The Community Relations Service (CRS) is the Justice Department's "Peacemaker" for community conflicts arising from identity-based disputes. CRS' mission is to provide violence prevention and conflict resolution services to diverse community stakeholders. CRS provides facilitated dialogue, mediation, training, and consultation to assist these communities to come together, develop solutions to the conflict, and enhance their capacity to independently prevent and resolve future conflict.

Duties

This announcement is posted for the Dallas, Texas area, and will close on 11:59pm on the specified closing date. The Regional Director position in the Denver, Colorado or Dallas, Texas locations has a selective factor requirement that must be met in order to be selected. Ability to speak Spanish with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical, social, and professional topics. This requirement is ONLY considered for the position in Dallas, TX or Denver CO. The incumbent serves as Regional Director for very broad programs of significant interest to the public and the Government. Makes recommendations for the improvement of functional responsibilities between agencies, the community, and state and local representatives in regard to significant changes in program direction or policy related to major national issues. The findings and recommendations may result in substantial redirection of Federal efforts or policy related to major national issues relating to resolving, preventing disputes, disagreements or difficulties stemming from discriminatory practices. Results of work are critical to the mission of the DOJ or affect large numbers of people on a long term, continuing basis. The duties and responsibilities of Regional Director generally include, but are not limited to, the following: Establishes and maintains liaison with top executives and officials of major local and state organizations and agencies which share an interest in and capacity for assisting in conflict resolution and preventive work. Represents the Director in high level meetings, negotiations, and liaison activities with officials of the Department of Justice, Federal agencies, State local government, and private institutions. Provides leadership, direction, and oversight for a Regional Office and coordinates all Regional Program Operations within the area of geographic responsibility, manages agency crisis response within the region, and directs the Region's response to situations requiring agency response due to rising tension in an area. Provides leadership, direction, and oversight for the planning, development, implementation and delivery of program services in terms of compliance with policies and procedures, reporting requirements, attainment of standards of quality, and consistency with goals and objectives. Responsible for planning, conducting, and reviewing major projects designed to identify, clarify, and make recommendations concerning major national civil rights policies, problems, and/or issues as well as complex mediation, negotiation, and conciliation methods and techniques. Leads or serves on committees, task forces, and projects designed to improve or promote Community Relations Service (CRS) programs and services throughout the Department and across external agencies. Leads, manages, and directs all casework in the region and approves movement of cases from one phase to another. Negotiates matters that involve multiple, broad and complex issues which require the incumbent to shift from issue to issue and consider trade-offs between various issues. Interacts with other managers and supervisors throughout the organization to identify, coordinate, and resolve issues crossing organizational lines.

Requirements

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
• You may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• You must meet all eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met.
• Additional selections may be made from this announcement, at any time, if openings occur in other offices serviced by Justice Management Division, HR Operations.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
• A USA Hire assessment is required. An email will be sent with additional information after you submit your application. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment.
• COVID vaccination status may be requested for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols.
• Physical Demand - You will be required to be active and mobile for long periods during activities, such as demonstrations and responses to civil disturbances.
• Work Condition - You may be subjected to moderate risk, such as dealing with persons who are stressed, hostile, or mentally unstable, and may work in public venues, such as parks, stadiums, or streets.
• Position requires availability for significant and frequent travel, sometimes on short notice for response to high level community tension and/or civil disorder. Generally requires up to 25% travel but may exceed if tensions or conflicts occur.
• The incumbent must possess a valid driver's license and operate government motor vehicles in accordance with all applicable government regulations.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Regional Director, (GS-0101-15), you must meet the basic qualification requirements listed below AND possess the required specialized experience specific to this series and grade. If you are a current federal employee on a permanent appointment in the competitive service, you will need to demonstrate 1-year (52-weeks) at the next lower grade level, to meet the time-in-grade requirements for this occupational series and grade. Basic Requirement A. Degree: Bachelor's degree or higher that included at least 24 semester hours of course work in a major field of study or specific course requirements in the behavioral or social sciences, or a degree in a related discipline appropriate to the position. (NOTE: You must provide a copy of your transcripts) OR B. Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience that included at least 24 semester hours of course work in the behavioral or social sciences that provided the applicant with knowledge of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. (NOTE: You must provide a copy of your transcripts) OR C. Experience: Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. In addition to the Basic Requirement above, you must meet the Selective Placement Factor and Minimum Qualifications below. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: Ability to speak Spanish with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical, social, and professional topics. This requirement is ONLY considered for the position in Dallas, TX or Denver, CO. Specialized Experience for Regional Director GS-0101-15: For the GS-15, you must have one year of experience at a level of complexity and responsibility equivalent to the GS-14 grade in the federal service. To qualify at the GS-14 grade, your resume must show experience in at least two of the following: Substantial leadership experience in the resolution of conflicts based on race, color, and national origin and a working knowledge of and relational network within communities protected under the Shepard Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act (religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability). Extensive experience providing expert assessment of community civil rights conflicts with relevant principals such as mayors, U.S. Attorneys, city council members, police chiefs, or school superintendents. Experience as the principal representative of an organization in widely attended forums and public engagements including speeches, media interviews, panels, and conferences on subject matter related to civil rights and hate crime prevention. For the GS-15, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone, no substitution of education for experience is permitted. You MUST meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/08/2024. Your resume must support your responses to the questionnaire and qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume. After you submit this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required of you. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement (04/08/2024) to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application.

Education

Positive Education Requirements: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/social-science-series-0101/

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors or higher degree that included a major field of study in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position such as psychology, sociology, anthropology and conflict/dispute resolution majors. (Must submit transcripts)
• OR
• Combination of Education and Experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. (Must submit transcripts)
• OR
• Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. (This must be demonstrated in your resume)

If you are relying on your education to meet basic qualification requirements:

Education must be reviewed and certified by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be creditable toward your qualifications. Therefore, you should provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

For more information about this requirement, please visit the U.S. Department of Education website for Foreign Education Evaluation.

All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Contacts

• Address Community Relations Service 2 Constitution Square 145 N Street NE Room 9W.300 Washington, DC 20530 US
• Name: Natalia Kenigsberg
• Email: [email protected]