The incumbent is a key member of the Bureau's management team and is delegated to act for the Bureau's Director and Deputy Director for Consumer Protection in interpreting and carrying out the Commission's objectives across a broad spectrum of economic issues relevant to consumer protection and serves as a primary link for communication and coordination of consumer protection economics work between the Division, Bureau managers, and Bureau of Consumer Protection's management and staff.
The incumbent is a key member of the Bureau's management team and is delegated to act for the Bureau's Director and Deputy Director for Consumer Protection in interpreting and carrying out the Commission's objectives across a broad spectrum of economic issues relevant to consumer protection and serves as a primary link for communication and coordination of consumer protection economics work between the Division, Bureau managers, and Bureau of Consumer Protection's management and staff.
Applications will be accepted from all groups of qualified individuals.
The Assistant Director is a key member of the Bureau's management team and is delegated to act for the Bureau's Director and Deputy Director for Consumer Protection in interpreting and carrying out the Commission's objectives across a broad spectrum of economic issues relevant to consumer protection. A key element of delegation involves primary responsibility for directing a broad and comprehensive program for the economic analysis of consumer protection matters. This responsibility includes content review and comprehensive quality control of professional work products, as well as adherence to, and consistency with, the Commission's policies and objectives. The Assistant Director, along with subordinate managers, serves as a primary link for communication and coordination of consumer protection economics work between the Division, other BE managers, and the Bureau of Consumer Protection's management and staff. In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Assistant Director is a key contributor looked to for strategic planning regarding the Bureau's role in the consumer protection mission. The incumbent may formally recommend actions to the Commission.
The incumbent ensures that the Division provides high quality economic analysis to the Commission, Congress, and the public. Serves as a key provider of advice to the agency on broad questions of consumer protection policy. Formulates goals and objectives for economic review of consumer protection matters, including law enforcement investigations and rulemaking proceedings. Oversight provided by the incumbent includes assisting with or overseeing the development of economic theories and data used to guide consumer protection investigations, designing the investigative strategy to be followed, determining the type and quantity of
economic evidence necessary for evaluating the candidate theories of consumer harm and selecting and evaluating various information sources. The Assistant Director determines the resources to be used in support of these matters in compliance with Bureau and agency policy. For select matters, reviews staff analyses to maintain consistency and quality, especially those considered important or precedent-setting.
The incumbent's responsibilities often involve interaction with other members of the agency management team from the different bureaus, with representatives of other government agencies, and with outside interest groups. These interactions generally will require persuasive advocacy of positions that are consistent with sound economic theory and empirical evidence. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that staff-level decisions and recommendations are appropriate and consistent with existing theory and evidence. the incumbent also interacts frequently with agency attorneys who are responsible for the legal aspects of investigations and
rulemakings; representatives of private industry; legal counsel for respondents and their economic experts; third-party complainants; representatives of other government agencies, including foreign consumer protection agencies; and Commissioners and their economist and attorney advisors. The incumbent serves as an advisor to the Commission and may testify as an expert witness at trial. The incumbent also may serve as the Commission's representative on interagency committees, as well as represent the Commission before federal, state, or local regulatory bodies. Because the Division's activities have a significant impact upon various interested parties (i.e., major corporations, trade associations, other regulatory agencies, legislators, consumer advocates), matters usually require the careful handling of sensitive policy questions and require tact, diplomacy, and good judgment in dealing with these interested parties.
The Assistant Director reports to the Deputy Director for Consumer Protection, carries out assignments with little direction, and keeps the Deputy Director and Bureau Director informed of progress and problems encountered. The Assistant Director is responsible for the economic component of consumer protection cases and rulemakings, including maintaining significant and viable research and advocacy agendas that advance the Commission's mission, as well as addressing questions important for Commission policy. Work primarily is reviewed and evaluated according to results achieved, including achievement of Bureau and FTC missions,
goals, and objectives.
