Clarification from the agency

Applications accepted from all US Citizens.

This position serves as an Associate Director to a Division of Enforcement (Division) Deputy Director/Task-Force Chief, performing as a subject matter expert and team lead on investigations and litigations involving challenging legal and/or factual issues.

The incumbent must possess a high degree of actual experience in interpreting and providing advice and guidance on those requirements. The incumbent performs professional legal services associated with the primary mission of the Division, as defined in the Mission, Programs, and Related Functions Statement for the Division. The incumbent’s performance and work product is of critical importance to the overall agency program.  Duties include:

• Leads and participates in investigations of possible violations of the CEA and Regulations;
• Presents recommendations that the Commission institute, or resolve through settlement, enforcement actions;
• Leads and participates in all aspects of federal court proceedings, including emergency filings, motions, hearings, and trials;
• Leads and participates in all aspects of administrative resolutions before the Commission;
• Leads and participates in investigation-related litigation in federal district courts, including delayed notice under the Right to Financial Privacy Act and subpoena enforcement proceedings; 
• Proposes referrals of CEA violations to, and seeking assistance from, state, federal, and foreign authorities;
• Advises the Division Director/Task Force Chiefs on highly complicated legal enforcement matters and policy issues;
• Oversees and conducts research into the law and analyzes and reviews briefs and pleadings from important cases in which the Commission is a party or which otherwise may impact the Commission; and
• Oversees the monitoring and analysis of court decisions to determine their possible impact on the Division’s investigations and litigations.

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.
• Must be an active member of the bar in good standing.
• May be subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period.

Applicants are responsible for citing minimum qualifications such as JD and/or LLM equivalent 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. Please provide proof of bar membership.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following:

• J.D. or LLM equivalent; 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

To qualify for the CT-15, applicants must have the following:

CT-15: Applicants must have a J.D. or LLM Degree, bar membership and five years of relevant legal practice experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of a legal position. Relevant experience is defined as an attorney, law clerk, or other legal experience which was obtained subsequent to graduation from law school.   

Qualifying experience may include: Experience in directing, developing, and managing/supervising a team of trial attorneys and other staff professionals in the course of investigations and litigations. Acting as the chief advocate for the Commission, another federal agency, or any other client throughout the course of litigations.

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 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 required documents for a complete application package. Additional information may be requested later in the recruitment process.

Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the CFTC 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).