This position is located in the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.

Duties

Advise management on specific actions in support of affirmative actions and strategies for handling discrimination complaints. Provide guidance to MEDVAMC staff for coordination with the Office of Resolution Management and Administrative Judges for investigations and hearings. Provide advice and guidance during the post investigative stages, i.e. hearings, appeals, and compliance phases, for each formal complaint. Serve as the technical expert for processing the following Federal conducted external complaints in accordance with agency policy. Provide MEDVAMC ADR program management oversight to all mediators for processing cases and compliance with MEDVAMC ADR program procedures. ADR is any procedure or combination of procedures voluntarily used to resolve issues in controversy without the need to resort to litigation. Responsible for assisting in ensuring the MEDVAMC maintains a vibrant diversity management program. Conduct studies and analyses on the utilization of minorities and women in the workplace, identifying obstacles and outlining alternative solutions to identified problems. Compile and analyze statistical data in order to evaluate progress of the EEO Program. Responsible for developing, implementing, coordinating, reviewing, monitoring, evaluating, and updating all plans associated with the EEO Program. Conduct periodic evaluations of the workforce to develop data that can be utilized in evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Serve as the representative for the facility in establishing and maintaining contact with local community groups, Serve as technical advisor to the facility's Special Emphasis Programs. Provide sound technical advice to management and employees or applicants regarding human resources management program requirements and issues. Conduct EEO Training and provides EEO program oversight to the MEDVAMC's local cadre of EEO/Diversity Instructors. Coordinates Civil Rights Complaints being investigated in accordance with VHA Directive 99-043, Nondiscrimination in Federally-Conducted and Federally- Assisted (External) Programs for Veteran - patients. Coordinate assignment of American Sign Language (ASL) and Non-English interpreters for all employees, Veterans, and Veteran-family members for the MEDVAMC. Coordinate court reporter services for all EEOC hearings and Administrative Boards of Investigations conducted at the MEDVAMC. Serve at the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative for the fund control point that provides the operating budget for MEDVAMC EEO Programs which also includes interpreter and court reporter services for the MEDVAMC. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Specialist Total Rewards Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the Agency. Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Equal Employment Specialist/PD03937-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/25/2023. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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 as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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: provide technical advice and assistance to managers, supervisors, counselors and employees; counseling, negotiation, conciliation, conflict management, conflict resolution, and mediation skills to effectively resolve issues; recommends actions and alternative to management; exercise a high degree of judgment in analyzing and recommending solutions to problems that adversely affect EEO and Affirmative Employment; skill communicating effectively, orally and in writing, with managers and employees at all levels; writing and preparing written counselor reports consulting with cognizant line officials, attorneys, union officials, and HR employee to develop resolutions and disposition to EEO complaints; ability to meet and deal effectively with persons of different ages, races, and economic and education background to collect and assemble pertinent facts, and to prepare clear and concise written reports. Note: This experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment AND hours worked per week. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D., if related. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate level education. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Employee RelationsLabor LawManaging Diverse WorkforcePersonnel and Human Resources 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. Physical Requirements: Most of the work performed is sedentary in nature. It sometimes involves the transporting or carrying of dictating equipment, case files, training material, and program related items. Physical demands routinely required are standing, sitting for extended periods while accessing or inputting data in a computer system, bending and walking. 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/.

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 Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe Boulevard Houston, TX 77030 US
• Name: Susan Reynon
• Phone: (808) 726-0496
• Email: [email protected]