Duties

Summary

The Market Participant Division (Division) leads the Commission's efforts in protecting market participants and their funds by ensuring the financial integrity, fitness, and fair business conduct of derivatives market registrants. The Division oversees the registration and compliance of registrants and futures industry self-regulatory organizations, including U.S. derivatives exchanges and the National Futures Association (NFA).

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As an Attorney Advisor in the Market Participant Division's (MPD) Registration & Compliance (R&C) Branch, you will:

• Provide advice and technical guidance with respect to the application and interpretation of the Commodity Exchange Act (Act) and the Commission regulations in connection with the registration and compliance obligations for registrants.
• Provide interpretive guidance to MPD's Examinations Branch and NFA in connection with registration and examination of registrants.
• Develop regulations, policies, guidelines, and other regulatory approaches applicable to the oversight and regulation of registrants.
• Prepare responses to requests for no-action, exemptive, or interpretative letters.
• Prepare advisories and provide other technical advice and guidance to registrants and other market participants in connection with registration and compliance issues.
• Perform research, analyses, reviews, studies, and special projects relating to the Division's registrant programs.
• Design, develop, and lead initiatives to further support the oversight and compliance of registrants.
• Successfully interact and communicate with other staff members.
• The successful candidate may also be assigned to work as a team on a particular project with staff members of other Branches of the Division, and/or with staff members of other Commission divisions and offices.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel is 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.

Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. You must provide a complete Application Package to be found qualified and eligible for this position. You may be required to provide additional documentation at a later time in the recruitment process. All documentation will be required prior to finalizing a selection. You may be disqualified if you fail to submit a completed application package.

• Cover Letter including a statement of interest (optional)
• Resume (must include education, including name of undergraduate and law school, degree received and date graduated; date admitted to bar and jurisdiction; a general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law, including dates of employment.
• Writing sample, illustrating relevant experience
• Law school transcripts (unofficial final copy with date degree was awarded; unofficial copy is accepted for application package but official copy may be required prior to firm offer letter being extended)
• Proof of active bar membership/status in good standing and eligibility to practice law in state, U.S territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

You must answer each qualification question for the grade or grades you wish to be considered for employment.

Qualifications

CT-12: Candidates with a law degree (e.g., J.D.), candidates with a L.L.M or advanced degree in economics, business, etc., OR 2 years of relevant legal experience after completion of law school. Must have bar membership.

CT-13: Candidates with a law degree (J.D. or equivalent) and bar membership and 3 years of relevant legal experience after completion of law school.

Relevant experience is defined as an attorney, law clerk, or other legal experience which was obtained subsequent to graduation from law school. At least one year of this experience must have been at a level of responsibility and difficulty equivalent to at least the GS/CT-11 level in the Federal Service.

Desired Qualifications:

Demonstrated skill in research and analysis of sophisticated legal and factual issues, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills.

General knowledge of commodities or related law and regulations, financial markets, corporate law, and general administrative law.

Possession and application of negotiating, analytical, and interpersonal skills.

Education

Education: Successful completion of a full course of study (JD) in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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

Additional information

Relocation. Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Trial Period. You will be subject to a two year trial period.

Travel. Some travel may be required.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

This job is being filled under a Schedule A hiring authority 5 CFR 213.3102 and is excepted from the competitive civil service. You will be evaluated and deemed either eligible or ineligible based on the relevance and quality of your experience and education, bar membership, and desired qualifications described above. These positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures. There is no numerical rating system through which to apply veterans preference; however, CFTC considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume, and to attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD Form-214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.

Your resume will be referred to the selecting official. This does not mean you are considered qualified for the position. A qualification analysis will be conducted by the HR Specialist to ensure the selectee meets all requirements, including education and minimum qualifications listed on the vacancy announcement. A complete application package is required to be considered qualified and eligible for selection. Please review the "Requirements" section of the vacancy announcement to understand the list of required documents for a complete application package. Additional information may be requested later in the recruitment process.



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Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Credentialing

Required Documents

• JD and Bar membership details.
• Resume
• Writing sample illustrating relevant experience.