Supervisory Attorney Advisor (Chief Whistleblower Officer)

Full Job Description

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) serves as legal advisor to the CFTC's Commission, the Chair, the Executive Director, and the Agency as a whole.

OGC's legal advice includes, but is not limited to, areas such as Agency litigation, statutory and regulatory interpretation, rulemaking, analyses of proposed legislation, and other legal issues arising in connection with the administration and enforcement of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and the Commission's implementing regulations.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following: J.D.; 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) AND CT-15 Level: Candidates with a law degree (J.D.

or equivalent) and bar membership and 5 years of relevant legal experience after completion of law school.

Relevant legal experience is defined as attorneys, law clerk, or other legal experience which was obtained after graduation from a law school.

Legal and non- legal experience gained in the Federal government or private sector prior to completing a law degree cannot be used to satisfy the legal experience requirement.

Work while in law school does not count.

Examples of specialized experience: Leading or managing a whistleblower, compliance, or regulatory program; Developing and implementing policies/procedures and long/short‐term plans; Advising senior leadership on program oversight, legal issues, and strategy; Analyzing tips/complaints for privilege/work product, legal sufficiency, and eligibility; Guiding staff on statutes/regulations; protecting confidentiality.

Major Duties:

The Chief Whistleblower Officer has responsibility for carrying out the operations of the Whistleblower Section, which includes administering the determination process for whistleblower award claims.

The incumbent develops long-range as well as short-range plans and concentrates on the day-to-day administration of the functions of the Section.

The incumbent is responsible for managing and executing the following major functions and activities: • Lead and manage the Whistleblower Section, including staff supervision, program administration, and coordination with the Deputy General Counsel, Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Branch.

• Provide strategic direction for the Whistleblower Program, including developing and implementing policies, procedures, and long‐ and short‐term plans that support the Commission's mission.

• Advise the Chairman, General Counsel, and Deputy General Counsel on the implementation, oversight, and evaluation of the Whistleblower Program.

• Review whistleblower tips to identify information protected by attorney‐client privilege or the work‐product doctrine.

• Represent the Commission by speaking at national and international events on technical topics related to the Whistleblower Program.

• Support Office of General Counsel leadership in policy development and initiatives related to enforcing compliance with the Commodity Exchange Act and related regulations.

• Guide senior staff on whistleblower statutes, regulations, and policies to ensure the program's effectiveness and the protection of whistleblower confidentiality.

• Lead Claims Review Staff teams, define project scope, identify key issues, and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders.

• Conduct independent analysis of staff legal memoranda and reports; brief senior leadership and provide recommended courses of action.

• Review whistleblower activities for legal adequacy and alignment with Commission policies.

• Represent the Commission in discussions on legal, policy, and program matters with other divisions and the Office of General Counsel.

• Oversee special projects assigned by the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel.

• Participate in meetings and conferences with CFTC staff, the public, Self‐Regulatory Organizations, and industry representatives.