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Office of Civil Rights

Equal Employment Specialist

Office of Civil Rights See More Job Openings by This EmployerArrow
  • Full Time
  • $122,198 - $191,900/year
  • Seattle, WA
  • Tacoma, WA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Lakewood, CO
  • Washington, DC
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Chicago, IL
  • Boston, MA
  • Kansas City, MO
  • New York, NY
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Fort Worth, TX
November 18, 2024

Job Description

As an Equal Employment Specialist, you will responsible for reviewing and analyzing complaints and developing and drafting final agency decisions and other final agency actions or decisions for EEO complaints. Location of position: GSA, Office of Civil Rights This is NOT a remote position; you MUST reside within commutable distance (approximately 50 miles) from the duty station or relocate within a commutable distance to the duty station BEFORE your entry on duty date with GSA.

Duties

The Office of Civil Rights is responsible for ensuring an inclusive workplace free from unlawful discrimination through active engagement, training, and enforcement of civil rights laws, regulations and other guiding sources. Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Writes final agency decisions and final actions that are clear, concise, persuasive, legally sound, and which set forth the relevant facts of the matter and interpret and apply applicable laws and regulations and legal precedent, and are based on a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the case record to determine the nature and scope of the complaint, including investigative, administrative and/or hearing files.

Provides expert advice on the development of policies relevant to the processing and resolution of discrimination complaints, including the determination of whether applicable laws, Executive Orders, legal decisions, regulations, procedures or policies have been properly
interpreted and applied; provides expert advice and consultation to agency management and EEO officials, agency attorneys, complainants and their representatives, and other interested parties regarding resolution of complaints, problems leading to complaints and other
related matter, the resolution of which may result in controversial or precedent setting decisions.

Reviews and evaluates case record materials to extract facts and determine circumstances surrounding the complaint and determines adequacy of evidence; initiating further investigations, as necessary, to obtain information needed to clarify or establish the facts and issues involved; applies legal principles and analytical methods to facts and issues to determine whether the complainant was discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual identity, pregnancy, and/or sexual orientation, disability, age, national origin, protected genetic information or reprisal.

Recommends appropriate corrective action and in areas such as compensatory damages. Where few precedents exist, you may have to research federal and private sector insurance case law in an attempt to determine appropriate award recommendations.

Provides expert advice in responding to communications from attorneys and complainants involving legal proceedings against the agency in EEO matters, including furnishing and exchanging a variety of factual and procedural information pertinent to these actions at
law; and provides assistance to other members of the team from a thorough review of the work products to achieve technically sound and legally sufficient final decisions.

Monitors compliance with findings of discrimination and settlement agreements; reviews and tracks settlement agreements to ensure that settlement terms are timely met; analyzes relevant facts and issues of the case to make a determination on breach of settlement agreement claims and prepares final actions for approval, including breach of settlement agreement (breach of contract).

Writes other various documents including final decisions that outline facts and issues that support the agency's determination on grievance decisions, in accordance with GSA's Grievance Procedures; decisions on attorney's fees based on evidence in the record and
analysis of various factors; and decisions to disqualify representatives.

Salary
  • $122,198 - $191,900/year
Conditions of Employment
  • US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
  • Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
  • Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable
  • Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

  • 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 or Non­Career 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 including removal from Federal Service.
  • Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level).
  • Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee.  We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.

This position has job functions that must be executed within specific geographic locations. The official duty station is a federal facility, leased space, or an alternative worksite (typically the employee’s home) within the specified geographic area. You will be expected to report to a specific GSA duty location at least one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy.

New England Region - Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Federal Building, 10 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts
Northeast Caribbean Region - One World Trade Center, 55th Floor, New York, New York
Mid-Atlantic Region - 100 Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Southeast Region - Martin Luther King, JR Federal Building, 77 Forsyth Street, Atlanta, Georgia
Great Lakes Region - 230 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois
Heartland Region - 2300 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri
Greater Southwest Region - Fritz Lanham Federal Building, 819 Taylor Street, Fort Worth, Texas
Rocky Mountain Region - Denver Federal Building, West 6th Avenue & Kipling Street, Lakewood, Colorado
Pacific Rim Region - 50 United Nations Plaza Federal Building, San Francisco, California
Northwest/Arctic Region – 1301 A Street, Tacoma, Washington
National Capital Region – 1800 F Street, NW, Washington, DC
Central Office - 1800 F Street, NW, Washington, DC

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

  • the exact dates you held  each job (from month/year to month/year)
  • number of hours per week you worked (if part time).    

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here

The GS-14 salary range starts at $122,198.00 per year.  If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.  

