Summary Serve as Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Specialist in the Office of the Director and assist the EEO Manager in planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring the affirmative action and EEO programs in the South Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care System (STVHCS). Because of the broad scope, depth, critical, and sensitive nature of EO activities, careful attention to details and confidentiality are essential elements in this position. Responsibilities Provide recommendations to the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program Manager on the management of the assigned organizations of the EEO Program requirements and established goals. Advise management in assigned organizations of routine requirements and of the goals established to enhance the employment opportunities of minorities and women. Assist in the direction/management of one or more special emphasis programs and the EEO Advisory Committee. Provide routine advice. Assist in the fact-finding and analysis of discrimination complaints, to include finalizing resolutions of complaints/disputes. Develop draft policies for the EEO Program and evaluate equal employment activities and functions. Review new or proposed personnel policies, procedures and guidelines and make recommendations to management on the need for changes in existing policies. Review new or proposed personnel policies, procedures, and guidelines for impact on organizational practices. Make recommendations and identify conflicts or deviations from acceptable and/or current policies and practices. Analyze changes to regulations, policies, etc., for impact on EEO Programs, Plans, and implements actions, under the supervision of the EEO Program Manager, to correct deficiencies identified by reviews. Assist the EEO Program Manager in analyzing and evaluation the EEO Program by identifying problems or deficiencies, and typically proving workable solutions, and implementing improvement plans to meet established program goals and objectives. Develop and/or monitor proposals or plans related to the implementation of EEO Programs. Monitor progress and success of EEO projects and programs. Develop and maintain EEO related databases and reports. Secure research, organize and present background briefing materials as requested and required. Assist the EEO Program Manager in directing an EEO Advisory Committee, and of the EEO Special Emphasis Program Committees or developmental projects. Keep abreast of equal employment opportunity events occurring within and outside of the agency to anticipate the need for initiating same action. Represent the facility before Affirmative Employment, Equal Employment and Special Emphasis groups in the community. Responsible for Complaint Processing, Work force Analysis (MD 715) & Affirmative Action Employment; EEO and Diversity Training; Recruitment Outreach; and Special Emphasis Programs. In the absence of the EEO Manager, you will present training and monthly EEO presentations and serves as the backup advisor to the Equal Employment Manager in the area of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Employment, and Diversity Management for the Medical Center Director, Quad-level Executives, Care Line Managers, Service Chiefs, Supervisors and Employees. Responsible to the EEO Program Manager for supporting program development, administration, evaluation, and advisory functions. Support the Affirmative Action Program, retrieve information from automated databases to provide assessments in various program areas to assists EEO Officer in program evaluations. Review, analyze, and compile statistics and other data for use in the development and tracking of program objectives. Compile data related to affirmative action and complaints tracking, training, and other compliance reports. Identify areas of deficiencies, determine factors contributing to identify barriers and complaint trends. Develop input to recommendations for corrective action. Provide input into various surveys, studies, and special projects conducted by the EEO staff to analyze demographic data and other information related to underrepresentation, barriers, and trends affecting program compliance. Conduct mandatory and related EEO training for the workforce on such topics as Prevention of Sexual Harassment, NO Fear, Reasonable Accommodation, Mediation, and Diversity. Monitor career development opportunities for underrepresented groups. Provide advice and guidance to management and employees on new or revised policies and procedures in EEO. Brief senior leaders, managers, and supervisors on EEO mission, goals, and accomplishments. Promotion Potential: 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. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 08:00am to 04:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Equal Employment Specialist/PD03748O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Must have a valid current state drivers license You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/28/2024. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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: 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 Knowledge of the principles, concepts, legal requirements, and methodology of the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program and skill in applying this knowledge to perform assignments independently for which there are precedents. Practical knowledge and skill in interpreting, explaining, and applying a body of laws, regulations, and procedures. Skill in applying conventional fact-finding, analytical and problem-solving methods. Knowledge of the common policies, practices and operations of the Federal personnel system, the structure and function of Federal agencies including the Veterans Administration, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). Knowledge and skill to analyze facts identify problems, report findings, make conclusions and recommendations of corrective action or other appropriate action. Knowledge and skill to deal effectively with people in various settings (meetings, committees, panels, mediations, etc.) and to identify and make recommendations for programs or solutions to problems. Ability to plan, develop, implement, evaluate, and monitor programs, complete cycle of fact-finding, problem definition and identification, determining cause and effect relationships, making conclusions, and recommending a decision or proposing action, solve complex problems, attention to detail. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree OR two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education major field of study related to the work of the position which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Only graduate education in excess of the first year of graduate level education is creditable. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to knowledge of Federal Equal Employment Opportunity principles, concepts, laws, regulations and policies, and relevant precedent decisions to recognize and solve difficult EEO problems, and to make technical recommendations for decisions in complaint cases; Knowledge of statistical techniques and other analytical tools used to evaluate organizational behavior and identify patterns of practices of discrimination; conduct special projects and analysis; broad general knowledge of Federal personnel administration policies and practices including appeals and grievances, Labor Relations, Employee Relations, Position Classification, Recruitment and Selection; Oral communication and writing skills to make presentations, conduct training sessions/seminars, negotiate settlements, write recommendations for decisions in complaint cases, and to effectively work with supervisors, managers, and employees to provide advisory services in analyzing and recommending solutions to problems that adversely affect equal employment opportunity. 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 three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education as described above. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) A current, state issued driver's license is required for this position. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communication Organizational Awareness Technical Competence Administration and Management 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: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. A valid state driver's license is required. 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: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.