Assistant Director for Consumer Protection
- Employer
- USAJobs
- Location
- Washington, D.C
- Posted
- Aug 12, 2022
- Closes
- Aug 19, 2022
- Industry
- Government and Public Services, Federal
- Career Level
- Experienced (Non-Manager)
- Hours
- Full Time
Duties
The Assistant Director is a key member of the Bureau's management team and is delegated to act for the Bureau's Director and Deputy Director for Consumer Protection in interpreting and carrying out the Commission's objectives across a broad spectrum of economic issues relevant to consumer protection. A key element of delegation involves primary responsibility for directing a broad and comprehensive program for the economic analysis of consumer protection matters. This responsibility includes content review and comprehensive quality control of professional work products, as well as adherence to, and consistency with, the Commission's policies and objectives. The Assistant Director, along with subordinate managers, serves as a primary link for communication and coordination of consumer protection economics work between the Division, other BE managers, and the Bureau of Consumer Protection's management and staff. In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Assistant Director is a key contributor looked to for strategic planning regarding the Bureau's role in the consumer protection mission. The incumbent may formally recommend actions to the Commission.
The incumbent ensures that the Division provides high quality economic analysis to the Commission, Congress, and the public. Serves as a key provider of advice to the agency on broad questions of consumer protection policy. Formulates goals and objectives for economic review of consumer protection matters, including law enforcement investigations and rulemaking proceedings. Oversight provided by the incumbent includes assisting with or overseeing the development of economic theories and data used to guide consumer protection investigations, designing the investigative strategy to be followed, determining the type and quantity of
economic evidence necessary for evaluating the candidate theories of consumer harm and selecting and evaluating various information sources. The Assistant Director determines the resources to be used in support of these matters in compliance with Bureau and agency policy. For select matters, reviews staff analyses to maintain consistency and quality, especially those considered important or precedent-setting.
The incumbent's responsibilities often involve interaction with other members of the agency management team from the different bureaus, with representatives of other government agencies, and with outside interest groups. These interactions generally will require persuasive advocacy of positions that are consistent with sound economic theory and empirical evidence. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that staff-level decisions and recommendations are appropriate and consistent with existing theory and evidence. the incumbent also interacts frequently with agency attorneys who are responsible for the legal aspects of investigations and
rulemakings; representatives of private industry; legal counsel for respondents and their economic experts; third-party complainants; representatives of other government agencies, including foreign consumer protection agencies; and Commissioners and their economist and attorney advisors. The incumbent serves as an advisor to the Commission and may testify as an expert witness at trial. The incumbent also may serve as the Commission's representative on interagency committees, as well as represent the Commission before federal, state, or local regulatory bodies. Because the Division's activities have a significant impact upon various interested parties (i.e., major corporations, trade associations, other regulatory agencies, legislators, consumer advocates), matters usually require the careful handling of sensitive policy questions and require tact, diplomacy, and good judgment in dealing with these interested parties.
The Assistant Director reports to the Deputy Director for Consumer Protection, carries out assignments with little direction, and keeps the Deputy Director and Bureau Director informed of progress and problems encountered. The Assistant Director is responsible for the economic component of consumer protection cases and rulemakings, including maintaining significant and viable research and advocacy agendas that advance the Commission's mission, as well as addressing questions important for Commission policy. Work primarily is reviewed and evaluated according to results achieved, including achievement of Bureau and FTC missions,
goals, and objectives.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS:
As a basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate technical and professional competence as described in the Mandatory Professional Credentials/Technical Qualifications section below and executive leadership capabilities as described in the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) of the SES listed below. Typically, experiences of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level or its equivalent in federal service, or with state or local government, private industry, or nongovernmental organizations.
If you are a current career member of the SES, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have completed an SES Candidate Development Program and have been certified by the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB), you can apply for competitive and/or noncompetitive consideration. For competitive consideration, you must submit a resume and written statements addressing the Mandatory Professional Credentials/Technical Qualifications, ECQs, and other applicable qualifications. For noncompetitive consideration, you must submit your resume, written statements addressing the Mandatory Professional Credentials/Technical Qualifications, and other applicable qualifications. Written statements addressing the ECQs are not necessary for noncompetitive consideration. You must also provide documentation of QRB certification (i.e., SF-50 showing career SES status or OPM-issued SES qualification certificate).
