Equal Employment Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Fayetteville, AR

5d

About The Position

This position serves as an Equal Employment Specialist, with responsibility for establishing, organizing, and directing an identifiable part of the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) programs. The specialist informs and advises management officials and employees on basic EEO program requirements and assists with complaint-program intake, counseling, mediation, coordination, and compliance.

The role plans, directs, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates assigned Special Emphasis Employment Programs. It analyzes workforce demographics, civilian labor force skill availability, upward mobility potential, and employment statistics to identify systemic barriers and set program goals. The specialist advises employees, supervisors, and organizational representatives on effective EEO initiatives and supports resolution of program issues and achievement of EEO objectives.

The specialist also supports administration of the EEO complaints process, helping ensure compliance with applicable time limits, regulations, and policies while maintaining impartiality. The position manages assigned program areas and resources, evaluates program effectiveness, coordinates with staff offices and line managers, and recommends changes to program methods, priorities, and local EEO objectives.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., subject to change based on facility needs. Telework may be authorized and eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. This is not a virtual position. The work is performed in a typical office setting; special safety precautions and physical requirements essential to successful job performance are not required, with accommodation or workplace adjustment available as applicable.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Complete the required application, questionnaire, and online assessment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Meet the applicable time-in-grade requirement for current or former Federal employees applying at GS-11: 52 weeks at GS-09, when applicable.
• Qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level, qualifying graduate education, or an allowed combination of education and experience.
• Specialized experience must include relevant knowledge of Federal EEO laws, regulations, executive orders, court decisions, and program issues; EEO program methods including fact-finding, analysis, counseling, complaints, and investigations; and work involving EEO, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Reasonable Accommodation, Prevention of Sexual Harassment, leadership, guidance, or training.
• If qualifying based on education, have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education toward such a degree, or an LL.M. in a related field; submit transcripts.
• If qualifying through a combination of education and experience, have qualifying graduate coursework beyond the first two graduate years or 36 semester hours combined with specialized experience; submit transcripts.
• Meet pre-employment background/security investigation and onboarding requirements and provide acceptable identification.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel requirement.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Submit a resume that includes job title, duties, employment beginning and ending dates (month/year), and average hours worked per week.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate assigned Special Emphasis Employment Programs.
• Analyze workforce demographics, civilian labor force skill availability, upward mobility potential, and employment statistics to identify systemic barriers and establish program goals and objectives.
• Advise employees, supervisors, and organizational representatives on developing, implementing, and evaluating effective EEO initiatives.
• Assist supervisors in resolving program issues, achieving EEO objectives, and building workforce understanding and support for management EEO policies and goals.
• Assist in administering the EEO complaints process, ensuring compliance with time limits, regulations, and policies while maintaining impartiality toward complainants and responsible management officials.
• Assist in determining the acceptability of formal complaints, identify grounds for dismissal, and advise complainants of their right to appeal local determinations.
• Request investigators and complaints examiners; coordinate administrative support, complaint-record documentation, and witness availability; and prepare timely reports on counseling activities, complaint status, and case dispositions.
• Manage assigned EEO program areas by planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, reviewing, and evaluating activities, with accountability for program performance.
• Recommend staffing, funding, space, and equipment requirements; allocate assigned resources; and assign, direct, and review the work of collateral-duty or subordinate employees.
• Coordinate with staff offices and line managers to achieve shared objectives, evaluate program effectiveness, and recommend changes to program methods, priorities, and local EEO objectives.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Newly appointed Federal employees may request consideration of job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service for annual-leave accrual credit; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree