Duties

Summary

The mission of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is to ensure equal access to education and promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. OCR is responsible for enforcing civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the bases of race, color and national origin, sex, disability, and age by recipients of federal financial assistance.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Enforcement Director provides expert policy and legal advice on the agency's civil rights enforcement program to the Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary and provides direction to Regional Office Directors to ensure that enforcement and compliance efforts are consistent with Department policy and support the mission of the Department. The OCR operates under the jurisdiction of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act and their implementing regulations.

The Enforcement Director provides leadership and legal guidance in the enforcement of civil rights in education programs that receive Federal financial assistance, as well as public educational entities regardless of whether they receive Federal financial assistance, including the investigation and resolution of the agency's annual case load, and proactive compliance activities such as compliance reviews policy/educational outreach and technical assistance activities.

The candidate for the position also provides advice to the Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary in the planning of priority issue activities. The incumbent will work directly with the Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary to develop OCR's Strategic Enforcement Plan which supports the mission of the agency by setting long and short-term goals and objectives for effective civil rights enforcement and will provide legal direction to the regional offices in the formulation of strategies and plans to accomplish those activities.

Additionally, the incumbent directly supervises three Regional Office Directors, providing leadership and sound legal guidance in the development and execution of regional enforcement dockets (proactive compliance activities). The incumbent is also responsible for assessing and adjusting docket priorities to meet changing needs of the Department. Among other things, the incumbent also reviews investigative plans, compliance decisions, case resolution agreements, proposed enforcement actions, and litigation, ensuring that they are legally supportable; comply with the statutes and implementing regulations that OCR enforces; are based upon relevant policy and case law; and, are consistent with the goals and objectives of the Assistant Secretary.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
00

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• One year probationary period, unless excepted by regulation.
• U.S. Citizenship
• Financial disclosure statement, OGE-278.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance.
• Relocation expenses will NOT be paid.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, you must have progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability. This experience should be sufficiently broad in scope and at a major management level in a large or complex organization. The ideal candidate will have experience supervising a large number of employees through subordinate supervisors and have experience hiring, developing, and, evaluating employees. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service, or its equivalent with state or local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organization. Your experience should demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully fulfill responsibilities inherent in most SES positions such as:

• Directing the work of an organizational unit;
• Ensuring the success of one or more specific major programs or projects;
• Monitoring progress toward strategic organizational goals, evaluating organizational performance and taking action to improve performance;
• Supervising the work of employees; and exercising important policy-making, policy-determining, or other executive functions.

If your experience does not include these basic qualifications you will not be determined qualified for this position. You must fully address each ECQ and MTQ. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as ineligible.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Unless you are currently under a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program approved by OPM, you must submit written statements (narrative format) describing accomplishments that would satisfy the ECQs. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as 'ineligible.' You must limit your narrative to two (2) pages per ECQ. When uploading your ECQs, choose the Supporting Document Type called ECQ.

ECQ 1 - Leading Change: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent in this ECQ is ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

ECQ 2 - Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent in this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

ECQ 3 - Results Driven: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent in this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

ECQ 4 - Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

ECQ 5 - Building Coalitions: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

To view additional information on the proper preparation of Executive Core Qualification statements available on the Office of Personnel Management's website please click here .

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): All applicants must submit written statements (narrative format) of accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualification. You must address each technical qualification separately. You must limit your narratives to two pages per technical qualification. When uploading your MTQs, choose the supporting Document Type called MTQ.

MTQ 1: Comprehensive knowledge of the laws, regulations, and processes governing federal or state civil rights laws, including but not limited to: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act.

MTQ 2: Demonstrated skill in interpreting complex legal issues that involve the enforcement of federal or state law, including laws, regulations, and policies that govern and apply to elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education programs as well as public educational entities that do not receive federal financial assistance.

When responding to the MTQs and ECQs, you must clearly show that you possess the experience, knowledge, skills, and the ability to perform the duties of this position by submitting narrative responses in which you detail your experience in each of the ECQs and MTQs.

Your examples should be clear and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope, and complexity of the programs managed and program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives, and level of contacts.

Applicants who use "see resume" as a response WILL NOT receive consideration for the position.

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 in the political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action or removal from Federal Service.

Education

You must possess a J.D. or LL.M. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member in good standing of a bar in a state/territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

PROOF MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION.

Additional information

VETERANS' PREFERENCE - Veterans' Preference does not apply to the SES.

SELECTIVE SERVICE - If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify at the time of appointment that you have registered with the Selective Service, or are exempt from having to do so under Selective Service law.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION - This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the hiring agency directly. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will be evaluated by a Qualifications Review Panel of senior officials. The panel will rate and rank applicants on the basis of the quality and extent of total accomplishments, experience and education. The panel will determine the degree to which candidates possess the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the mandatory technical requirements of the position and the mandatory executive core qualifications requirements. Among the factors the evaluation panel will consider in determining the applicant's relative capacity and fitness for the position are education, training, experience, and demonstrated executive level qualifications. The Panel will rate and rank your resume against each Mandatory Technical Qualification and Mandatory Executive Core Qualification to determine the best qualified candidates. Candidates determined to be best qualified will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration for the position.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

1. Resume: In addition to your written statements addressing the Executive Core Qualifications, the Mandatory Technical Qualifications, and other qualifications as applicable, submit a resume or any other written format you choose to describe your qualifications. Applicants typically provide the following information: Full name, mailing address, email address, day and evening telephone numbers, and Educational information, including the name, city, and state of the colleges or universities you attended and the type and year of any degrees received. Information about your paid and non-paid work experience related to this position including:

• Job title (include series and grade if Federal job)
• Duties and accomplishments
• Employer's name and address
• Supervisor's name and phone number (indicate if we may contact your current supervisor)
• Starting and ending dates of employment (month/year)
• Information about honors, awards, and special accomplishments

2. MTQ Statement: A narrative statement specifically addressing the mandatory technical qualifications. Statement should not exceed two pages each.

3. ECQ Statement: A narrative statement specifically addressing each individual ECQ. In lieu of the narrative statement, current career SES members, reinstatement eligibles, and SES Candidate Development Program graduates must provide the documentation in item #4. ECQs should not exceed 10 pages total.

4. All current and former career SES members must provide an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action documenting their status or reinstatement eligibility. Candidates who have successfully completed an Office of Personnel Management approved SES Candidate Development Program must submit a copy of their ECQ certification.

5. Bar Membership: You must submit proof of your current membership (card or other documentary evidence). This documentation must be submitted with your application package.

6. All current Federal employees and reinstatement eligible applicants must submit proof of eligibility (i.e., an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action documenting their status or reinstatement eligibility).

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

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.