Deputy Director

Summary

The Division of Enforcement (DOE) investigates and prosecutes alleged violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and Commission Regulations (Regulations). Potential violations include fraud, manipulation, and other abuses concerning commodity derivatives and swaps, which harm market integrity, market participants, and the public. This position is located in the Surveillance Branch, which conducts ongoing market surveillance analytics across commodity and derivatives markets.

Duties

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If selected for this position, you will serve as the Deputy Director of the Surveillance Branch within the Division of Enforcement with responsibility to direct and oversee the Commission's end-to-end surveillance program, including surveillance, detection, and investigative developments of potential violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and Commission regulations. The Surveillance Branch operates as the primary recipient of surveillance-generated leads, develops evidence, refines theories of misconduct, and supports enforcement actions. The Branch also serves as a coordinated pipeline from misconduct detection to enforcement, ensuring that surveillance activities are systematically translated into actionable investigations and legal outcomes.

As an Executive, you will serve as a key member of the agency's leadership team with responsibility to oversee staff responsible for the following;

• Conducting ongoing market surveillance and analytics across commodity and derivatives markets,
• Monitoring trading activity and market data for indications of misconduct,
• Conducting in-depth analysis of leads and other referrals, and developing evidence to support a comprehensive referral to a DOE team,
• Reviewing surveillance tool outputs to identify suspicious activity and potential market abuse,
• Automating existing surveillance processes and developing new, scalable detection workflows,
• Expanding surveillance coverage to include crypto and other emerging markets,
• Enhancing analytical capabilities to improve detection of complex or evolving trading strategies,
• Supporting the development of enforcement investigations and any resulting enforcement actions,
• Overseeing processes to detect potential market abuse, manipulation, and anomalous trading events.

The Deputy Director ensures structured reviews of surveillance outputs, including validation and contextual analysis, and establishes clear criteria for escalation, closure, or referral of potential issues. Ensures that the Branch consistently produces high-quality, actionable leads for DOE. Develops standards for referrals, including documentation, supporting data, and preliminary analysis. Tracks outcomes of referrals to improve surveillance effectiveness and targeting.

Ensures the Branch aligns surveillance priorities with enforcement needs. Ensures surveillance methodologies evolve based on investigative findings and litigation outcomes, and support prioritization of matters based on market impact, harm, and enforcement significance.

Oversees the development and enhancement of surveillance tools and analytical models. Drives the adoption of automation and data driven techniques to improve efficiency and coverage, and coordinates with data and technology functions to ensure surveillance systems meet operational needs.

Ensures comprehensive monitoring across relevant markets and data sources. Expands surveillance capabilities to address new products, trading venues, and market structures. Maintains awareness of emerging risks, including in digital asset markets.

Manages the day-to-day activities of the surveillance and investigative functions, including staffing, priorities, and workflows. Ensures consistency, timeliness, and quality of surveillance outputs, and establishes performance expectations tied to detection, effectiveness, and investigative impact.

Provides executive direction and oversight and shares fully in the planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and coordinating the Surveillance Branch. Assists the Director in establishing and evaluating the Division's goals, and the progress made toward achieving them, and recommends and implements policies and procedures directed toward improving the Branch's efficiency and effectiveness. Determines the amount of resources to devote to particular projects, and the timing of initiating or concluding such projects. Evaluates the need for changes in organizational structure and recommends changes as necessary to improve operations.

Manages assigned human, financial and material resources of the Office. Assigns and reviews work of subordinates. Sets work priorities and assures timely performance of a satisfactory amount and quality of work. Makes decisions on major policy and work issues presented by subordinates. Assures that employees in the Office receive appropriate and necessary training.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship
• Background/Security Investigation
• May be required to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

Your resume must include information that emphasizes progressive leadership responsibilities for positions held to include the scope and complexity, program accomplishments, and results of executive actions taken. Additionally the resume must include information that addresses how your qualifications relate to the Mandatory Technical Qualification (MTQs) and the Executive Core Competencies (ECCs).

Qualifications

CT-16 Level: To qualify for the CT-16 level you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS/CT-15 level). Specialized experience is defined as experience performing market surveillance analytics to detect, identify, analyze and prevent market manipulation and other trading abuses that could lead to market disruptions or undermine the integrity of the derivatives markets. This specialized experience includes oversight, management, and conduct of a wide range of market surveillance activities including directing the work of others.

In addition, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Competencies (ECCs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience and accomplishments applicable to the MTQs and ECCs. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Additional Assessment: Applicants who meet the specialized experience requirements will also be assessed on the following MTQs. A supplemental narrative must be uploaded and attached to your application addressing each MTQ listed below. Please limit your response to one page for each MTQs.

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

• Experience overseeing daily market surveillance and trade practice activities of the derivatives industry to detect potential manipulative or fraudulent trading abuses.
• Experience overseeing the development of data analytics tools and detection techniques, in order to perform forensic analysis, monitor and detect anomalies and/or evaluate market events.
• Experience implementing and managing short- and long-range plans which are aimed to prevent market manipulation and other trading abuses that could lead to market disruptions or undermine the integrity of the derivatives markets.

Highly Desirable Professional Requirements

Comprehensive, professional knowledge of commodity futures and derivatives industry, and the ability to provide leadership in the continuing surveillance and oversight of industry activities, forensic data analysis, and development of data analytical tools and effective detection.

EXECUTIVE CORE COMPETENCIES (ECCs): In addition to the Mandatory Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, your resume will be assessed for executive competency against the following four mandatory ECCs.

• Leading the Organization - Develops and implements an organizational vision that integrates program goals, priorities, and values. Is able to build coalitions to execute the organizational vision with buy-in from internal and external stakeholders.
• Leading Others - Provides a clear direction and inspires others towards meeting the mission and vision in a changing environment. Displays the ability to provide constructive feedback, supports the resolution of conflict, demonstrates a collaborative and cooperative approach.
• Leading Yourself - Understands personal strengths and weaknesses and objectively views their behavior. Seeks and accepts constructive feedback and adapts personal leadership style/strategies as needed to most effectively build trust and lead their division/office. Takes advantage of learning opportunities to increase effectiveness.
• Driving Results - Ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Makes decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Assesses and adjusts to implementing innovative solutions to make organizational improvements. Develops and executes plans that achieve outcomes for the organization.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional philanthropic, religious, 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.

Note: This position is being advertised competitively via delegated examining procedures. Current Members of the SES, those that have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, MUST ensure the CFTC's ECCs are demonstrated within their experience and accomplishments. Proof of eligibility for a noncompetitive SES appointment (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) will not be accepted. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

This position is not in the Bargaining Unit.

Relocation. Relocation expenses will not be paid.

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.

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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.