Duties

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist, you will:

• Prepare Final Agency Decisions on the merits of complaints of discrimination filed by Department employees and applicants for employment and will evaluate new complaints for accept/dismiss determinations. Evaluate and conduct sufficiency review of Reports of Investigation and conduct complex or sensitive discrimination complaint investigations.
• Review formal complaints of discrimination for procedural and jurisdictional compliance. Assist with the External Compliance Program, which oversees and monitors the Department's compliance with statutes that prohibit discrimination in federally conducted programs and federally assisted programs. Assist with the case management tracking system and to prepare the EEOC 462 report and No Fear Act reports.
• Draft Notices of Acceptances and Procedural Final Agency Decisions, which outline the complaint claim(s), and any grounds for dismissal. Prepare comprehensive and legally supportable written Final Agency Decisions to Include: determining relevant information pertaining to the case; determining the applicable law and regulations; comparing the facts to general principles, theories of discrimination and regulations, summarizing information, and determining the agency position.
• Conduct legal research and analysis on particularly complex cases or on novel legal issues, using both traditional and electronic research methods. Research may include administrative law and non-EEO areas of law. Conduct difficult and sensitive investigation of discrimination complaints filed with and accepted by the Department from employees and applicants for employment. Arrange for and conduct interviews with complainants, Department officials and other public and private sector witnesses.
• Identify opportunities for settlement and coordinate settlement efforts with the appropriate EEO Officer. Review new and remanded formal complaints and make recommendations concerning acceptance for investigation or dismissal. Where the record is insufficient to make a decision on acceptance or dismissal, prepare a request to the complainant for further information; allegations as defined in notices of investigation and procedural final agency decisions are clearly stated and correctly identified.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist GS-0260-13 positions within the Office of the Secretary in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

This position is also advertised under OS-OCR-DE-23-11688090, which is open to Delegated Examining eligible applicants. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs.
• A probationary or trial period may be required.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Drug Test: No.
• License required: No.
• Pre-employment physical required: No.
• Bargaining Unit Position: Yes.
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): No.
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: will not be paid
• Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement unless eligible for special hiring authority, reinstatement eligible, non-current Federal employee applying as a VEOA eligible which do not require time-in-grade/band.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ .

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify for the GS-13, You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as but not limited to:

• Implementing and applying Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws, policies, Executive Orders, and case law by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); AND
• Providing guidance to management and employees on a variety of EEO matters (e.g. allegations of discrimination) and offers alternatives for resolving complaints. AND
• Assist with preparing final agency decisions, informal complaints, and EEOC annual reports.

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; 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.

Education

There is no positive education requirement for this position.

Additional information

The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)

30% or more disabled veterans

Persons with disabilities

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)

ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).

A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;

A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and

Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;

A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;

A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and

Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.