SENIOR OFFICER-ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

The Division of Trading and Markets, Office of Analytics and Research (OAR) is seeking applicants for a Senior Officer - Associate Director role located in Washington, DC. This position is open to current SEC Employees.

Duties

The Office of Analytics and Research (OAR) provides the Commission with detailed and sophisticated data analyses on market microstructure to inform critical policy decisions. This work demands deep expertise in the structure and functioning of secondary markets for equities, equity options, exchange-traded products, corporate bonds, fixed income instruments, and derivatives, including swaps. Given the data-intensive nature of these markets, OAR staff routinely apply advanced programming and analytical skills to fulfill their responsibilities. The individual in this role will research efforts on market structure and operations to support policymaking, identify emerging trends, innovations, potential areas of concern, and assess significant market events.

Duties:

• Serves as a senior technical authority in financial analysis, addressing a broad spectrum of highly complex and often sensitive issues with significant implications for the industry and Commission actions. Leads the development of rigorous, objective financial analyses on matters such as proposed regulations, public policy initiatives, compliance frameworks, and oversight of industry professionals. Provides strategic leadership and direction to a team of analysts, ensuring the delivery of expert analytical and evidentiary support for the agency's regulatory actions.
• Provides executive leadership and strategic oversight of staff and work products by demonstrating deep expertise in a specialized segment of the assigned program. Responsibilities include monitoring emerging and unconventional market and financial developments that influence SEC decision-making; leveraging and enhancing data systems and technological tools; anticipating market trends and practices; cultivating effective partnerships with domestic and international agencies; and participating in public outreach and representational engagements to advance the Commission's mission and strategic vision.
• Prepares technically rigorous responses to a wide range of complex market issues stemming from the interpretation and application of statutes administered by the SEC. These matters are typically referred due to their complexity, sensitivity, potential to set precedent, urgency, deviation from established regulations, or other exceptional circumstances. The individual applies expert judgment and analytical skills to address novel challenges and provide timely, high-impact guidance.
• Represents the agency in meetings, conferences, and public forums, serving as a knowledgeable and authoritative voice on specialized segments of the financial markets. Demonstrates current expertise in assigned market areas, leverages technological advancements to enhance analytical capabilities, and fosters strong collaborative relationships with federal and state agencies as well as industry stakeholders.

Salary

• $205,772 - $312,357/year

Conditions of Employment

• You must possess a J.D. or LL.B Degree.
• You must be an active member of the bar in good standing.
• CITIZENSHIP: This position is open to US Citizens.
• 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 and may be filled from any division or office within the agency.
• 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.
• Consistent with 5 U.S.C. § 7511, you will be required to serve a two-year trial period (one year for preference eligible veterans) if the position to which you have applied is not the same or similar to your current position of record.

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.

Applicants are responsible for confirming all required materials are submitted by the deadline. Please check the 'How You Will Be Evaluated' and 'Required Documents' sections carefully, as missing documents will render the application incomplete and ineligible for review.


BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following

• J.D. or LL.B. degree --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. experience identifying legal issues, providing legal analyses, providing legal solutions/recommendations, and preparing legal documents, which also includes at least three years of specialized experience:
  1. Providing legal analytical support and contextual insight to inform broad policy decisions and rulemaking initiatives;
  2. Leading a market data analysis initiative within a major organization, enabling comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of market activity across multiple asset classes, including equities, options, exchange-traded products, fixed income instruments, and/or derivatives;
  3. Designing and executing ongoing research programs focused on continuous monitoring of equity and options markets, incorporating analysis of market data related to fixed income and/or security-based swaps; and
  4. Developing and maintaining robust data collection and analytical frameworks to support effective oversight of the securities markets.

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. Other Information SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade; however, a selectee's initial pay is always set below the maximum rate of the range. Please click here for 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, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. 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. The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information, to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged non-compliance by contacting the Legal and Policy Office in the Office of Human Resources at ElliottT@sec.gov. Required Documents

You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:

• Required: Your responses to the Questionnaire.
• Required: Resume - To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the specialized experience related to this position within your two-page resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2. Your resume should highlight the competencies required for the position and include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s) and include specific employment dates (month and year and start and ends dates) and differentiate between full-time and part-time work. To help ensure the resume review fully credits your relevant experience, we recommend clearly referencing the competency and specialized experience demonstrated in each position or example you include in your resume. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. Candidates external to the SEC will be allowed to submit a comprehensive resume for pay setting purposes after a tentative offer is made. If the applicant fails to provide the comprehensive resume by the specified deadline, the resume submitted at the time of application will be used to determine pay. No additional documentation will be accepted after the deadline. Note: Your resume must NOT contain pictures. For external candidates: Information on how your resume will be used for pay setting purposes can be found here. If you are a current SEC employee selected for this position, the standard percentage increases will be applied (i.e., 6% for non-supervisory and 10% for supervisory positions) if your selection results in a promotion. If your selection results in lateral movement (i.e. no change in grade) you will maintain your current salary. If your selection results in a change in grade from an SK-15 to an SK-16 you will maintain your current salary. For helpful guidance for writing a two-page resume, click here.
• Required: Accomplishment Record - For each competency, applicants must provide a 300 word or less written narrative describing one example of competency-related experience. Each example should document the position title and dates when the experience was obtained, detailed information about the problem or situation, the specific actions taken by the applicant, and the results or outcomes achieved by those actions. The applicant will also provide the name and contact information of an individual who can verify the provided information. This document must be uploaded to the application under Accomplishment Record. An accomplishment record submitted outside the USA Staffing system will not be accepted.
• Required, if applicable: Veteran's documentation (DD-214, member 4 copy or other documentation containing dates of service and character of discharge.)

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

• To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
• Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
• You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

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/.