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Summary

Apply now for an exciting opportunity at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). With an expanded mission and authority to include oversight of the swap markets, the CFTC continues to protect the American public by promoting market integrity, transparency and preventing and prosecuting fraud, manipulation and other abuse in the futures and options markets. Please visit www.cftc.gov to learn more about the CFTC.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/12/2025 to 12/26/2025
Salary
$202,879 to - $289,400 per year
Pay scale & grade
CT 15
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Washington, DC
Chicago, IL
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary promotion - or detail NTE 1 year. Candidates that currently hold a CT-15 will be considered for a detail, eligible lower-graded candidates will be considered for a temporary promotion. May be made permanent without further competition.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
15
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CFTC-DCR-2026-0002
Control number
852325700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from current CFTC employees and CTAP eligibles.

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Duties

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As a Supervisory Attorney Advisor (Associate Director) in the Division of Clearing and Risk (DCR), Clearing Policy Branch, the incumbent provides legal services and supervises work with respect to the Commodity Exchange Act (Act), Commission regulations, and other relevant statutes and regulations, particularly with respect to the oversight of DCOs and clearing. Responsibilities include:

  1. Render written and/or oral legal analysis and advice on assigned projects with respect to relevant provisions of the Act and Commission regulations, and other relevant statutes, regulations, and judicial decisions. Advice addresses conventional, novel and complex issues and legal analyses and application of the Act and Commission regulations related to derivatives clearing, including proposed regulatory work product.
  2. Develop and coordinate preparation of proposed regulations, orders guidelines and other regulatory work product (such as interpretative, exemptive, and no-action letters) applicable to the clearing of swaps, futures, and options on futures.
  3. Coordinate the review and evaluation of applications for DCO registration, applications for exemptions from DCO registration, and DCO rule submissions, including making recommendations to the Commission.
  4. Develop regulations, orders, guidelines, and other regulatory work product applicable to the clearing of swaps, futures, and options on futures.
  5. Review proposed legislations, changes in regulations, enforcement actions, questions of law, administrative policy, staff reports, and other Commission regulatory initiatives, and develops comments, critiques, and recommendations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Favorable Background/Security Investigation
  • Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered for Selective Service
  • May be subject to a two-year trial period.
  • You must be an active member of the bar in good standing.
  • May be required to serve a one year supervisory probationary period.

Bar Membership: Currently an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Applicants are responsible for citing minimum qualifications such as JD and Bar membership information (institution name, state for bar, and dates) on their respective resumes.  Failure to supply details will result in an incomplete application.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following:

  • J.D.; 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)

                                                            AND

CT-15 Level: Candidates with a law degree (J.D. or equivalent) and bar membership and 5 years of relevant legal experience after completion of law school. At least one year of this experience must have been at a level of responsibility and difficulty to that of the position at the next lower level in the federal service (e.g., GS/CT-14) and clearly demonstrate knowledge, skills and ability to perform the duties to deal with cases characterized by complex legal or factual issues. 

Relevant legal experience is defined as attorneys, law clerk, or other legal experience which was obtained after graduation from a law school. Legal and non- legal experience gained in the Federal government or private sector prior to completing a law degree cannot be used to satisfy the legal experience requirement. Work while in law school does not count.

Education

Successful completion of a full course of study (J.D.) in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. You must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criterion, see www.ed.gov.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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

Relocation: Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Trial Period: You may be subject to a two-year trial period, if applicable.

Supervisory Probationary Period: You may be subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period, if applicable.

This is not a Bargaining Unit position.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions. 

The law prohibits public officials from appointing, promoting, or recommending their relatives. The law prohibits requesting, making, transmitting, accepting, or considering political recommendations for employment or other personnel actions for non-political positions. This includes recommendations from Members of Congress, Congressional employees, elected state or local officials, and political party officials and any recommendation based on party affiliation.

Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must indicate their preference in response to the appropriate question in their assessment questionnaire (it is also recommended that information is included in their cover letter or resume) and they must submit supporting documentation (e.g., DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) which verifies their eligibility for preference. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of non-service-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

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.

This job is being filled under a Schedule A hiring authority 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102 and is excepted from the competitive civil service. You will be evaluated and deemed either eligible or ineligible based on the relevance and quality of your experience and education, bar membership, and desired qualifications described above. These positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures. There is no numerical rating system through which to apply veterans' preference; however, CFTC considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume, and to attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD Form-214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions. All eligible applicants will be further evaluated by subject-matter experts.

Your resume will be referred to the selecting official if you have submitted a complete application package to include resume, bar membership details, and any applicable transcripts. This does not mean you are considered qualified for the position. A qualification analysis will be conducted by the HR Specialist to ensure the selectee meets all requirements, including education and minimum qualifications listed on the vacancy announcement. A complete application package is required to be considered qualified and eligible for selection. Please review the "Requirements" section of the vacancy announcement to understand the list of require documents for a complete application package. Additional information may be requested later in the recruitment process.


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