Equal Employment Specialist

Veterans Health Administration•Dublin, GA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Equal Employment Specialist develops, administers, evaluates, or advises on the Federal Government’s internal equal employment opportunity (EEO) program at a VA facility. The role establishes, organizes, and directs an identifiable part of the EEO program, informs and advises management officials and employees on basic EEO requirements, and assists in managing the complaint program. At the GS-9 developmental level, the incumbent performs duties generally aligned with the GS-11 target position while completing on-the-job and formal training and related instruction. Once regulatory, qualification, and time-in-grade requirements are met, and the incumbent can fully perform the target-level duties, advancement to Equal Employment Specialist, GS-0260-11, may occur without further competition. Selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion. At the GS-11 level, the specialist plans, directs, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates local Special Emphasis Employment Programs. The specialist analyzes workforce and labor-force data to establish program goals and identify system-wide problems, monitors the Affirmative Action Plan (AAP), and advises employees and supervisors on developing, implementing, and monitoring effective AAP and EEO programs. The role also supports the EEO complaints process, including timely processing, complaint acceptability determinations, investigator and examiner assignments, record documentation, witness availability, complainant appeal-right notifications, and reporting to higher authorities. The position has primary responsibility for an identifiable part of the EEO program and is accountable for its planning, organization, direction, staffing, coordination, review, and evaluation. Program management duties include recommending and allocating resources, directing and reviewing program work, explaining management policies and goals to the workforce, coordinating with staff offices and line managers, evaluating program effectiveness, and recommending changes to program methods and objectives. Other related duties may be assigned. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is not a virtual position. The regular work involves desk work, conferences and meetings, and occasional visits to organizational work sites; occasional use of an automobile or public conveyances may be required. The work environment is a typical office or commercial vehicle setting with normal everyday risks or discomforts. No special physical exertion is required.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Applicants must complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
A background/security investigation is required.
Selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification for employment verification.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel.
A one-year probationary period or two-year trial period is required, as applicable.
GS-9: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 involving interpretation or application of EEO policies and procedures; advising management on EEO activities; analyzing data and preparing reports; using program methods such as fact-finding, analysis, and resolution of complex problems; and assisting with staff training development. Alternatively, related graduate education may qualify: a master’s or equivalent degree, two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.B. or J.D.; qualifying combinations of education and experience are also accepted.
GS-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 involving assistance with planning, developing, and implementing EEO policies and procedures; advising management on affirmative action or discrimination complaints; analyzing data and preparing EEO program reports; fact-finding, analysis, and resolution of complex problems; maintaining contact with officials on discrimination complaints and other EEO matters; and providing staff training on EEO or related activities. Alternatively, related doctoral-level education may qualify: a Ph.D. or equivalent, three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.M.; qualifying combinations of education and experience are also accepted.
Current federal employees and certain former federal employees must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements: 52 weeks at GS-7 for GS-9 consideration or 52 weeks at GS-9 for GS-11 consideration.
Transcripts must be submitted when education is used to qualify. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
The regular work involves sitting at a desk and in meetings, occasional work-site visits, and potentially occasional automobile or public conveyance use; no special physical exertion is required.

Responsibilities

Plan, direct, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate local Special Emphasis Employment Programs.
Analyze workforce statistics, civilian labor-force skills availability, upward-mobility potential, and employment statistics to establish program goals and identify system-wide problems.
Monitor the Affirmative Action Plan for assigned Special Emphasis Employment Programs.
Advise and guide organizational employees in developing, implementing, and monitoring effective AAP and EEO programs.
Assist supervisors in resolving problems and achieving program goals and objectives.
Assist in managing EEO complaint processes and ensure formal complaints are processed within established time limits and in accordance with regulations and policies.
Maintain impartiality when working with complainants and responsible management officials.
Request assignments of investigators and complaints examiners, provide administrative support, arrange documentation of the record, and ensure witness availability.
Help determine whether formal complaints are acceptable; dismiss untimely complaints or complaints outside applicable regulations; and advise complainants of appeal rights.
Prepare timely reports on pre-complaint counseling, formal complaint status, and complaint dispositions for higher authorities.
Plan, organize, direct, staff, coordinate, review, and evaluate an assigned portion of the EEO program.
Recommend program staffing, funding, space, and equipment needs, and allocate assigned resources to meet objectives.
Assign, direct, and review EEO program work performed by collaterally assigned or subordinate employees.
Explain management EEO policies and goals to the workforce and gain workforce support.
Coordinate program activities with staff offices and line managers.
Evaluate program activities and functions, recommend changes based on evaluation results, and periodically assess and recommend changes to local EEO objectives.
Complete required on-the-job and formal training at the GS-9 developmental level.
Perform other related duties as assigned.