Summary The Bureau of Competition is one of the major operating components of the Commission, with law enforcement responsibilities for antitrust charges arising under Sections 2, 3, 7, and 8 of the Clayton Act and under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. This position is responsible for overseeing the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) premerger notification program, including the Honors Paralegal Program and Attorney Recruitment, Operations Division, and Technology and Information Management Office. Responsibilities The Deputy Director of Operations, Programs, Technology and Information Management (OPTIM), participates in the formulation of basic policies and provides direction and leadership needed to ensure maintenance of the delicate balance between producers and consumers in the American system of free enterprise. Shares responsibility for identifying emerging problems, which warrant the Commission's attention in these statutory areas, developing legal theories and enforcement techniques to cope with such problems, and mobilizing and sharing in the direction of the enforcement program. The incumbent acts for the Director in resolving both administrative and substantive legal matters, shares responsibility with the Director in achieving efficient operations and a maximum degree of accomplishment in all phases of the work of the Bureau, and keeps the Director informed of important developments. Subject to the Director's discretion, the Deputy Director (OPTIM) directly manages the Premerger Notification Office, the Operations Division, the Honors Paralegal Program, and the Technology and Information Management Office-units comprising 40-60 employees, including attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff. The Deputy Director leads and evaluates their work through subordinate managers, determines resource allocations, assesses program performance, and decides when to initiate or discontinue projects. The role helps coordinate Bureau activities with other government agencies and Commission offices. Premerger Notification: The Deputy Director has overall responsibility for administering and implementing the agency's Premerger Notification Enforcement Program and overseeing attorneys, HSR review professionals, and administrative staff. The HSR program is the primary mechanism through which the FTC and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division obtain information on planned mergers and acquisitions, making it vital to U.S. antitrust enforcement. The PNO reviews all Hart-Scott-Rodino filings, receives HSR filing fees, recommends regulatory changes, and provides guidance to businesses and counsel. Filing fees exceed $160 million annually, and the Deputy Director ensures proper collection and accounting. Although jointly administered with the Department of Justice, the FTC leads HSR program regulation and interpretation. The incumbent, directly and through staff, coordinates with DOJ officials on policy initiatives, regulatory proposals, and daily management of the dual-agency filing process. Bureau Operations: The Deputy Director (OPTIM) provides overall leadership for the Operations Division, directing staff in allocating resources across the Bureau, reviewing programs, implementing improvements, and helping shape the Competition Mission's goals and policies. The role oversees planning for the Competition Mission, which affects broad sectors of the U.S. economy and delivers significant consumer savings. The incumbent leads all administrative management functions, including managing the Bureau's $30+ million budget, tracking expenditures, forecasting needs, and overseeing expert-witness contracting. The Deputy Director coordinates with Human Capital Management to recruit, hire, train, and allocate staff; monitors attrition and staffing needs; and advises the Bureau Director on workforce distribution. The role also ensures proper labor-management practices and works with Human Capital officials to resolve labor issues. Antitrust Clearance System: Oversees administration of the FTC's Antitrust Clearance Program, through which the FTC and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division coordinate the opening of every antitrust investigation to ensure that the agencies' enforcement efforts do not duplicate one another. Technology and Information Management: Oversees technology, litigation, and operational support for the Bureau staff, including plans for IT support for all BC litigation. This group develops and coordinates implementation of electronic case management processes, advises the Bureau on electronic case storage, and assists litigation staff in creating courtroom exhibits by applying various software applications to case data. Paralegal Program: Oversees the Honors Paralegal Program, providing legal support staffing for casework, assisting attorneys and economists in the investigation and litigation of complex antitrust matters, and carrying out special projects. Litigating Divisions: The Deputy Director (OPTIM) may, from time to time and at the Director's discretion, manage the Compliance Division and/or any of the Bureau's litigating divisions, which include Mergers 1, 2, 3, and 4, Health Care, Anticompetitive Practices (ACP) 1 and 2, Technology Enforcement Division (TED), and American Competition Enforcement (ACE). The incumbent works with litigating divisions may be in conjunction with another Deputy Director or alone depending on the needs and priorities of the Bureau and the Director's discretion. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications QUALIFICATIONS: 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. To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) 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, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. MTQ 1: The position requires comprehensive professional knowledge of and demonstrated experience at the GS-15 grade level or above in applying Federal antitrust laws and regulations to complex matters and cases. MTQ 2: Specialized legal knowledge: To satisfactorily conduct the work of the position, the Deputy Director must have experience that demonstrates familiarity with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and MTQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position. ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES. Education Professional/Educational Credentials: This position requires comprehensive, professional knowledge of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws and regulations; specifically, sections 2, 3, 7, and 8 of the Clayton Act and Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Graduation from an accredited law school and current possession of a bar membership, which permits the practice of law in the United States, are required. In order to qualify, you must meet the basic educational requirements: A. Law degree (J.D. or LL.B) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association AND B. Bar Membership: Be an active member in good standing of a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of a territory of the United States. IMPORTANT: Applicants are responsible for citing J.D. and bar membership information (institution name, state(s) for bar, and dates) on their respective resumes. Applicants who possess an equivalent degree rather than a J.D. may be subject to additional review. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. 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. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional Information 1. The agency may reimburse relocation expenses. 2. Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement. 3. If we select you for an initial career appointment to an SES position, the OPM QRB must approve your ECQs prior to appointment. A selection is tentative until we obtain a QRB certification. 4. You must complete a Declaration for Federal Employment before we can hire you in order to certify the accuracy of your written application and provide the information necessary to determine your suitability for federal employment. 5. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959 and we select you for this position, you must certify prior to appointment that you registered for the military selective service. 6. If we select you for this position, you must complete personnel suitability documents. Your appointment is contingent upon the successful completion of an appropriate background investigation. 7. Veterans' preference does not apply to SES positions. 8. The FTC provides reasonable accommodations, where appropriate, to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the FTC. The agency considers requests for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis. Questions about the FTC's accommodation policy can be directed to Lesley Nesmith at lnesmith@ftc.gov. 9. The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521, requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a financial disclosure statement, SF-278, prior to assuming the SES position, annually while employed, and upon termination of employment. You may also be subject to post employment restrictions. 10. Your application includes information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 U.S.C. 552a). This information is necessary to determine qualifications for employment, and collection is authorized under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, 3302 and 3361. 11. We will not accept applications received in government postage-paid envelopes. 12. An initial SES Career appointment becomes final only after the individual successfully completed a 1-year probationary period. 13. 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. 14. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm 15. Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to 16. Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx)
