Equal Employment Specialist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Fayetteville (AR); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks an Equal Employment Specialist to establish, organize, and direct an EEO program segment. The role informs management on EEO requirements, assists in managing complaints, and supports the agency’s diversity goals.

Responsibilities include planning and evaluating EEO programs, advising on AAPs, and coordinating with managers to ensure compliance. Telework may be authorized; duties require collaboration with facility staff and leadership.

Qualifications

• Specialized knowledge of laws, regulations, executive orders related to the Federal EEO program.
• Experience in fact-finding, counseling, complaint handling, and investigations.
• Ability to lead EEO/Diversity committees and special emphasis programs.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate assigned Special Emphasis Employment Programs.
• Analyze workforce demographics and employment statistics to identify barriers and set program goals.
• Monitor affirmative action plans and advise on effective implementation of EEO initiatives.
• Assist in administering the EEO complaints process with impartiality and timeliness.
• Coordinate documentation, investigations, and reporting for EEO activities.
• Supervise and train staff and coordinate with staff offices to achieve objectives.

Skills

EEO knowledge

Counseling

Investigation

Training

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent

Graduate-level courses (LL.M./3 years)

Combination of education and experience

Job description

Summary

This position serves as an Equal Employment Specialist with full responsibility for establishing - organizing - and directing an identifiable part of the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program (e.g. - Federal women's program - Hispanic employment program - complaint adjudication program - etc.). Informs and advises management officials and employees on basic EEO program requirements. Assists in managing the complaint program to include - intake - counseling - mediation - coordination and compliance.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 11/03/2026. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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 1 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 and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Applies comprehensive knowledge of laws - regulations - executive orders - court decisions - and issues related to the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity program (EEO) and skill to interpret and apply this knowledge to a variety of difficult and complex work assignments. Skilled in applying the operating principles - methods and techniques of the EEO Program to include fact-finding - analysis - counseling - complaint - and investigative processes - the roles of the EEO Committee and Special Emphasis Programs. Analyzes and recommends solutions to problems that adversely affect EEO - Aff ... ored Employment - ADR - Reasonable Accommodation and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment. Provides leadership and guidance to facility employees - managers - supervisors - EEO/Diversity Committees - and Special Emphasis Program Managers. Serves as a trainer in the areas of EEO - ADR - Diversity Awareness - and Special Emphasis. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree - or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree - or LL.M. - in a field related to this position that demonstrate the ability to do the work of this position. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college - or university. NOTE: Transcripts are required. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first two graduate years or 36 semester hours and specialized experience to meet the total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the ability to do the work of the position. NOTE: Transcripts are 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/.

Duties

• Major duties include - but not limited to: Plan - direct - coordinate - monitor - and evaluate assigned Special Emphasis Employment Programs - including Asian/Pacific Islander - Native American - Individuals with Disabilities - and Federal Women's Programs
• Analyze workforce demographics - civilian labor force skill availability - upward mobility potential - and employment statistics to identify systemic barriers and establish program goals and objectives
• Monitor assigned affirmative action plans (AAPs) and advise employees - supervisors - and organizational representatives on developing - implementing - and evaluating effective AAPs and EEO initiatives
• Assist supervisors in resolving program issues - achieving EEO objectives - and building workforce understanding and support for management's EEO policies and goals
• Assist in administering the EEO complaints process - ensuring compliance with established time limits - regulations - and policies while maintaining strict impartiality toward complainants and responsible management officials
• Assist in determining the acceptability of formal complaints - identifying grounds for dismissal - and advising complainants of their right to appeal local determinations
• Request investigators and complaints examiners
• Coordinate administrative support - documentation of the complaint record - and witness availability
• And prepare timely reports on counseling activities - complaint status - and case dispositions
• Manage assigned EEO program areas - including planning - organizing - directing - coordinating - reviewing - and evaluating activities - with accountability for program performance
• Recommend staffing - funding - space - and equipment requirements
• Allocate assigned resources
• And assign - direct - and review the work of collateral-duty or subordinate employees
• Coordinate with staff offices and line managers to achieve shared objectives - evaluate program effectiveness - and recommend changes to program methods - priorities - and local EEO objectives
• Work schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00AM - 4:30PM
• (Subject to change based upon facility needs.) Telework: 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 Specialist/PD03164A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized