JOB TITLE: EQUAL OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST 4, OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION

JOB CODE: 05228

SERIES NATURE OF WORK: The Equal Opportunity job series describes work in the administration and monitoring of equal opportunity programs.

DEFINITION: This is supervisory or highly advanced professional equal opportunity (EO) work in the Office of Administration.

An employee in this job supervises advanced EO work or performs highly advanced EO work that involves analyzing, developing, and implementing policies and procedures; interpreting laws, orders, directives, statutes, regulations, and case law; and serving in a consultative capacity for Commonwealth agencies regarding EO laws, policies, and procedures. Work involves researching, reviewing, and issuing determinations on employee requests for complex disability, pregnancy-related, and religious accommodations; providing training on laws, policies, case law, and other EO and discrimination related issues; and providing technical guidance on the preparation of data for reporting purposes. Work also includes researching and reviewing appeals of EO investigation determinations; investigating EO complaints involving unique or highly sensitive issues that have potential statewide impact or are not covered under existing precedents; resolving programmatic or systemic issues identified through the complaint and appeal processes; and making recommendations for courses of action to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal EO laws, regulations, and policies. Work is reviewed through conferences, reports, and overall results for conformance with program objectives, policies, and procedures.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

• Non-supervisory work at this level is differentiated from the lower level based on the responsibility for reviewing and deciding the outcome of employee appeals for discrimination complaint determinations; and serving as an enterprise-wide consultant to Commonwealth agencies regarding EO and accommodation laws, policies, procedures, and practices.

• Work may also involve supervising positions at the Equal Opportunity Specialist 3 level or equivalent.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Develops, revises, implements, and interprets EO and accommodation policies, such as management directives, executive orders, and manuals affecting all Commonwealth agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction.

• Provides technical consultation to Office of Administration organizations on the creation and interpretation of Commonwealth policy with EO and accommodation-related implications.

• Administers appeal processes of EO complaint investigations.

• Conducts investigations into internal discrimination complaints where possible conflicts of interest may exist or other individual agency options have been exhausted.

• Reviews and issues determinations on complex disability, pregnancy-related, and religious accommodation requests.

• Develops and provides training on EO-related laws, policies, case law, and other discrimination related issues.

• Prepares and submits comments on proposed federal regulations.

• Serves as a consultant and advisor to agency EO Officers, human resource staff, managers, and attorneys on EO and accommodation-related issues.

• Evaluates multiple-agency EO programs as a subject matter expert.

• Provides case law briefings on current EO issues to EO and human resource professionals.

• Evaluates and provides guidance to agencies in the development and implementation of individual agency annual EO plans and programs.

• Develops measuring tools for capturing and monitoring discrimination complaints, disability, pregnancy-related, and religious accommodation requests, and related activity from agencies.

• Develops and provides orientation for new Equal Opportunity Managers, Equal Opportunity Specialists, and Disability Services Coordinators.

• Researches and analyzes best practices, case law, and amendments to assess the potential impact on Commonwealth policies and practices.

• Conducts special projects on issues that impact all agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction and other human resource areas, such as employee relations, benefits administration, and talent acquisition.

• Collects and analyzes data from agencies to assess the effectiveness of various Commonwealth wide EO programs and practices.

• Prepares the Commonwealth’s EEO-4 report for submission to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as required by federal law.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• An employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related duties as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations governing equal opportunity and non-discrimination.

• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of equal opportunity program administration.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Microsoft Office Suite software.

• Ability to analyze and interpret numerical information.

• Ability to apply critical thinking skills to identify and resolve problems.

• Ability to analyze and interpret regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

• One year as an Equal Opportunity Specialist 3 (Commonwealth title);

or

• Four years of analytical experience in an equal opportunity program that includes three years of professional experience, and a bachelor’s degree;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training.