The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. Serves as an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist for the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Employment (EEO/AE), Diversity and Inclusion (D&I), Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and external Civil Rights (CR) functions for a VQ Medical Center/Healthcare System within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Duties

The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements. This is a developmental position leading to a GS -11, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Duties: Serves as an EEO/D&I Specialist responsible for providing a wide range of administrative and technical support. Develops and presents training programs and provides advice regarding the broad range of EEO/D&I and Affirmative Employment issues impacting the organization. Develops and maintains appropriate statistical data regarding the discrimination complaint process, responds to routine inquiries from complainants and responding management officials and assists with preparing various reports. Conducts analysis of trends regarding demographic data and maintains appropriate contact with officials. Reviews EEO/D&I policies and guidance and updates as needed. Provides broad program support and administrative responsibilities such as coordinating and planning the logistics for meetings, training and performing all other related duties associated with the EEO/D&I Program. Reviews and implements projects that impact the operations of the organization, determines program effectiveness through periodic assessment. Prepares correspondence for the signature of senior level officials. Reviews and drafts correspondence and reports as required. Designs, implements and facilitates EEO/D&I and related training. Provides advisory services to all levels of management regarding the requirements and implications of the office services provided. Provides advice to managers and supervisors on how provided services can assist in accomplishing their mission and programs. Assists with the management of the Special Emphasis Programs. Drafts Equal Employment Opportunity Program Status Report, Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment Program (FEORP) Report, Disabled Veterans Affirmative Action Plan (DVAAP) Report and other EEO reports as required. Work schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Position Description Title/PD#: Equal Employment Specialist - TCF Intern/PDS0003A and PDS0004A

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/24/2023. 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. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below for the GS-09: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Assist with the coordination of Equal Employment (EEO) programs; Applies principles, concepts, and legal requirements of the EEO program to perform assignments; Interpret, explain, and apply EEO laws, rules, regulations, and procedures; Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; Plan and organize work and communicate effectively, orally, and in writing. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Masters Degree or Equivalent graduate Degree or 2 full years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a degree. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first year of graduate education. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below for the GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Establish and maintain effective relationships with employees, management, Veterans, and within the community; Gain confidence and cooperation from workforce of complex issues; Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, recognize solutions, plan and organize work, and communicate effectively both written and orally; Provide workforce with information about Federal EEO complaint process, harassment prevention program process, alternate dispute resolution program, and roles of special emphasis advisory committee; Prepare reports and correspondence for signature of senior level officials and performs assignments covered by available guidelines. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher- level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond; equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (in excess of the first 2 full years of graduate level education) and specialized experience to meet the total experience requirements. NOTE: Transcript(s) Required This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job).Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. Selective Placement Factor: Experience applying Equal Employment Opportunity principles, concepts, and legal requirements in identifying disputes best suited for mediation, interviewing complainants to obtain factual information, performing EEO advisory services, conducting EEO program analysis to identify employment barriers, and/or developing/monitoring proposals or plans related to the implementation of EEO programs. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administrative LawAnalytical ThinkingCommunicationsPlanning and Evaluating 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Physical Requirements: The regular and recurring work of the position involves sitting at a desk, sitting in conferences and meetings, and occasional visits to organization work sites. Occasional use of automobile and public conveyances may be required. No special physical exertion is required.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Biloxi VA Medical Center 400 Veterans Avenue Biloxi, MS 39531 US
• Name: Angela Fortenberry
• Phone: (601) -383-0370
• Email: [email protected]