Duties

Summary

Provides program expertise for SSA's Dispute Resolution; Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR); Intake and Investigation; Complaints Processing or Compliance; Hearings and Control Program; and/or other CREO Programs as designated. The Specialist is responsible for the review and analysis and other aspects of the discrimination complaints process; complaints are based on race, religion, national origin, sex, color, age, physical and/or mental disability, and reprisal.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Advises aggrieved individuals on methods that may be taken in the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) process either in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or in traditional counseling.
• Analyzes investigative material developed on all complaints of discrimination filed against SSA under the Equal Employment Opportunity Regulations. Assures that decisions are consistent with public law, with precedent appellate judicial
• [CONT] and administrative decisions, and with SSA procedures, policy, and personnel management philosophy.
• Interprets and revises SSA policy on discrimination complaint processing. Participates in formulating policy for the discrimination complaint program; provides advice and assistance to regional and headquarters staff regarding legal, regulatory,
• [CONT] and technical matters relating to SSA?s complaint system.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Background and/or security investigation required
• Job offers are contingent on background / security investigation results
• Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
• Relocation expenses will not be paid
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement

Qualifications

GS-7
To qualify for the GS-7 level, you must have one of the following:

• A bachelor's degree AND superior academic achievement. Superior academic achievement is defined as: (1) graduating with at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA; (2) graduating in the top third of the graduating class; or (3) membership in a national scholastic honor society; NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate claimed education .;OR
• One full year of graduate level study, or possess a Master's or higher degree, e.g., LL.B., J.D., LL.M., Ph.D., etc., in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate claimed education.; OR
• At least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-5, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience should include researching, analyzing, and applying principles to identify and solve employment issues.; OR
• When combined, graduate education and experience total 100% of the requirements.

GS-9
To qualify for the GS-9 level, you must have one of the following:

• At least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-7, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled which has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience should include researching, analyzing, and applying equal opportunity principles to identify and solve employment issues which includes consulting, reconciling, negotiating, or investigating activities with regard to equal employment laws, policies.; OR
• A Master's or equivalent graduate degree, if related. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate education .;OR
• Completed 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate education.; OR
• When combined, graduate education and experience total 100% of the requirements.

GS-11
To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must have one of the following:

• At least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-9, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled which has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience must include applying Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws, statues and Federal regulations, and applying analytical or fact finding techniques to interpret, resolve or recommend resolution for Federal EEO programs (e.g., informal or formal complaint of discrimination or disability process, Reasonable Accommodation, Alternate Dispute Resolution, Special Emphasis Program) for an organization.; OR
• A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate education.; OR
• Completed 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, if related. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate education.; OR
• When combined, graduate education and experience total 100% of the requirements.

GS-12
To qualify for the GS-12, the applicant must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-11 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience must include applying Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws, statues and Federal regulations, experience processing and adjudicating formal EEO complaints, to include all of the following: drafting final agency decisions, conducting activities relative to updating/monitoring electronic complaint tracking system(s), drafting acceptance/dismissal letters, reviewing and approving investigative plans, and conducting legal sufficiency reviews of investigative reports.

NOTE: Your resume and supporting documents must specifically address the evaluation criteria for the position. This information is instrumental in determining the highest quality candidates to be referred to the Selecting Official. If your application materials do not demonstrate the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience needed for this position, your application will be ineligible for consideration.

Qualification standards and additional information for this position can be found here:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards

Education

Providing Proof of Education or Substituting Education
For information on providing proof of education or substituting education for experience, visit
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards

If you are qualifying on the basis of education or satisfying an educational requirement, submit a copy of your transcripts that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of the personnel action placing you into the new position.

Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation 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 a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov .

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.

This is a developmental position leading to the full performance level of GS-12. Closer supervision and technical guidance and/or on-the-job training are provided. Duties are gradually broadened so the incumbent is eventually performing all of the duties of the full performance level.

At the full performance level, the incumbent Serves as an Equal Employment Specialist in the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (OCREO), Center for Complaints Processing.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position. These competencies include:

• Knowledge of EEO laws, regulations, processes, and procedures governing the Federal civilian EEO process. (Grades: 9, 11, 12)
• Skill in processing and responding to formal EEO within regulatory timeframes (i.e., Intake Acceptance or Dismissal Decisions and Appeal Decisions). (Grades: 11, 12)
• Skill conducting legal research for matters relating to the Rehabilitation Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII, and the Equal Pay Act. (Grades: 12)
• Skill in written communication. (Grades: 7, 9, 11, 12)
• Skill in communicating before judges or administrative adjudicators. (Grades: 7, 9, 11, 12)
• Skill in using one or more electronic complaints tracking systems to update and monitor EEO complaints. (Grades: 7, 9, 11, 12)

Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11229146

Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method, based on your responses to the Assessment Questions. If you meet the basic requirements for the position, your application will be evaluated and placed into one of three categories:

1 - Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements.
2 - Well Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a satisfactory level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
3 - Best Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a high level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:

• proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
• proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.

For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.

Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.

For more information visit the Vet Guide .

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.