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

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

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.

How you will be evaluated

ECCs and MTQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your resume will be further evaluated by a panel of subject matter experts to determine how well you meet the ECCs and MTQs criteria listed above. A panel of subject matter experts will place your application in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within each category, those determined to be entitled to Veterans' Preference, consistent with 5 U.S. Code § 3319, who have supplied all appropriate documentation will be listed at the top of the category in which they are placed based on evaluation of their complete application. Minimally qualified preference eligibility candidates with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the highest quality category. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required documents

You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes: Resume showing all relevant and related experience (2 pages max); MTQ Narrative Responses: Please upload narrative statements (one page per MTQ); Most recent performance evaluation (strongly recommended); Veterans' preference documentation, if applicable. 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 your veteran's documentation including a DD-214 (member 4 copy preferred, however, the documentation provided must contain dates and character of service); 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. OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

How to apply

YOU MUST APPLY ONLINE: Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. You must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at USAJOBS.GOV. To begin, click the Apply Online button within the vacancy announcement and follow the prompts to create an account using LOGIN.GOV, if you have not done so already. LOGIN.GOV will walk you through each step of the account set-up and will automatically link your USAJOBS profile to LOGIN.GOV. Once you have established an account using LOGIN.GOV, you will then go back to USAJOBS.GOV using your LOGIN.GOV username and password to answer the questions and submit all required documents. If you already have established an LOGIN.GOV account or want to return to your saved application, go to USAJOBS.GOV using your LOGIN.GOV username and password to apply or view your profile. If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by e-mail at [email protected] or phone at 1-866.656.6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Other information

This position is not in the Bargaining Unit. Relocation. Relocation expenses will not be paid. 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. Probationary Period. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year supervisory probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: • your performance and conduct; • the needs and interests of the agency; • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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.

What to expect next

For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.