Summary

The Chief Counsel's Office in the Division of Investment Management is seeking a Branch Chief to lead a team responsible for issuing guidance (such as no-action letters and staff bulletins) and providing exemptive relief under the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act and their related rules. In this role, you will manage the day-to-day operations of a team of staff attorneys, oversee a broad range of assignments, and collaborate with leadership to support the Commission.

Duties

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In this role as a Branch Chief, you will be responsible for:

• Managing a team of staff attorneys, including oversight of a diverse portfolio of projects and execution of supervisory responsibilities such as performance management, training, awards, recruitment, workload planning, motivating staff, and promoting professional development. Ensuring employees are informed about Commission policies, procedures, and goals as they relate to assigned work.
• Providing and recommending formal guidance-including no-action and interpretive letters, Commission orders or releases, and other forms of official guidance-that affects investment companies, investment advisers, and other participants in the asset-management industry.
• Providing informal guidance in response to inquiries received (e.g., from external parties or other offices within the Division of Investment Management) relating to investment companies, investment advisers, and other participants in the asset-management industry.
• Preparing Congressional testimony, assisting with drafting proposed legislation, and responding to inquiries from Congress and other federal agencies on matters involving investment companies, variable insurance products, and investment advisers.
• Assisting other SEC Divisions and Offices (such as Corporation Finance, Enforcement, EXAMS, and Trading and Markets) on issues concerning investment companies, investment advisers, and the asset-management industry more broadly.

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/).
• 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.
• SUPERVISORY TRIAL PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a two year supervisory/managerial trial period.
• 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.
• 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. 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement.

SK-15: Applicant must have at least 3 years of post J.D. work experience independently identifying legal issues, providing legal analyses, providing legal solutions/recommendations, and preparing legal documents such as contracts memoranda, briefs, and disclosure documents, which also includes 2 years:

1. Providing advice on issues and policies related to Federal securities laws, statutes, rules and regulations; AND
2. Conducting in-depth reviews and analyses of matters to ensure the legal adequacy, sufficiency, and soundness of recommended or taken actions; AND
3. Identifying legal risks, evaluating alternative approaches, and developing well-supported recommendations that inform decision-
   
   makers; AND
4. Coordinating with stakeholders to resolve legal questions and ensure consistent application of Federal securities law requirements.

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: Legal and Regulatory Analysis - Conducts analysis and prepares documents relating to compliance with Federal securities laws.

Competency 2: Teamwork and Collaboration - Interacts with internal and external stakeholders to support organizational goals and objectives.

Competency 3: Workload Management - Effectively prioritizes workload in a way that accommodates unforeseen developments and achieves successful outcomes.

Competency 4: Critical Thinking - Considers a variety of factors, general and subject matter-specific, when making decisions and determining next steps in a case.

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; a selectee's initial pay will be established below the maximum rate of the range. The pay for current SEC employees will be determined according to the procedures specified in the agency's policy. Please click here for a compensation overview.

Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, click here.

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 [email protected]. For religious-based accommodations, please contact [email protected] . Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.

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.