Equal Employment Specialist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Hampton VA Healthcare System is seeking an Equal Employment Specialist to support the EEO Program Office in advancing affirmative employment and dispute resolution across the medical center and clinics.

You will advise management, coordinate with the Office of Resolution Management, analyze program data, and assist investigations, while maintaining standard business hours, in a non-virtual on-site role.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in development and implementation of EEO program components.
• Education or experience combination acceptable to meet qualification standards.

Responsibilities

• Exercises judgment in analyzing and recommending solutions affecting EEO and Affirmative Employment.
• Advises management on actions in support of affirmative action and discrimination complaint processing.
• Oversees Special Emphasis Programs and liaises with SEPMs and Executive Leadership.
• Assists the Office of Resolution Management and Administrative Judges with investigations and hearings.
• Provides documentation and supports counseling/investigative stages.

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree / 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such degree (related)

Job description

Summary

This position is located within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Hampton VA Healthcare System. This position works directly for the Equal Employment Specialist (EEO Program Manager) in the Equal Employment Opportunity Program Office - organizationally aligned under the Executive Director Service line. HVAHCS consists of the Hampton VA Medical Center and six (6) community-based outpatient clinics.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/19/2026. 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-9. 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 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-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: development and implementation of the EEO program components; conflict resolution and mediation - drafting reports - collaboration with other medical center staff and EEO officials; identifying disputes best suited for mediation; providing support - assistance - and recommendations to the EEO Program Manager on all aspects of the EEO Program; and ensuring that information communicates agency policy and regulatory requirements. 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 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. - if related. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and higher level graduate education. 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-qualification-standards/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Exercises a high degree of judgment in analyzing and recommending solutions to problems that adversely affect EEO and Affirmative Employment
• Advises management on specific actions in support of affirmative action - strategies for processing discrimination complaints - as well as initiatives for meeting program goals and enhancing the EEO program
• Oversees the health care system's special emphasis programs - providing guidance to special emphasis program managers and serving as a liaison between the Special Emphasis Program Managers (SEPMs) and the Executive Leadership team
• Assists the Office of Resolution Management (ORM) and Administrative Judges with investigations and hearings
• Assists ORM field office personnel (EEO Counselors - Investigators - and Intake Specialists) during both the counseling and investigative stages
• Provides requested documentation
• locating and identifying employees involved in the complaint process
• discussing resolution efforts - negotiating settlements - and drafting same on behalf of management
• Compiles and analyzes statistical data in order to evaluate progress of the EEO program
• Identifies organizational or occupational areas that need improvement and develops alternatives in order to resolve problems
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with - and gains the confidence and cooperation of employees - supervisors - and managers on complex EEO and affirmative employment issues
• Oversees the EEO budget and monitoring expenditures as well as tracking cost-avoidance strategies
• Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm (Monday thru Friday) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Equal Employment Specialist/PD50309A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.