Summary This position serves as the Equal Employment Opportunity Manager with direct reporting to the Medical Center Director. The incumbent has full responsibility for establishing, organizing, and directing an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program that provides services to the VA Central Iowa Health Care System. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive up to $17K may be authorized to highly qualified candidates. Responsibilities *THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION. Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Serves as the principal advisor to the organizational leadership and staff for a region by providing expert advice on all matters related to the EEO program on the feasibility and impact of EEO plans, policies, and decisions. Provides leadership, advice and counsel to line and staff, managers/supervisors in the development and implementation of the organization's affirmative action plan. Coordinates EEO activity with the Human Resources Office(s) staff and establishes and maintains effective contacts with community elements interested in equal opportunity. Serves on and assumes a leadership role on committees, which are decision making or recommending bodies on matters concerning position management, recruitment, training, promotion, job design, reduction in force and other employment services, to ensure appropriate consideration of EEO impacts and responsibilities. Develops and promotes EEO program publicity and reference materials ensuring EEO program is communicated to the workforce. Manages the EEO Complaints processes; and ensures formal complaints are processed within established time limits and in accordance with published regulations and polices. Maintains strict impartiality when working with complainants and responsible management official (RMO). Determines acceptability of formal complaints and dismisses those that are untimely or not within purview of applicable regulations; and advises complainants of their right to appeal local determinations. Develops recommendations to management on the level and mix or resources (staff, money, space, and equipment) to be assigned to the program. Allocates assigned resources within program work to meet program objectives; and assigns, directs, and reviews the equal employment opportunity program work of collaterally assigned or subordinate employees. Evaluates program activities and functions to measure the degree of success of program efforts; and recommends changes in program methods and approaches based on evaluation results. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position. Position Description/PD#: Equal Employment Manager - Incentive Authorized - Up to 17K/PD11001A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive up to $17K may be authorized to highly qualified candidates. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit: This is not a bargaining unit position. The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. 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, 02/02/2024. 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: Developing, implementing, coordinating, reviewing, monitoring, evaluating and updating plans associated with the EEO program; Advising management on specific actions in support of affirmative action and strategies for handling discrimination complaints, communicating in writing to prepare reports on the EEO program; Knowledge of the principles, practices, laws, and regulations concerning EEO; Conducting mandatory training for managers, supervisors, and employees regarding EEO and the EEO complaint process, providing advice and assistance during the post investigative stages, (ex: hearings, appeals and compliance). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Analysis and Problem Solving Communications Leveraging Diversity Organizational Awareness 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. 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 the GS-12 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. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. 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. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.