MANDATORY PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS AND TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Mandatory Technical Qualifications (should not exceed two pages per qualification):
MTQ1 - In-depth knowledge and thorough comprehension of the advanced statistical, econometric, and quantitative techniques used to identify, analyze, and test hypotheses about economic relationships. Possesses knowledge of advanced applied microeconomic theory, with skills in one or more sub-fields (e.g., economics of information, industrial organization, analysis of economic regulation, law and economics, game theory), as well as the research and communication skills necessary for effective written and oral contributions to the discussion of public policy issues.
MTQ2 - Comprehensive, professional knowledge of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws and regulations.
MTQ3 - Ability to plan, organize, direct, and control major studies, complex case and rulemaking projects, and research and advocacy agendas to achieve goals and objectives.
MTQ4 - Ability to analyze, explain, and justify to economists and non-economists the economic theories and evidence pertaining to issues affecting the nation's largest industries and corporations.
EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS: All applicants must submit written statements describing accomplishments that would satisfy the ECQs. You must respond to all ECQs and address each one separately, as failure to do so will result in a rating of 'ineligible' for the position. You can find additional information on the ECQs in the Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications .
A good competency-based qualifications statement should address the following elements for each ECQ: (a) the goal, problem, or activity and its challenge, (b) the context or environment in which the activity took place, (c) specific actions you took to address the challenge, and (d) the results or impact of the activity. Each accomplishment should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs you managed, and the results of your actions.
You are strongly encouraged to review the Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2010.pdf . The ECQ narrative addressing all five ECQs, may be no longer than ten pages.
ECQ 1 - Leading Change: This ECQ involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
ECQ 2 - Leading People: This ECQ involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports the constructive resolution of conflicts.
ECQ 3 - Results Driven: This ECQ involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
ECQ 4 - Business Acumen : This ECQ involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
ECQ 5 - Building Coalitions: This ECQ involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
Education
A. Degree: Economics, including at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in Economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Additional information
1. The agency may reimburse relocation expenses.
2. If we select you for an initial career appointment to an SES position, the OPM QRB must approve your ECQs prior to appointment. A selection is tentative until we obtain a QRB certification.
3. You must complete a Declaration for Federal Employment before we can hire you in order to certify the accuracy of your written application and provide the information necessary to determine your suitability for federal employment.
4. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959 and we select you for this position, you must certify prior to appointment that you registered for the military selective service.
5. If we select you for this position, you must complete personnel suitability documents. Your appointment is contingent upon the successful completion of an appropriate background investigation.
6. Veterans' preference does not apply to SES positions.
7. The FTC provides reasonable accommodations, where appropriate, to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the FTC. The agency considers requests for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis. Questions about the FTC's accommodation policy can be directed to Liz Kraszewski at ekraszewski@ftc.gov .
8. The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521, requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a financial disclosure statement, SF-278, prior to assuming the SES position, annually while employed, and upon termination of employment. You may also be subject to post employment restrictions.
9. Your application includes information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 U.S.C. 552a). This information is necessary to determine qualifications for employment, and collection is authorized under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, 3302 and 3361.
10. The FTC is required to solicit applicant cooperation in assessing the applicant pools we are reaching with our vacancy announcements. We ask that you complete and return a "Demographic Information" form. Please note that an applications intake clerk will remove this document from your application package upon its arrival in the office and will immediately direct it to the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) office. The form, including the information it provides, is not associated with your application in any part of the examining process and is not available to human resources management or selecting officials in any way during the hiring process. After we fill the position, such information is available to the Human Capital Management Office only as part of an aggregate statistical number. We appreciate your cooperation and invite you to call us at the contact number listed below if you have any questions or concerns about using this form. We ask that you access and complete the form, write the vacancy announcement number at the top of the first page, and send us the completed form along with your application package.
