Deputy Director of Enforcement

Full Job Description

The Employee Benefits Security Administration safeguards the retirement, health, and other job-based benefits of America's workers, retirees, and their families.

Through regulations, education, assistance, and enforcement, EBSA supports over 155 million people in more than 837,000 retirement plans, 2.8 million health plans, and 521,000 welfare benefit plans with approximately $14.6 trillion in assets.

The agency promotes the security and integrity of the nation's employee benefit systems.

You must meet the Specialized Experience to qualify for the Deputy Director of Enforcement position, as described below.

For GS-15: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-14 in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Applicants are required to meet the following examples of specialized experience: Experience planning, developing, and executing short and long range national and regional enforcement program goals, including analyzing operational data, assessing emerging risks in employee benefit plans, forecasting resource needs, and designing program initiatives to strengthen agency's long term enforcement capabilities; AND Experience providing high-level technical guidance, advisory support, and subject-matter expertise to multidisciplinary investigative teams on Major Case enforcement matters, including advising on investigative strategies, interpreting complex statutory and regulatory requirements, reviewing evidentiary findings, and ensuring alignment with agency's national enforcement priorities; AND Demonstrate experience performing analysis and interpretation of ERISA Title I provisions and healthcare-related laws, including fiduciary standards, prohibited transactions, reporting/disclosure requirements, and health plan mandates, to evaluate compliance issues and develop authoritative enforcement recommendations for national policy initiatives.

Additional Information: You may not be aware, but in the regulations for agency ethics programs, there are requirements for supervisors.

Section 2638.103 of Title 5 of the CFR states: Every supervisor in the executive branch has a heightened personal responsibility for advancing government ethics.

It is imperative that supervisors serve as models of ethical behavior for subordinates.

Supervisors have a responsibility to help ensure that subordinates are aware of their ethical obligations under the Standards of Conduct and that subordinates know how to contact agency ethics officials.

Supervisors are also responsible for working with agency ethics officials to help resolve conflicts of interests and enforce government ethics laws and regulations, including those requiring certain employees to file financial disclosure reports.

In addition, supervisors are responsible, when requested, for assisting agency ethics officials in evaluating potential conflicts of interest and identifying positions subject to financial disclosure requirements.

Supervisory Financial Disclosure: This position is subject to the confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521).

Therefore, if selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest(s) and your prospective position with DOL.

This information will be required annually. Major Duties:

The position is in the Office of Enforcement.

The Office of Enforcement ensures effective national and field office programs through policy development, planning, guidance, and coordination of investigations.

As Deputy Director of Enforcement, this position shares responsibility for directing all phases of the program and may manage major components.

Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Direct and oversee the supervision of a large, complex workforce, including planning work, assigning tasks, mentoring supervisors, managing performance, resolving grievances, and ensuring adherence to merit, EEO, and ethical standards.

Lead the executive level management of major enforcement program components, guiding division chiefs, coordinating national and regional operations, and ensuring productivity, consistency, and alignment with agency goals.

Provide strategic leadership and direction in formulating, developing, and executing the Office of Enforcement's policies, programs, and national objectives to ensure ERISA enforcement effectiveness.

Represent the Office of Enforcement before program managers, agency committees, and external stakeholders to explain, justify, or discuss the development, interpretation, and implementation of major enforcement programs.

Serve as a spokesperson for the Office of Enforcement, articulating policy positions, providing expert guidance, and briefing the Director, Deputy Assistant Secretaries, the Assistant Secretary, and other senior leaders on enforcement issues.

Document and report enforcement program results, including written evaluations, summaries of investigative outcomes, and recommendations for improving program effectiveness.

Draft national enforcement policies, strategies, and guidance documents for EBSA, including regulations, enforcement positions, investigative procedures, and updates to the Enforcement Manual.

Create and maintain project guidance and tools, such as updating the Enforcement Manual; developing investigative techniques, templates, and systems.

Issue technical guidance to regional offices, drawing on practical, accumulated knowledge of enforcement operations, best practices, and evolving regulatory requirements.

Oversee the ERISA Management System (EMS) and related data platforms, ensuring accurate data integrity and proper capture of investigative outcomes.

Develop and maintain national enforcement programs under Title I of ERISA, including applying detailed knowledge of fiduciary standards, prohibited transactions, criminal provisions, disclosure rules, and health plan requirements.