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ATTORNEY-ADVISER

Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Enforcement
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Division of Enforcement investigates possible violations of securities laws, recommends Commission action when appropriate, either in a federal court or before an administrative law judge, and negotiates settlements.

The Division of Enforcement's Cross-Border Task Force is hiring an SK-0905-16 Attorney-Adviser.

This announcement is open to current SEC employees in the Division of Enforcement only.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/09/2025 to 09/22/2025
Salary
$160,007 to - $289,400 per year
Pay scale & grade
SK 16
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Denver, CO
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary promotion
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
16
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
25-IN-12796826-VM
Control number
845448500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is open to: Well-qualified surplus/displaced Federal employees (i.e., CTAP) in the local area and current Division of Enforcement employees.

Duties

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If selected, you will serve as an Attorney-Adviser in the Cross Border Task Force within the Division of Enforcement.

Primary duties include:

  • Providing the Assistant Director of the Task Force with high level assistance on priority matters.
  • Providing analytical support for key decision-making, and preparing written materials to advance Task Force priorities.
  • Assisting in the formulation and review of analysis used in identifying and triaging misconduct by foreign-based issuers and affiliated gatekeepers.
  • Assisting in the development of new strategies to combat cross-border fraud harming U.S. investors and capital markets.
  • Overseeing and directing day-to-day investigative activities on a portfolio of cross-border investigations being conducted by the Task Force.
  • Coordinating cross-border investigations under the purview of the Task Force to ensure consistency in approach to the investigation, litigation and resolution of cross-border matters.
  • Coordinating with the Division's Office of Market Intelligence to ensure timely review and dispensation of new cross-border tips, complaints and referrals.
  • Developing and providing training and information to assist staff outside the Task Force in the effective implementation of cross-border investigative strategies.
  • Coordinating the Task-Force's interfacing with internal and external stakeholders, including the Commission's Office of International Affairs and the Department of Justice.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • CITIZENSHIP: You must be a US Citizen.
  • You must possess a J.D. or LL.B Degree and you must be an active member of the bar in good standing
  • 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
  • Multiple selectees may be identified to rotate through the position in 120-day increments. Individuals may serve on multiple rotations.
  • Consistent with 5 U.S.C. § 7511, you will be required to serve a two-year trial period (one year for preference eligible veterans) if the position to which you have applied is not the same or similar to your current position of record.
  • 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 in the collective bargaining unit, NTEU Chapter 293.
  • This is a temporary promotion not-to-exceed 120 days from the date of appointment to the position. The temporary promotion may be extended in 120 day increments but may not lead to a permanent position.
  • This appointment may be extended OR it may end at any time during the course of the appointment at the discretion of management.
  • If selected, you may receive a salary increase for the duration of the temporary promotion. You will be returned to your original salary at the end of the appointment.
  • Selectee will be required to physically report to the SEC office/duty station in the announcement.
  • Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement and may be filled from any division or office within the agency.

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. 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.

SK-16: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-14 level. Specialized experience includes:
  1. Applying knowledge of the Federal securities laws, securities market, and Commission rules and regulations; AND
  2. Conducting investigations and/or civil cases or administrative proceedings; AND
  3. Applying knowledge of the securities market.

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

Additional information

Salary Ranges:
Atlanta, GA: $160,007 - $271,739
Boston, MA: $171,369 - $289,400
Chicago, IL: $169,146 - $287,259
Denver, CO: $168,706 - $286,512
Fort Worth, TX: $164,492 - $279,356
Los Angeles, CA: $176,397 - $289,400
Miami, FL: $161,145 - $273,671
New York, NY: $178,310 - $289,400
Philadelphia, PA: $166,729 - $283,154
San Francisco, CA: $189,155 - $289,400
Washington, DC- $173,127 - $289,400

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) is available to individuals who have special priority selection rights under this plan. Individuals must be minimally qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP eligibles will be considered minimally qualified if they meet the minimum requirements for this position.

Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in the SEC application process due to a medical disability, please contact reasonableaccommodation@sec.gov. For religious-based accommodations, please contact religiousaccommodation@sec.gov . Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. 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. Click here for additional information.

The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information, to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged non-compliance by contacting the Legal and Policy Office in the Office of Human Resources at ElliottT@sec.gov.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume must support your responses to the occupational questionnaire. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, your resume will be forwarded to a review panel for consideration. After the review of your resume and application materials, you may be contacted for an interview.

Applicants will be evaluated on the following competencies :
Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Legal, Government and Jurisprudence, and Technical Competence

The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete. To preview the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12796826.

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