Summary The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting for an Equal Employment Manager. This critical leadership position reports directly to the Executive Director and is responsible for the management and oversight of the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) service for Battle Creek VA Medical Center (BCVAMC). Responsibilities The EEO Manager serves as the principal advisor to the Executive Director, the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Service Chiefs, Supervisors and all front-line employees for programs and services encompassed by EEO. More specifically, these include programs such as Affirmative Employment, Civil Rights, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Diversity Management, Special Emphasis, and Reasonable Accommodations. The EEO Manager is the driving force responsible for continuous program development and advancement to ensure premium services are provided at all levels. Incumbent is also expected to serve in a leadership role as the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program Manager as well as leading the process of developing new local standard operating procedures while ensuring the BCVAMC is compliant with all national directives. Duties include but are not limited to; Responsible for the continuous development of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). ADR programs are classified as any procedure or combination of procedures voluntarily used to resolve employment issues in controversy without the need to resort to litigation. EEO Manager manages the full lifecycle of all administrative and personnel management functions including the assignment of duties, recruitment/evaluation/selection and onboarding of new employees Works closely with their team to develop performance standards for all employees, explains performance expectations to employees and provides regular feedback on their performance Assist in settlement negotiations, conciliation, facilitation, mediation, fact-finding, minitrials, and arbitration, that require an impartial advisor or neutral third party. Serve as the BCVAMC' ombudsman for resolving workplace disputes at the main medical center, and community-based outpatient clinics Responsible for identifying, training, and appointing alternative ombudsman representatives at each site to ensure these services are offered in timely/effective manner. Recognized as the healthcare system expert, this person is expected to play an active role in identifying cases or disputes relevant to ADR, to persuade aggrieved parties of the benefits of informal resolution of their concerns, and to play an active role in the resolution of these matters Responsible for the management and oversight of this program, the incumbent must possess the ability to analyze disputes, research relevant case law and regulation, determine the healthcare systems' potential for liability, and to assemble all necessary partners in an effort to resolve the most significant workplace disputes. Serves on the VISN 10 Anti-Harassment and Bullying program. Chief advisor to all Executive Leadership Team members in ensuring every advanced method of dispute resolution is utilized to address all issues Conduct studies and analyses on workforce demographics, particularly the composition and utilization of women and minorities across the BCVAMC workforce; identify obstacles to affirmative employment goals; and work with any party internal or external to the healthcare system, as needed, to outline alternative solutions to identified problems. Must have the advanced skills to manipulate large databases of workforce statistics on a continuous basis while conducting analysis of these data to evaluate the overall effectiveness of EEO affirmative employment programs and measure progress. Conducts analysis of the workforce by race, sex, grade, occupational series, and integrates these findings with policies and practices affecting employment. Incumbent is responsible for developing, implementing, coordinating, reviewing, monitoring, evaluating, and updating all plans associated with the EEO program. Must cultivate and ensure buy-in of these plans throughout BCVAMC. The incumbent is recognized as possessing the expertise and gravitas to conduct briefings with the Executive Director, ELT, and other management officials Responsible for developing and maintaining a vibrant Diversity Management Program Must conduct periodic evaluations of the workforce to develop data that can be utilized in evaluating the effectiveness of the program Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Equal Employment Manager/PD91869O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2024. 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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of federal laws, regulations, policies and principles, as well as personnel administration compliance and enforcement skills, administrative, management and consulting skills; Knowledge of the principles of Personnel Management and of Federal Personnel Regulations that provide the basis for recommending changes in employment policies and practices; Skill to exercise a high degree of judgment in analyzing and recommending solutions to problems that adversely affect the facility; Skill to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, prepare a variety of reports, and brief supervisors, service chiefs, and management personnel; Ability to provide sound technical advice, guidance, and leadership to committees and Program Managers You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical Reasoning Audit Reporting Communications Compliance Interpersonal Skills Writing 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Regular and recurring work involves sitting at a desk, and sitting in conferences and meetings, except for occasional visits to other work sites. Occasional use of an automobile and public conveyance is required. No special physical exertion is required. 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/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.