11. We will not accept applications received in government postage-paid envelopes.
The Assistant Director is a key member of the Bureau's management team and is delegated to act for the Bureau's Director and Deputy Director for Consumer Protection in interpreting and carrying out the Commission's objectives across a broad spectrum of economic issues relevant to consumer protection. A key element of delegation involves primary responsibility for directing a broad and comprehensive program for the economic analysis of consumer protection matters. This responsibility includes content review and comprehensive quality control of professional work products, as well as adherence to, and consistency with, the Commission's policies and objectives. The Assistant Director, along with subordinate managers, serves as a primary link for communication and coordination of consumer protection economics work between the Division, other BE managers, and the Bureau of Consumer Protection's management and staff. In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Assistant Director is a key contributor looked to for strategic planning regarding the Bureau's role in the consumer protection mission. The incumbent may formally recommend actions to the Commission.
The incumbent ensures that the Division provides high quality economic analysis to the Commission, Congress, and the public. Serves as a key provider of advice to the agency on broad questions of consumer protection policy. Formulates goals and objectives for economic review of consumer protection matters, including law enforcement investigations and rulemaking proceedings. Oversight provided by the incumbent includes assisting with or overseeing the development of economic theories and data used to guide consumer protection investigations, designing the investigative strategy to be followed, determining the type and quantity of
economic evidence necessary for evaluating the candidate theories of consumer harm and selecting and evaluating various information sources. The Assistant Director determines the resources to be used in support of these matters in compliance with Bureau and agency policy. For select matters, reviews staff analyses to maintain consistency and quality, especially those considered important or precedent-setting.
The incumbent's responsibilities often involve interaction with other members of the agency management team from the different bureaus, with representatives of other government agencies, and with outside interest groups. These interactions generally will require persuasive advocacy of positions that are consistent with sound economic theory and empirical evidence. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that staff-level decisions and recommendations are appropriate and consistent with existing theory and evidence. the incumbent also interacts frequently with agency attorneys who are responsible for the legal aspects of investigations and
rulemakings; representatives of private industry; legal counsel for respondents and their economic experts; third-party complainants; representatives of other government agencies, including foreign consumer protection agencies; and Commissioners and their economist and attorney advisors. The incumbent serves as an advisor to the Commission and may testify as an expert witness at trial. The incumbent also may serve as the Commission's representative on interagency committees, as well as represent the Commission before federal, state, or local regulatory bodies. Because the Division's activities have a significant impact upon various interested parties (i.e., major corporations, trade associations, other regulatory agencies, legislators, consumer advocates), matters usually require the careful handling of sensitive policy questions and require tact, diplomacy, and good judgment in dealing with these interested parties.
The Assistant Director reports to the Deputy Director for Consumer Protection, carries out assignments with little direction, and keeps the Deputy Director and Bureau Director informed of progress and problems encountered. The Assistant Director is responsible for the economic component of consumer protection cases and rulemakings, including maintaining significant and viable research and advocacy agendas that advance the Commission's mission, as well as addressing questions important for Commission policy. Work primarily is reviewed and evaluated according to results achieved, including achievement of Bureau and FTC missions,
goals, and objectives.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position.
- You must possess a degree in Economics including at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
- Background investigation (Public Trust) is required.
- You will serve a one-year probationary period unless you have previously completed the probationary period in the Senior Executive Service (SES).
- The individual selected will be required to file an Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278) in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
- Due to COVID-19, the FTC is currently in a maximum telework posture through August 31, 2022. In addition, the agency is currently exploring the possibility of having a remote workforce for current and future employees beyond September 2022.
- If selected, you will be permitted to temporarily telework from a location outside the local commuting area.
- However, once employees are permitted to return to the office, you may be required to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 60 days. At that time, you will be eligible to request telework in accordance with FTC policy.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS:
As a basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate technical and professional competence as described in the Mandatory Professional Credentials/Technical Qualifications section below and executive leadership capabilities as described in the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) of the SES listed below. Typically, experiences of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level or its equivalent in federal service, or with state or local government, private industry, or nongovernmental organizations.
If you are a current career member of the SES, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have completed an SES Candidate Development Program and have been certified by the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB), you can apply for competitive and/or noncompetitive consideration. For competitive consideration, you must submit a resume and written statements addressing the Mandatory Professional Credentials/Technical Qualifications, ECQs, and other applicable qualifications. For noncompetitive consideration, you must submit your resume, written statements addressing the Mandatory Professional Credentials/Technical Qualifications, and other applicable qualifications. Written statements addressing the ECQs are not necessary for noncompetitive consideration. You must also provide documentation of QRB certification (i.e., SF-50 showing career SES status or OPM-issued SES qualification certificate).
