This position is located in the Human Capital Management Office (HCMO) of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The position serves as the Director for Employee/Labor Relations and Performance Management (including Reasonable Accommodation, and the Family and Medical Leave Act) with responsibility for directing, managing and overseeing these programs. As Director, the incumbent is responsible for FTC-wide policy as well as the operational aspects of these programs.

Duties

As Director, provides leadership over the formulation of policies and concepts in the program areas of employee and labor relations, performance management, reasonable accommodations, and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Identifies the need for and takes action to implement new and innovative policy or program directions as required by the President, the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Personnel Management, court decisions, Comptroller General Decisions, and other significant policy determinants. Ensures that policy, regulatory, and program assurance are fully supportive of FTC mission requirements, EEO and Diversity Program requirement objectives, and the Federal Merit System. Oversees program objectives and policy guidance. Performs extensive research, leads or conducts comprehensive reviews, and conducts program analyses to determine mission/program effectiveness, identify issues and program impediments, and establish courses of action necessary to enhance program effectiveness. Serves as the expert in all matters pertaining to labor-management relations, labor contracts, bargaining strategy, settlement agreements, labor negotiations, mediation, arbitration, grievances and grievance arbitration, unfair labor practices, administrative hearings, and legal proceedings, as well as the technical expert in employee relations, labor relations, and performance management. Provides technical advice and assistance to supervisors, management, and executive-level (Senior Executive Service) staff in establishing, maintaining, and monitoring effective performance labor-management, employee relations, and performance management program administration, including issues with fluctuating levels of complexity. As the lead negotiator and administrator for collective bargaining agreements, directs the collective bargaining process by coordinating the development of draft collective bargaining and labor contract proposals. Drafts and negotiates precise technical contract language to effectuate agreements. Assumes primary responsibility for the interpretation and administration of all labor contracts. Reviews and analyzes existing contracts and pertinent grievance and arbitration awards that align with the FTC's strategic priorities. Conducts and coordinates research concerning comparative contract negotiation settlements, assists in recommending economic guidelines for settlement, and conducts research into pertinent labor relations issues to develop negotiating positions and strategies. Implements strategies to rationalize, harmonize, and build effective labor-management relations. Executes all phases of the most complex negotiations that require extensive analytical techniques and development of innovative methods and strategies to address a large body of interrelated issues. Drafts employee and labor relations policies, directives, and standard operating procedures. Composes and prepares position papers and correspondence to address complex human resources issues, employee and/or union-alleged grievances, violations of the federal labor negotiated statute, negotiated agreements, negotiability appeals, unfair labor practice charges, and various advisory correspondence. Oversees the response of unfair labor practices complaints, applies consistent policies, procedures, and uniform interpretation and administration of agreements. Advises and counsels agency officials in labor relations matters to include disciplinary actions, grievances, performance management, employee counseling, employee rights and privileges, and compliance with applicable laws. Manages labor relations matters and conducts collective bargaining negotiations and grievance arbitrations. Provides guidance to employees on employee relations and labor relations policies, procedures, and practices covering alternative dispute resolution, discipline and adverse actions, unemployment compensation, and suitability adjudication. Administers and manages the employee discrimination complaint investigation process, mediation, adjudication, and compliance services. Oversees the Disability Program, which includes the administration of the FTC's reasonable accommodation procedures, coordinating the employment of persons with disabilities, and providing advice as it relates to disability employment. This includes the training of employees and management officials concerning the FTC's reasonable accommodation process, as well as the various hiring programs and other resources available for recruiting, developing, and retaining persons with disabilities. Facilitates the FMLA program. FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
• This position is subject to a background investigation.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
• You may serve a one-year supervisory probationary period under this appointment.
• You must meet time-in-grade requirement by the closing date of this vacancy.
• You must submit a copy of your performance appraisal with your application.
• This position is not in the bargaining unit.

Qualifications

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-14 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Directing several major components of a human resource program (both policy development and program operations). Master knowledge of broad principles, concepts, methods, laws, and regulations of Employee Relations, Labor Relations, Performance Management and ADR principles, concepts, practices and techniques in order to consider their relationship to management objectives, as well as seasoned consultative skills sufficient to serve as principle advisor to top management officials regarding long and short term program goals. Experience applying, a wide range of advanced HR principles, concepts, and practices, providing expert consultative and advisory service, and authoritative policy interpretation on HR issues. Advice includes the development of solutions to especially complex problems of program improvement to advise top agency management officials on the development and implementation of the solutions; and counsel top agency officials who may appear before Congressional committees and the national media concerning the agency's HR program. Expert knowledge of regulatory and other requirements to inform supervisors of what is to be considered in effecting disciplinary actions, removals, suspensions, and in resolving grievances and appeals related to formal disciplinary actions taken, and assist in the development of required correspondence/documents for complex cases. Experience conducting thorough research, evaluate, analyze and interpret proposed regulatory/policy changes having direct or potential impact on HR activities to develop policy directives and/or prepare written recommendations in order to present the Office or agency position. Ability to analyze potential performance management problems and develop FTC solutions where extremely complicated, complex, or nonstandard problems have the potential to impact numerous employees. Ability to analyze complex agency and government-wide HR programs and develop recommendations for new or substantially modified approaches to execute these programs in support of FTC mission objectives. Ability to effectively present complex ideas and options orally and in writing to a wide range of audiences, and to tactfully and persuasively sell complex and/or controversial changes involving significant resource commitments. Thorough knowledge in analytical and evaluation methods to develop, implement and evaluate guidelines and standards as they relate to person with disabilities, in accordance with FTC program goals and objectives. Thorough knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, administrative laws, policies, regulations, and precedents; and ability to translate relevant federal legislation into program goals, actions and services for employees and visitors with disabilities. Expert knowledge of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and ability to oversee and administer leave requests and accommodations requiring specialized attention. Experience drafting, interpreting, applying, and defending highly complex and comprehensive labor management collective bargaining agreements with detailed provisions covering employment rights or benefit programs. Experience utilizing the skills necessary to lead, advise, guide and manage others, including all levels of leadership and those that support labor relations programs. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

There is no education substitute at this level.

Contacts

• Address Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Suite H-723 Washington, DC 20580 US
• Name: Dominique Hardy
• Phone: 202-326-3797
• Email: [email protected]