Deputy Director of Operations, Programs, Technology and Information Management-OPTIM

Full Job Description

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.

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. Major Duties:

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.