Clarification from the agency

Open to the Public-All US Citizens

Enforcement Bureau

The Enforcement Bureau (EB) has primary responsibility for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) enforcement of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, other statutes, and the FCC’s rules, orders, and terms and conditions of licenses and other authorizations. In addition to general enforcement and deterrence goals, EB dedicates its resources to investigations and enforcement actions involving FCC-regulated services and equipment that significantly impact: (1) consumer protection and privacy; (2) data security, cybersecurity, and supply chain integrity; (3) national security, public safety, emergency services, and harmful interference; (4) fraud targeting critical FCC-administered programs; and (5) fair competition and equal opportunities.

Investigations & Hearings Division

Within EB, the Investigations & Hearings Division (IHD) handles some of the EB’s largest and most complex enforcement matters. It conducts investigations and takes enforcement actions across a broad range of issues involving virtually all services subject to FCC jurisdiction. IHD’s functions include investigating and taking appropriate enforcement action against telecommunications, broadcast, cable, and satellite licensees; multichannel video programming distributors (MPVDs); DBS operators and/or wireless licensees for violations of Titles II, III, and VI; various FCC privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and transparency rules concerning broadband services, cable television, satellite services, and other communications offerings; as well as Universal Service Fund and Congressionally appropriated programs rule violations. IHD also conducts complex investigations of violations involving unauthorized transfers of control of domestic and international FCC authorizations and licenses and undisclosed and unauthorized foreign investment in FCC license holders.  In addition, IHD serves as FCC trial staff for all administrative hearings and oversees the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) compliance of television and radio broadcast licensees, Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) providers and MVPDs.

Position Description

The Deputy Division Chief, with the assistance of assistant a division chief, supervises investigations and resolutions of potential violations of the Communications Act and the Commission's rules to ensure effective and efficient enforcement actions.  The Deputy Division Chief helps plan and direct the Division’s functions, manage workload, and develop Division priorities to achieve Commission and Bureau objectives. The Deputy Division Chief advises the Division Chief and Deputy and Assistant Bureau Chief(s) on matters having policy implications or significant impact on Division or Bureau activities. As Deputy Division Chief, the candidate will help plan, manage, direct, oversee, and supervise the Division's personnel, actions, issues and activities. 

The Deputy Division Chief ensures that Division investigations provide outcomes consistent with Bureau, Commission, Congressional, and public priorities. The incumbent formulates goals and objectives for enforcement investigations and enforcement proceedings and determines the resources to be used in support of these investigations and proceedings. The Deputy Division Chief reviews staff analysis and written product, especially those considered important or precedent-setting. The incumbent helps lead IHD’s efforts to coordinate internally with other FCC bureaus and offices, as well as with external partner agencies (e.g., the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, state Attorneys General). 

The Deputy Division Chief assists the Bureau’s efforts to identify and analyze business practices that may lead to consumer harm; formulates appropriate remedies for such practices; and proposes changes to existing laws that would promote consumer welfare. The Deputy Division Chief provides advice on broad questions of consumer protection policy, such as evaluation of potentially harmful business practices and conduct, and evaluation of policies to remedy the effects of those practices. The incumbent also is a leading contributor to the design and implementation of remedies and compliance programs imposed by the Commission to alleviate conduct and practices that harm consumer welfare.

Conditions of employment

• Bar Membership Documentation Required Upon Selection.
• Education-Transcripts Required Upon Selection.
• US Citizenship.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Financial disclosure statement may be required upon assuming the position.
• Current FCC employees must provide SF-50 verifying grade & status
• SF-50 Documenting One Year of Time in Grade Required

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions.  Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.

SF-50 Required: ALL FCC EMPLOYEES AND CURRENT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST provide a legible Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade.  If an SF-50 is not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible. To request a copy of your SF-50 please send an email to PersonnelRecordsRequest@fcc.gov

Qualifications

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

In order to be deemed as "BEST QUALIFIED" candidates must meet both the educational requirements AND the Specialized Experience.

A. Education

You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions. Education requirements include:  a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M. 

NOTE-If you do not provide a transcript at the time of application, a transcript will be required to be provided at the time of selection.

AND

B. Specialized Experience

Applicants must have four years of professional law experience, one year of which must demonstrate specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:

1. Analyzing complex legal issues affecting federal regulatory matters and interpreting statutes, regulations and/or rulemaking documents;
2. directing and conducting in-depth, complex factual investigations and/or legal research on controversial and complex issues and producing decisional recommendations based on such investigations and research;
3. drafting, reviewing, and editing complex legal documents such as briefs, memoranda, and orders; making oral presentations before a variety of audiences communicating legal research results and defending legal positions;
4. and supervising attorneys and other staff with varying skill sets and diverse areas of expertise.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE:  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.

How you will be evaluated

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

All candidates will be considered without regard to political or religious affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap, age, or any other non-merit factor.  THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

All applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position.  Applicants who do not submit a supporting resume will be rated ineligible. 

There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:

1.  the core questions
2.  supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, transcripts, bar membership); and
3.  your resume.

Applicants will be rated ineligible, if they do not respond to job specific questions provide supplemental documents and submit resume.  For more information, please click on Rating Process

You will be evaluated for this position on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs):

• Knowledge of research strategies and techniques to research legal issues where no clearly applicable precedents are available.
• Ability to communicate in writing in order to produce legal documents.
• Knowledge of the policies, rules and regulations, and relevant case law.
• Ability to communicate orally on issues related to in-depth legal research.