About this role
Job SummaryThe Equal Employment Manager serves as a senior level manager responsible for the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Employment (EEO/AE), EEO case Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and external Civil Rights (CR) functions in a major organization within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS).
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/31/2026. 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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Use of Federal EEO laws, regulations, Executive Orders, policies, and principles governing Federal EEO/AE, ADR, and CR programs and practices; plans, organizes, directs staff, carries out, and evaluates an equal employment opportunity program that, in addition to meeting basic regulatory requirements, focuses on the solution of systemic problems, elimination of barriers to equal employment including agency management policies and practices, and provision of management advisory and consulting services ; knowledge in human resources management principles and equal employment opportunity sufficient to plan, direct and evaluate the agency's outreach and retention programs, policies, and reports; performs compliance and enforcement activities, administrative management, and technical consulting in order to develop, review, and evaluate policies and programs impacting equal opportunity. 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/.
Major DutiesThe incumbent has staff engaged in EEO functions. This position requires expert knowledge of federal EEO regulations and principles, compliance, and enforcement skills, administrative, management and consulting skills, and knowledge of federal personnel administration. Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Serves as the principal advisor to the head of the organization, subject matter expert, and spokesperson for the organization in the area of EEO/AE (including reasonable accommodation services) and CR external programs. Proposes and develops policy and responses to correspondence for the organization on all EEO/AE, EEO case ADR, and CR matters. Consults with the Office of Resolution Management (ORM), the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication (OEDCA), the Office of General Counsel (OGC) and other senior level officials regarding the direction, design, and implementation of VA national policies and programs in the area of EEO/AE, EEO case ADR, and CR in accordance with the aforementioned laws, regulations, executive orders, and directives. Responsible for assembling, consolidating, and submitting timely and accurate plans, information, and reports on the organization's EEO/AE, EEO case ADR, and CR programs and status. Conducts periodic evaluations of the workforce by analyzing data and evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Performs demographic analyses and identifies appropriate benchmarks for the organization's workforce, including major occupations, grade levels, and other categories, by race, ethnicity, and gender as compared to the Relevant Civilian Labor Force (RCLF) and other appropriate benchmarks. Ensures that the organization's workforce completes mandatory training in Prevention of Workplace Harassment and No FEAR, and that the organization's managers and supervisors complete mandatory EEO and Conflict Management training. Responsible for coordinating, providing, and conducting ad hoc/ elective training and consultation for managers and employees in EEO/AE and CR including areas such as Prevention of Sexual Harassment, Workplace Harassment prevention, cultural competency, unconscious bias, generational diversity, disability employment, anti-retaliation, Whistleblower Protections, and other related areas. Manages the EEO case ADR function which provides an array of alternative strategies used to resolve disputes voluntarily without resorting to formal complaint investigative or adjudicative processes and during administrative processes such as the EEO complaint process. Serves as technical expert and manager responsible for the processing of external complaints {Title VI, Title IX, Section 504) alleging discrimination in VA programs receiving Federal assistance on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability in accordance with the aforementioned Federal laws. Typically serves as the organization's liaison to ORM to respond to ORM investigators' document requests and related needs. Collaborates with staff of EEO, facility ADR, analysts, trainers, and administrative personnel to accomplish the work of the EEO program in the organization. Reviews completed work for accuracy, timeliness, responsiveness to total program needs, results attained and compliance with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Department of Veterans Affairs regulations. Establishes short and long-term priorities, performance measures, and individual development plans and performance appraisals for staff. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Equal Employment Manager/PD02831O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedRequirementsYou must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work is normally sedentary in an office environment. The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.