This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Office of the Administrator, Office of the Civil Rights located in Washington, DC. The incumbent is responsible for performing assignments which are complex in nature due to the multi-faceted nature of allegations of discrimination, class actions, policies and practices involved.

Duties

The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to: Evaluates the Agency’s pre-complaint program. Develops and executes long-term strategic and short-term operational planning that contributes to meeting Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), USDA, and Agency requirements for civil rights program. Works with employees and managers to resolve work related problems which result in EEO complaints. Advises and provides status about EEO program activities to management to ensure compliance throughout FAS. Recommends options to contending parties to ensure prompt and fair resolution of the full range of issues. Prepares detailed counseling reports based on analysis of the information gathered. Identifies and defines major barriers to programmatic areas, differentiating such barriers from individual complaints or patterns of complaints. Prepares reports, presentations, and training packages on staff operational activities and civil rights policies, rules, regulations, and procedures. Recommends alternatives to address and remedy longstanding and/or emerging barriers to equal opportunity in the conduct of Agency program operations with the goal of reducing the incidence of future complaint activity. Conducts analysis of program characteristics and participates in outreach to provide opportunity for eligible beneficiaries to participate in Agency programs.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Provides support to more senior EEO staff. Answer questions, solve problems, understand technical personnel issues, and analyze complaint cases. Assist in conducting various workforce data analyses to appropriately complete various reports. OR One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Human Resources Management, Employment Law, Business Management/Business Administration, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Humanities, or Counseling or a program that concentrates on compliance and enforcement; administration, management, and consulting; and/or personnel administration. OR Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:(1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR(3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/). Superior Academic Achievement. (S.A.A.) applicants MUST provide a transcript in order to be considered under S.A.A. FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 grade level) that demonstrates: Provides support to more senior EEO staff. Assist in conducting various workforce data analyses to appropriately complete various reports. Gather information for reports of investigations, final Agency decisions, and settlement agreements. OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Human Resources Management, Employment Law, Business Management/Business Administration, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Humanities, or Counseling or a program that concentrates on compliance and enforcement; administration, management, and consulting; and/or personnel administration FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Consults and conciliates disputes between contending parties. Prepare reports, monitor corrective actions, and represent the Agency to other organizations. OR Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Human Resources Management, Employment Law, Business Management/Business Administration, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Humanities, or Counseling or a program that concentrates on compliance and enforcement; administration, management, and consulting; and/or personnel administration. FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Consults and conciliates disputes between contending parties. Prepare reports, monitor corrective actions, and represent the Agency to other organizations. Develop solutions to problems and situations that involve individuals with diverse cultural and educational backgrounds. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07/09 GRADE LEVELS: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. 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 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

• Please see above for education qualification requirement information for the GS-07, GS-09 and GS-11 grade levels. This position does not have an education qualification requirement for the GS-12 grade level.
• If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient if it includes your name and all course information. If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been obtained from an accredited institution. Education completed in a foreign institution must include an evaluation by an organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs that it was deemed equivalent to an accredited U.S. education program. For further information, see: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Contacts

• Address Foreign Agricultural Service Human Capital Management Division 1400 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Tanja Blagmon
• Phone: 202-869-9068
• Email: [email protected]