Assistant Director

Summary

The Division of Trading and Markets (TM), Office of Market Supervision (OMS) is seeking a Supervisory Attorney Adviser (Assistant Director). OMS broadly focuses on market structure for equities, derivatives, and fixed income and securities-based trading platforms such as national securities exchanges, security-based swap execution facilities, security futures exchanges, and alternative trading systems. The office oversees rules and policy related to the national market system.

Duties

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In this role as an Assistant Director, you will be responsible for:

• Planning, directing, and supervising a program of regulation of the securities industry, both directly and through supervision of industry self-regulation; managing projects that may involve review and analysis of significant rule change proposals submitted by self-regulatory organizations (SROs), the development and implementation of Commission rulemaking to address issues in the national market system issues, or requests for interpretation of or relief from the Federal securities laws.
• Performing the administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised; planning, scheduling, and assigning work to subordinates. Establishing guidelines and performance expectations for staff members; providing feedback and periodically evaluating employee performance. Providing advice, counsel, and instruction to staff members and organizing task forces consisting of attorneys and other professionals within the office and across the Commission.
• Assisting the senior staff in the Division, and other offices and divisions in the Commission, on a wide array of matters relating to securities and financial markets.
• Participating in advising on policy matters relating to the securities and financial markets and provide technical assistance in the development and implementation of major SEC initiatives in the securities area.
• Leading staff teams in the preparation of legal and regulatory materials; summarizes factual and legal issues involved; briefing Commission and TM leadership; and presenting recommendations as to proper course of action.
• Assisting the Director, the Deputy Director, and the Associate Directors in developing additional rules, regulations, and policies designed to ensure appropriate and effective oversight of national securities exchanges, national securities associations, security-based swap execution facilities, broker-dealers, alternative trading systems, securities information processors, and other regulated entities.
• Providing professional legal advice and guidance to a range of individuals in SEC and other agencies as appropriate. Advising on questions of structure and operations of the national securities exchanges, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) or the implementation of new regulatory initiatives and policy that affect their operations; serves as SEC's representative for discussions regarding assigned program areas.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• CITIZENSHIP: You must be a US Citizen.
• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
• 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.
• TRIAL PERIOD: Consistent with 5 U.S.C. a7 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.
• SUPERVISORY TRIAL PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a two year supervisory/managerial trial period.
• You must possess a J.D. or LL.B Degree and you must be an active member of the bar in good standing.
• The selectee is required to report to the duty station(s) listed.

Qualifications

Applicants are responsible for confirming all required materials are submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Please check the HowYou Will Be Evaluated and Required Documents sections carefully, as missing documents will render the application incomplete and ineligible for review.

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. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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:SK-17: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-14 level:

• Interpreting and explaining the provisions of the securities laws, rules, and regulations related to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as they apply to securities exchanges, alternative trading systems, security futures exchanges, security-based swap execution facilities, national securities associations, or market participants; and
• Providing advice and guidance in the evaluation of legal, regulatory, and policy matters, including the application of legal principles and precedents, relating to the regulation of financial markets or market participants by analyzing the factual and legal issues involved, and
• Developing and justifying recommendations or conclusions by authoring legal documents and briefing senior personnel.

ACCOMPLISHMENT RECORD COMPETENCIES: Your Accomplishment Record narratives should address the following competencies. See the How You Will Be Evaluated section below for more information:

Competency 1: Rule Development: Prepares recommendations for rules that meet desired policy objectives within the Commission's statutory authority or that implement legislation.

Competency 2: Critical Thinking: Considers a variety of factors, general and subject matter-specific, when making decisions and determining next steps in a case.

Competency 3: Legal and Regulatory Analysis: Conducts analysis and prepares documents and reports in compliance with Federal law that governs the rulemaking process.

Competency 4: Workload Management: Effectively prioritizes workload in a way that accommodates unforeseen developments and achieves successful outcomes.

Education

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, you must submit a copy of your unofficial transcripts or equivalent by the closing date of the announcement. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Internal Applicants: OHR will verify education qualifications for internal applicants using documents in the Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF). If required transcripts or certificates are not present in your eOPF, you will be required to provide them to OHR. If selected, a start date will not be established until official transcripts are received.

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. For more information, click here.

Applicants may also find the following helpful:

National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is an association of 19 credential evaluation services with admission standards and an enforced code of good practice.

Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) is an association of 10 credential evaluation services with a board of advisors and an enforced code of ethics.

Additional information

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.

SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: Total salary (base pay + locality) is dependent upon duty location. The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes. The pay for current SEC employees will be determined according to the procedures specified in the agency's policy.

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.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.