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience reviewing and analyzing complaints filed with an organization for findings of discrimination or nondiscrimination; developing and drafting final agency decisions and other final agency actions for complex and diverse equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaints in accordance with civil rights laws, policies, and procedures; and reviewing and preparing final decisions on external civil rights complaints. Experience must include reviewing case records, including investigative, administrative, and hearing files for the nature and scope of the complaint; determining whether applicable laws, legal decisions, regulations, procedures, and policies, have been properly interpreted and applied; reviewing and evaluating case materials to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the complaint; determining adequacy of evidence; and applying legal principles and analytical methods to facts and issues in determining whether the complainant was discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual identity, pregnancy, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age, protected genetic information or reprisal.

Additional hurdle assessments, such as narrative responses or other assessments, may be administered to applicants who meet the requirements of the first hurdle, e.g., the minimum qualification requirements. If additional assessments are used, you will be provided with further instructions.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume so that information will be taken into consideration during the selection process.  If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

If you are eligible under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan or GSA’s Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP/CTAP), you must receive a score of 85 or higher to receive priority.

Other Information

Bargaining Unit Status: This position is ineligible for the bargaining unit
If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage.

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.  

Travel expenses associated with interviews may be approved. Determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved:

·       Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government

·       Relocation incentive if you are a current federal employee

·       Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government

Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.

GSA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility that goes beyond our compliance with EEO regulations including: 
  • Valuing and embracing diversity, promoting equity, inclusion and accessibility, and expecting cultural competence; and
  • Fostering a work environment where all employees, customers and stakeholders feel respected and valued.
Our commitment is: 
  • Reflected in our policies, procedures and work environment;
  • Recognized by our employees, customers and stakeholders; and
  • Drives our efforts to recruit, attract, retain and engage the diverse workforce needed to achieve our mission.

Required Documents

ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.

Your resume showing applicant's name, email address, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.

Note:  If required to submit an SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action), an equivalent agency Notice of Personnel Action form is acceptable. The SF-50 or equivalent agency Notice of Personnel Action form must show all of the following: effective date, position, title, series, grade, and rate of basic pay, tenure group 1 (career) or 2 (career-conditional), position occupied group, and name of agency. If you are a GSA employee (except in the OIG), you are not required to submit an SF-50.

If you are a 30% or more disabled veteran, VEOA or VRA applicant or qualified spouse, widow/widower, or parent:

(a)  Copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 that shows your type of discharge and the dates of your active duty service.
(b)  If you are a disabled veteran, or are applying under VRA or VEOA as a spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a veteran, submit both of the following in addition to the DD-214: (1) completed SF-15 form; and (2) proof of your entitlement (refer to SF-15 for complete list).

If you are active duty military- Certification on a letterhead from your military branch that includes your rank, character of service (must be under honorable conditions) & military service dates including discharge/release date (must be no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted).

If you are a current Federal employee or Reinstatement Eligible: Submit your latest SF-50.

If you are eligible under an Interchange Agreement: Submit your latest SF-50.

If you are a former Peace Corp or VISTA volunteer: Submit your Description of Service.

If you are a current or former Land Management Agency Employee - Submit a and b:

     (a) one or more SF-50s, including your most recent one that shows you were on a competitive time-limited appointment(s) with a Land Management Agency and served on the appointment for a period(s) totaling more than 24 months without a break of 2 or more years.

     (b) Copy of your agency’s annual performance appraisal(s) or written reference(s) from a supervisor at the agency verifying satisfactory performance during your appointment(s).

If you have a disability: Submit proof of eligibility. For information on eligibility and required documentation, refer to USAJOBS page for more information.

If you are applying under another special appointment authority: Submit proof of your eligibility under the appropriate appointment authority. See USAJOBS for more information.

If you are ICTAP/CTAP eligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.

If you are a current or former political appointee: Submit your SF-50.

How to Apply

Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application.  For more detailed instructions on how to apply, click here: Apply for a GSA Job.

If you are having issues applying to this announcement, you should switch to a different browser, network or device. Note: Your firewall may block your transfer from USAJOBS to your GSA application. 

To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement.

  • Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application.
  • Once you have clicked Apply for this position now, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process.
  • Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete.  If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job.
  • Note:  Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process).

Need Assistance? 

  • Questions or issues completing an application and/or submitting documentation - contact mgshelp@monster.com or 1-866-656-6831 Monday-Friday 7AM - 7PM EST, except for Federal holidays
  • Specific questions on the position - contact the HR representative (Monday-Friday during normal business hours) listed on the announcement, prior to the application deadline

You must receive HR approval before deviating from these instructions.

Be sure to APPLY EARLY as most assessments must be completed fully and submitted before the announcement closing.



Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

You will have access to many benefits including:

  • Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
  • Life insurance coverage with several options
  • Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year
  • Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
  • Flexible work schedules
  • Transit and child care subsidies
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Long-term care insurance
  • Training and development

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.



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