Duties

Summary

The Litigation and Administrative Practice Group provides legal and policy advice to the Commission, individual Commissioners, and the SEC's divisions and offices concerning securities laws, administrative laws and other applicable laws. In particular, the Group advises and represents the Commission on a wide range of legal matters related to investigative and regulatory authority, professional responsibility, procurement, appropriations, intellectual property, employment law and labor matters.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This position serves as the Associate General Counsel for the Group.

Typical duties include:

• Overseeing the representation of the Commission and its members and employees in litigation. Providing general legal and policy advice to the Commissioners, their offices, and the various divisions and offices within the Commission on issues that impact operations and executing the SEC's mission.
• Overseeing the of investigation of allegations of misconduct by attorneys practicing before the Commission and pursuing disciplinary proceedings pursuant to the Commission's Rule of Practice Rule 102(e)
• Advising the General Counsel on the appropriate disposition of all Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act appeals and document productions in response to third party subpoenas.
• Determining when appropriate to assert government privilege in third party litigation and authorizing disclosure of non-public information to other law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
• Advising the Commission on appropriations law, the development and oversight of major contracts, leases, memoranda of understanding and other complex documents, and matters involving intellectual property.
• Overseeing the advice given to the Commission, divisions and offices, and individual managers, and representation of the Agency, on matters related to labor and employment.
• Establishing and maintaining close cooperative working relationships with the Commission's management and officials, other government agencies, and other institutions with related interests, in order to advance the programs and objectives of the SEC.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
2

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• CITIZENSHIP: This position is open to US Citizens.
• You must possess a J.D. or LL.B Degree
• You must be an active member of the bar in good standing
• Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all the instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may result in you not being considered for this position.
• Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
• This position has promotion potential to the SO-02.
• TRIAL PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a two year supervisory/managerial trial period.
• 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.
• This position is not in the collective bargaining unit.
• For consideration at the SO-2 level, you must currently hold a SO-2 position within the SEC.

Qualifications

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

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.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following

• J.D. or LL.B. degree (Note: Official Transcript will be required before entry on duty.) --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.

SO-01: Applicant must have four year(s) of post J.D. work experience as a practicing attorney, three years of which include:

Interpreting and applying federal statutes, rules and regulations administered by the federal government;

Advising senior level officials on legal and policy issues that impact operations and mission;

Managing a diverse workload in a dynamic fast paced environment;

Supervising, leading or providing guidance and direction to attorneys and professional administrative staff on complex legal and/or policy questions; and

Practice in at least three (3) of the following areas: appropriations and procurement, FOIA and Privacy Act, labor and employment, conducting investigations and representing a federal agency at administrative hearings or trials, and advising on matters of professional responsibility.

Education

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 and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Official Transcripts will be required at the time of appointment to verify educational eligibility.

Additional information

Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, please visit http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/

Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation for disability to participate in the application process at the SEC, submit the form for Reasonable Accommodation for Participation in Job Application Process here . Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, sex (not limited to conduct which is sexual in nature, includes pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender status), age (40 and over), religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing discrimination. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination. Click here for additional information.

TTY/ASCII: Video Relay Service users are welcome to contact the appropriate SEC office or employee via the contact information listed above. If you do not otherwise have access to a Video Phone or Video Relay service, you may send us an email or use the Federal Video Relay Service via the internet. For more information about using the Federal Relay Service and to create a new account, please see: http://fedvrs.us/

SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: For questions regarding SEC pay setting practices, please click here .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. All applicants found to be minimally qualified will be required to provide narrative responses (500 words or less per question)regarding the executive (core) and technical qualifications. After the announcement closing date, an HR specialist will determine if you meet the minimum qualifications described in the Qualifications Section. If you do, you will receive an email asking you to respond to the core and technical qualifications listed below. You must provide your responses within the established deadline.

You will be rated on the following Competencies:

Core Qualifications:

Management Experience: Experience designing and implementing strategies which maximize employee potential and foster high ethical standards in meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals.

Leading Change/Achieving Results: Experience developing and implementing an organizational vision which integrates key national and program goals, priorities, values, and other factors of that organization. Examples should include experience implementing change in his/her organization, exercising leadership and motivating managers to incorporate vision and strategic planning into the process.

Building Coalitions/Communications: Experience explaining, advocating, and expressing facts and ideas (both orally and in writing) in a convincing manner. Experience working with the press, political appointees, Congress, and other high-level organizations and staff on various types of important national issues. Experience includes working in groups and teams conducting briefings with outside groups and gaining cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.

Technical Qualifications:

Describe your experience assessing, recommending and implementing business process improvement projects to optimize the agency's operating processes and effectiveness in meeting its mission goals.

Describe your experience interpreting and applying federal statutes, rules and regulations, including administrative law statutes, as pertains to appropriations, procurement, privacy, intellectual property, labor, employment, and/or professional misconduct.

The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete. To preview the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10932671

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:

• Required: Your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.
• Required: Your complete and comprehensive resume that includes a complete history of your work experience and the applicable employment dates with months and years. To determine if you qualify for this position, OHR will review your work history that is relevant to the specific position for which you applied. Note: Your resume must directly address the definition of specialized experience listed in the qualification section of this announcement and must NOT contain pictures.
• Required, if applicable: Veteran's documentation (DD-214, member 4 copy or other documentation containing dates of service and character of discharge.)

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.