plan, organize, direct, and control major studies, complex case and rulemaking projects, and research agendas to achieve goals and objectives.

3. Ability to analyze, explain, and justify to economists and non-economists the economic theories and evidence pertaining to issues affecting the nation's largest industries and corporations.

Highly Desirable Professional QualificationS:

1. Advanced post-graduate degree in the field of economics.

2. Comprehensive, professional knowledge of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws and regulations.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (should not exceed two pages per qualification. Ten pages maximum):

All applicants must submit written statements describing accomplishments that would satisfy the ECQs. You must respond to all ECQs and address each one separately, as failure to do so will result in a rating of 'ineligible' for the position. You can find additional information on the ECQs in the Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications or at the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/.

A good competency-based qualifications statement should address the following elements for each ECQ: (a) the goal, problem, or activity and its challenge, (b) the context or environment in which the activity took place, (c) specific actions you took to address the challenge, and (d) the results or impact of the activity. Each accomplishment should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs you managed, and the results of your actions. You are strongly encouraged to review the Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications. The ECQ statement, addressing all five ECQs, may be no longer than ten pages.

ECQ 1 - Leading Change: This ECQ involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

ECQ 2 - Leading People: This ECQ involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports the constructive resolution of conflicts.

ECQ 3 - Results Driven: This ECQ involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

ECQ 4 - Business Acumen: This ECQ involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

ECQ 5 - Building Coalitions: This ECQ involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, including experience, education, awards, self-development, and training. This information will be obtained from the application package and will be based on how well you meet the Basic Education requirements, Mandatory Professional/Technical Qualifications, and ECQs, as stated in this vacancy announcement.

The following are examples of qualifying experience for this position:

1. Individual economic research assignments requiring planning, information assembly, analysis and evaluation, conclusions, and report preparation.

2. Supervisory or project coordination assignments involving a staff of professional economists and requiring the evaluation and interpretation of economic information.

3. Teaching assignments in a college or university that included both class instruction in economics subjects and one of the following: (1) personal research that produced evidence of results, (2) direction of graduate theses in economics, or (3) service as a consultant or advisor on technical economics problems.

Experience in related fields that did not involve the use and understanding of economic principles and theories may not be used as qualifying experience for this position.

A Human Resources Specialist and/or Rating and Ranking Panel consisting of SES members will evaluate your application package. This evaluation will determine which applicants are Not Qualified, Qualified, and Highly/Best Qualified. Highly/Best Qualified candidates will be referred to the Selecting Official and may undergo an interview and a reference check.

The Selecting Official will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the Appointing Authority. Unless the OPM QRB has already certified you, your ECQs must be forwarded to the OPM QRB for certification before your appointment can occur.

Note: Veterans' preference does not apply to SES positions. This is in accordance with 5 USC 2108(3), which defines the term "preference eligible" and provides that this term does not include applicants for, or members of, the SES.