Equal Opportunity Specialist (External Civil Rights)

Summary This vacancy is for an Equal Opportunity Specialist (External Civil Rights) in the Department of Commerce, Office of the Secretary, Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The External Civil Rights Complaints Program is located in OCR’s Program Implementation Division and oversees and monitors the Department’s compliance with statutes and Executive Orders that prohibit discrimination in federally conducted programs and activities. Responsibilities As an Equal Opportunity Specialist (External Civil Rights), you will perform the following duties: Serves as a subject matter expert ensuring compliance with external Civil Rights statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Executive Orders. Provides collaborative input on agency policies and other documents to senior officials and management. Assists in outreach to increase understanding of, and compliance with, the external civil rights statutes. Conducts training in person, by telephone, or through web based media. Processes complaints from individuals who believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, Limited English Proficiency, age, sex, disability, or reprisal in programs or activities conducted or assisted by federal agencies. Develops strategies for case investigation, data collection, and analysis. Provides technical assistance on external civil rights statutes and related Executive Orders. Prepares reports, coordinates and assembles responses to data calls related to external civil rights aspects of Executive Orders. Serves as the primary or lead for the Department’s written Language Access Plan. Creates data requests, investigates plans, letters of findings associated with complex legal or administrative precedents. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Equal Opportunity Specialist (External Civil Rights) GS-0360-13 (FPL:13) positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs. A probationary or trial period may be required. Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/). If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. Drug Test: No License required: No Pre-employment physical required: No Bargaining Unit Position: No Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will not be paid Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement unless eligible for special hiring authority, reinstatement eligible, non-current Federal employee applying as a VEOA eligible which do not require time-in-grade/band. Qualifications Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management’s website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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, religious; 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. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience is defined as: providing advice and guidance to the staff on external civil rights laws; conducting civil rights complaint investigations and compliance reviews; and preparing correspondence, investigative plans, investigative reports, or letters of findings. Education There is no positive education requirement for this position. Additional Information The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment. Veterans Recruitment Act (VRA) Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) 30% or more disabled veterans Persons with disabilities Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice). A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action”, noting current position, grade level, and duty location; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement; A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action” documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. 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, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.