MANDATORY PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS AND TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Mandatory Technical Qualifications (should not exceed two pages per qualification):
MTQ1 - In-depth knowledge and thorough comprehension of the advanced statistical, econometric, and quantitative techniques used to identify, analyze, and test hypotheses about economic relationships. Possesses knowledge of advanced applied microeconomic theory, with skills in one or more sub-fields (e.g., economics of information, industrial organization, analysis of economic regulation, law and economics, game theory), as well as the research and communication skills necessary for effective written and oral contributions to the discussion of public policy issues.
MTQ2 - Comprehensive, professional knowledge of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws and regulations.
MTQ3 - Ability to plan, organize, direct, and control major studies, complex case and rulemaking projects, and research and advocacy agendas to achieve goals and objectives.
MTQ4 - Ability to analyze, explain, and justify to economists and non-economists the economic theories and evidence pertaining to issues affecting the nation's largest industries and corporations.
EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS: All applicants must submit written statements describing accomplishments that would satisfy the ECQs. You must respond to all ECQs and address each one separately, as failure to do so will result in a rating of 'ineligible' for the position. You can find additional information on the ECQs in the Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications .
A good competency-based qualifications statement should address the following elements for each ECQ: (a) the goal, problem, or activity and its challenge, (b) the context or environment in which the activity took place, (c) specific actions you took to address the challenge, and (d) the results or impact of the activity. Each accomplishment should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the programs you managed, and the results of your actions.
You are strongly encouraged to review the Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2010.pdf . The ECQ narrative addressing all five ECQs, may be no longer than ten pages.
ECQ 1 - Leading Change: This ECQ involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
ECQ 2 - Leading People: This ECQ involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports the constructive resolution of conflicts.
ECQ 3 - Results Driven: This ECQ involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
ECQ 4 - Business Acumen : This ECQ involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
ECQ 5 - Building Coalitions: This ECQ involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
Education
A. Degree: Economics, including at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in Economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Additional information
1. The agency may reimburse relocation expenses.
2. If we select you for an initial career appointment to an SES position, the OPM QRB must approve your ECQs prior to appointment. A selection is tentative until we obtain a QRB certification.
3. You must complete a Declaration for Federal Employment before we can hire you in order to certify the accuracy of your written application and provide the information necessary to determine your suitability for federal employment.
4. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959 and we select you for this position, you must certify prior to appointment that you registered for the military selective service.
5. If we select you for this position, you must complete personnel suitability documents. Your appointment is contingent upon the successful completion of an appropriate background investigation.
6. Veterans' preference does not apply to SES positions.
7. The FTC provides reasonable accommodations, where appropriate, to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the FTC. The agency considers requests for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis. Questions about the FTC's accommodation policy can be directed to Liz Kraszewski at ekraszewski@ftc.gov .
8. The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521, requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a financial disclosure statement, SF-278, prior to assuming the SES position, annually while employed, and upon termination of employment. You may also be subject to post employment restrictions.
9. Your application includes information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 U.S.C. 552a). This information is necessary to determine qualifications for employment, and collection is authorized under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, 3302 and 3361.
10. The FTC is required to solicit applicant cooperation in assessing the applicant pools we are reaching with our vacancy announcements. We ask that you complete and return a "Demographic Information" form. Please note that an applications intake clerk will remove this document from your application package upon its arrival in the office and will immediately direct it to the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) office. The form, including the information it provides, is not associated with your application in any part of the examining process and is not available to human resources management or selecting officials in any way during the hiring process. After we fill the position, such information is available to the Human Capital Management Office only as part of an aggregate statistical number. We appreciate your cooperation and invite you to call us at the contact number listed below if you have any questions or concerns about using this form. We ask that you access and complete the form, write the vacancy announcement number at the top of the first page, and send us the completed form along with your application package.
11. We will not accept applications received in government postage-paid envelopes.