QUALIFICATIONS:
As a basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate technical and professional competence as described in the Mandatory Professional Credentials/Technical Qualifications section below and executive leadership capabilities as described in the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) of the SES listed below. Typically, experiences of this nature will have been 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), you can apply for competitive and/or noncompetitive consideration. For competitive consideration, you must submit a resume and written statements addressing the Mandatory Professional Credentials/Technical Qualifications, ECQs, and other applicable qualifications. For noncompetitive consideration, you must submit your resume, written statements addressing the Mandatory Professional Credentials/Technical Qualifications, and other applicable qualifications. Written statements addressing the ECQs are not necessary for noncompetitive consideration. You must also provide documentation of QRB certification (i.e., SF-50 showing career SES status or OPM-issued SES qualification certificate).
MANDATORY PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS AND TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Mandatory Technical Qualifications (should not exceed two pages per qualification):
MTQ1 - In-depth knowledge and thorough comprehension of the advanced statistical, econometric, and quantitative techniques used to identify, analyze, and test hypotheses about economic relationships. Possesses knowledge of advanced applied microeconomic theory, with skills in one or more sub-fields (e.g., economics of information, industrial organization, analysis of economic regulation, law and economics, game theory), as well as the research and communication skills necessary for effective written and oral contributions to the discussion of public policy issues.
MTQ2 - Comprehensive, professional knowledge of federal consumer protection laws and regulations.
MTQ3 - Ability to plan, organize, direct, and control major studies, complex case and rulemaking projects, and research and advocacy agendas to achieve goals and objectives.
MTQ4 - 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.
EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS: 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.
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 at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2010.pdf. The ECQ narrative 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.
A. Degree: Economics, including at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in Economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the Educational Requirements, Mandatory Technical Qualifications, and ECQ Narrativestated in this vacancy announcement.
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, including the required narrative statements for the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and ECQ Narrative described in this vacancy announcement.
Your application package may be evaluated by a rating and ranking panel consisting of SES members. This evaluation will determine which applicants are Best Qualified. Highly qualified candidates 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 ECQ Narrative 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.
*DO NOT SUBMIT ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION* Extraneous materials such as a cover letter, letters of recommendation, past evaluations, award certificates, etc., will be discarded and not considered.
1. RESUME - In addition to your written statements addressing the Mandatory Technical Qualifications, and ECQ Narrative (not to exceed 10 pages), submit a resume (not to exceed 5 pages) to describe your qualifications. Your resume should provide the following information:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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 SUBMIT AN APPLICATION: Please select the "APPLY" button at the top of this announcement.
Your online resume is not considered a complete application. In order to expedite/ensure the review of your application, you must submit a complete online application package to include: Resume, Educational Requirements, Mandatory Technical Qualifications, and ECQ Narrative.
Carefully read the "Required Documents" section of this announcement to verify whether any additional information is required, as well as how it should be submitted.
If you are unable to apply online, please see the Reasonable Accommodation Policy at the bottom of this vacancy announcement.
*DO NOT SUBMIT ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION* Extraneous materials such as a cover letter, letters of recommendation, past evaluations, award certificates, etc., will be discarded and not considered.
To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine. Upon onboarding, you will be required to upload proof of vaccination OR request an exemption via FTC's vaccination portal.
After all application packages are received, a preliminary review of applications by a Human Resources Specialist will be completed to ensure your application meets basic qualification requirements. An executive Rating and Ranking panel may evaluate candidates who meet basic qualification requirements based on the information provided and generate a certificate of "Highly Qualified" candidates for the Selecting Official. The Selecting Official may interview the "Highly Qualified" candidates to determine the "Best Qualified" candidate(s) before making a selection recommendation to the Appointing Authority. We will verify performance, suitability, and security information and consider this information in making employment offers.
You should expect a response on the outcome of your application within 90 workdays of the closing date of the announcement, excluding weekends and holidays.
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