State of Maryland

An Equal Opportunity Officer Trainee is the entry level of equal opportunity work learning to implement equal employment and equal access programs and to ensure adherence to the standards set forth in the Governor’s Code of Fair Employment Practices.  Employees in this class do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from designated administrator.  The work may require travel to investigate complaints of discrimination.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Equal Opportunity Officer Trainee, Equal Opportunity Officer I and Equal Opportunity Officer II are differentiated on the basis of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over the employees.  The Equal Opportunity Officer Trainee learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The Equal Opportunity Officer I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Equal Opportunity Officer II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to implement equal opportunity programs, such as equal employment opportunity, minority business enterprise and equalaccess (Title VI) programs;

Learns to ensure adherence to the standards set forth in the Governor’s Code of Fair Employment Practices;

Learns to monitor compliance with equal opportunity laws, regulations, codes, and policies;

Learns to investigate and mediate complaints of discrimination;

Learns to recommend corrective actions and reasonable accommodations;

Learns to participate in programs designed to secure full participation of minority groups and individuals in activities of the department;

Learns to provide information, assistance and guidance to agency operating personnel in areas such as; fair practice, minority business enterprise, equal opportunity in employment and equal access to services, facilities, contracts and grants;

Learns to prepare and analyze statistical reports;

Learns to interpret agency programs, operations and policies for equal opportunity and equal access to minority groups and the general public;

Learns to coordinate investigations of complaints with representatives of other government agencies;

Learns to testify in administrative hearings and proceedings;

Learns to develop and administer training on workplace issues including but not limited to equal employment opportunity and fair practices;

Learns to present ideas and concepts to help foster cultural diversity and sensitivity within agency programs and divisions;

Performs other related duties.

Ability to learn federal, State, and local legislation concerning equal opportunity in employment and equal access to employment, services, programs, contracts and facilities;

Ability to learn civil rights laws, regulations and practices;

Ability to learn about community organizations and resources available to assist in resolving discrimination problems affecting minority groups;

Ability to learn demographic, social and economic conditions within the State of Maryland which relate to equal opportunity, equal access and fair practice for minority individuals and groups;

Ability to investigate complaints of discrimination;

Ability to conduct studies and analyze data and to make recommendations;

Ability to identify educational needs, develop formal training programs and instruct others;

Ability to communicate effectively with individuals, groups and organizations to resolve equal opportunity issues.

Experience: Four years of experience directly related to protected groups in the areas of compliance with civil rights statutes or community and human relations.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in equal employment opportunity classification or equal employment opportunity specialty codes in the equal employment opportunity field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from   collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.