Equal Opportunity Representative and Officer

Also called: Action Officer, Affirmative Action Officer (AA Officer), Appeals Coordinator, Civil Rights Investigator, Civil Rights Representative

Equal Opportunity Representative and Officer

Varies

estimated salary

Equal opportunity representatives and officers monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

  • Investigate employment practices or alleged violations of laws to document and correct discriminatory factors.
  • Prepare reports related to investigations of equal opportunity complaints.
  • Interview persons involved in equal opportunity complaints to verify case information.
  • Study equal opportunity complaints to clarify issues.
  • Interpret civil rights laws and equal opportunity regulations for individuals or employers.
  • Meet with persons involved in equal opportunity complaints to arbitrate and settle disputes.
  • Develop guidelines for nondiscriminatory employment practices.
  • Monitor the implementation and impact of guidelines for nondiscriminatory employment practices.
  • Coordinate, monitor, or revise complaint procedures to ensure timely processing and review of complaints.
  • Provide information, technical assistance, or training to supervisors, managers, or employees on topics such as employee supervision, hiring, grievance procedures, or staff development.
  • Conduct surveys and evaluate findings to determine if systematic discrimination exists.
  • Prepare reports of selection, survey, or other statistics and recommendations for corrective action.
  • Meet with job search committees or coordinators to explain the role of the equal opportunity coordinator, to provide resources for advertising, or to explain expectations for future contacts.
  • Act as liaisons between minority placement agencies and employers or between job search committees and other equal opportunity administrators.
  • Counsel newly hired members of minority or disadvantaged groups, informing them about details of civil rights laws.
  • Review company contracts to determine actions required to meet governmental equal opportunity provisions.
  • Verify that all job descriptions are submitted for review and approval and that descriptions meet regulatory standards.
  • Consult with community representatives to develop technical assistance agreements in accordance with governmental regulations.
  • Participate in the recruitment of employees through job fairs, career days, or advertising plans.
Work Context
  • Electronic Mail — 99% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 88% responded "Every day".
  • Spend Time Sitting — 76% responded "Continually or almost continually".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 62% responded "Every day".
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 66% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 64% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Contact With Others — 61% responded "Constant contact with others".
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Work Activities
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Evaluate personnel practices to ensure adherence to regulations.
  • Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
  • Evaluate personnel practices to ensure adherence to regulations.
  • Monitor organizational processes.
  • Prepare research reports.
  • Conduct surveys in organizations.
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Knowledge

Law and Government
  • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Personnel and Human Resources
  • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
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Skills

Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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Abilities

Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
  • Database software
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
  • Corel WordPerfect
Electronic mail software
  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology
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