Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Division of Enforcement and the incumbent serves as a Futures Trading Investigator responsible for conducting reviews and analysis of possible violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, including price manipulation, illegal trade practices on any contract market regulated by the Commission. This position is open to all CFTC locations.

Selections will be made at the CT-13 grade level with promotion potential to CT-14.

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Responsibilities

As a Futures Trading Investigator within the Division of Enforcement, at the full performance level, the incumbent performs a variety of investigative, analytical, and forensic duties in support of the Commission's enforcement program. Responsibilities include planning and conducting selected investigations into possible violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (Act) and Commission Regulations, such as manipulation, fraud, and illegal trade practices involving futures contracts, leverage contracts, off-exchange foreign currency contracts, options, swaps, and digital assets; drafting memoranda and detailed investigative reports concerning possible violations of the Act and Regulations; and providing technical assistance to enforcement attorneys in the prosecution of administrative and civil enforcement actions.

• Conducts preliminary inquiries into suspected violations of the Act and Regulations and reports findings and recommendations.
• Prepares an overall investigative plan, which outlines the tasks to be accomplished, by whom they are to be done, and a target date for completion.
• Interviews members of the commodity trade and the public to develop evidence; reports on these interviews; obtains signed statements or affidavits; assists in the planning and taking of investigative testimony and depositions;
• Obtains, examines, and studies the records of brokerage houses, wholesale dealers, commodity traders, warehouses, processors, and exchanges; and performs other required investigative tasks.
• Provides sworn testimony in depositions and district court proceedings.
• Applies standardized analytical techniques and guidelines to the specific situation under investigation. Develops and documents original analytical approaches or methods.
• Analyzes information obtained and formulates comprehensive reports of findings.
• Reviews and examines investigative findings and participates in discussions to determine whether Commission action should be recommended.
• Provides technical guidance and support to other regulatory and law enforcement agencies.
• Participates in the agency's training program and contributes in the analysis of trading documents.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship
• Background/Security Investigation
• Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered for Selective Service

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Qualifications

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Qualifications (Specialized Experience):

CT-13: To qualify for the CT-13, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the CT/GS-12 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Such experience includes performing statistical and financial analysis of order entry data, trade data, bank, and/or trading records using SAS, JMP, SQL, R, or Python or other comparable statistical analysis software; investigating, auditing, or regulating derivatives, digital assets, securities, and/or physical commodities or participants who regularly use such products; and developing, analyzing, or modifying professional trading systems used to trade derivatives, digital assets, securities, and/or physical commodities.

Qualification Factors: You must meet the following qualifying ranking factors:

• Experience in investigative or compliance-oriented technical work in the derivatives, digital assets, securities, or physical commodities industry
• Experience in conducting financial investigations or audits
• Ability to review trading activity to identify patterns and recognize atypical practices
• Ability to utilize statistical software to manage or analyze data

Education

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Additional information

Probationary Period. Candidates selected under competitive examining procedures will subject to a one-year probationary period.

EEO Policy Statement. The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetic information, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.

Reasonable Accommodation. Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The law prohibits public officials from appointing, promoting, or recommending their relatives. The law prohibits requesting, making, transmitting, accepting, or considering political recommendations for employment or other personnel actions for non-political positions. This includes recommendations from Members of Congress, Congressional employees, elected state or local officials, and political party officials and any recommendation based on party affiliation.

Additional selections may be made from this announcement from other geographical locations as needed.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your application will be evaluated and rated under CFTC Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Your application will then be placed in one of two categories: Best Qualified or Qualified. Names of all candidates in the best qualified category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. Candidates within the best qualified category who are eligible for veterans preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.
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Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Credentialing

Required Documents

• Resume showing relevant experience (cover letter optional).
• If you are requesting Veterans Preference, you must submit:

Copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).

Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference.

VA Letter

Veterans Preference. If you are entitled to veteran preference, you should indicate the type of veteran preference you are claiming on your resume.

In order to verify your veteran preference entitlement, please submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.

• In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the natural mother of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and the other required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim.
• Although veteran preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under "How You Will Be Evaluated," veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which they are qualified. In addition, qualified veterans with a compensable service-disconnected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the highest quality category (i.e., Best Qualified).

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). The ICTAP provides eligible displaced federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must rate equivalent to the Well Qualified or better category using established rating criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.ICTAP candidates MUST submit:

A copy of their agency reduction-in-force notice;

A copy of your most recent Performance Rating;

A copy of your most recent SF-50 noting current or last position held, the grade level, and the duty location; and

A copy of your notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area or documentation showing you were separated as a result of RIF or declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP). Provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the CFTC with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If CFTC has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must rate equivalent to the Well Qualified or better category using established rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp .

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.