Federal Position Descriptions
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Chairman and Commissioner

Chairman and Commissioner, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Responsibility
Management Scope

In fiscal 2016, EEOC had an enacted budget of $364.5 million4 and the agency had 2,202 employees.5
At the close of each fiscal year, the commission must report to Congress and the president about the action it has taken and the moneys it has disbursed. EEOC may make further reports on the cause of and means of eliminating discrimination and such recommendations for further legislation. (42 U.S.C. § 2000e–4)

Primary Responsibilities
  • Oversees all compliance and enforcement activities relating to equal employment opportunity among federal employees6
  • The chair recommends policies, procedures and programs to the commission
  • The chair is responsible for the financial management and organizational development of the commission7
  • The chair is responsible for the implementation of commission policy and the administration of the commission including the appointment of: officers, agents, attorneys, hearing examiners and employees of the commission to assist the commission in the achievement of its mission and the performance of its functions8
  • The vice chair and the commissioners participate equally in the development and approval of commission policies, issue charges of discrimination where appropriate and authorize the filing of suits9
Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• The commission is comprised of five presidentially appointed members including the chair, vice chair and three commissioners
• Members of the commission are appointed for a term of five years
• Any individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired term of the member whom he or she is succeeding and all members of the commission continue to serve until their successors are appointed and qualified
• No member of the commission shall continue to serve for more than sixty days when Congress is in session unless a nomination to fill such vacancy was submitted to the Senate or after the adjournment sine die of the session of the Senate in which the nomination was submitted (42 U.S.C. § 2000e–4)
• High degree of demonstrated experience as a legal practitioner
• Senior level leadership (preferred)
• Understanding of congressional and legislative process (plus)
• Understanding of Title VII of the Civil Rights Reform Act and associated amendments
• Understanding of core services, programs and initiatives delivered by the agency’s key offices

Competencies

• Ability to build collaborative relationships with EEO, Human Resources and Diversity Professionals
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work under high pressure
• Ability to handle sensitive matters
• Ability to establish positive relationships with external stakeholders
• Ability to forge strong congressional relationships
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts within an organization
• Ability to set strategic vision for an organization
• Ability to lead change and people
• Energy for frequent amount of travel
• Excellent negotiation skills

Past Appointments
  • Jenny R. Yang (2013 to 2017): Partner, Cohen, Milstein, Sellers & Toll PLLC10; Senior Trial Attorney, Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Employment Litigation Section; Attorney, National Employment Law Project11
  • Naomi Churchill Earp (2006 to 2009): Director of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity, National Institute of Health; Director, Office of Advocacy and Enterprise, Department of Agriculture12
  • Chai R. Feldblum (2010 to 2017): Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center; Co-Director of Workplace Flexibility 2010; Legislative Counsel, AIDS Project of the American Civil Liberties Union13; Clerk for Judge Frank Coffin of the First Circuit Court of Appeals and for Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun14
AGENCY

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Mission: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is an independent, bipartisan commission with the mission to stop and remedy unlawful employment discrimination.1

COMPENSATION

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)3

REPORTS TO

The EEOC is an independent agency. Board members are presidentially appointed members requiring Senate confirmation.

SENATE COMMITTEE

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

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Footnote
  1. https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/index.cfm
  2. https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgChart.asp?curp=1&LDIBookId=19&LDISectionId=201&LDIOrgId=154870
  3. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
  4. https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=154870&LDISecId=201&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O154870
  5. https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/plan/budgetandstaffing.cfm
  6. https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=154870&LDISecId=201&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O154870
  7. OPM
  8. OPM
  9. https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/commission.cfm
  10. https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/5-13-13.cfm
  11. https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/yang.cfm
  12. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/08/20060829-3.html
  13. https://www.acus.gov/contacts/chai-r-feldblum-0
  14. https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/feldblum.cfm
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