State of Maryland

An Equal Opportunity Officer Advanced is the advanced level of equal opportunity work.  Employees in this classification do not supervise others but do function as a specialist in charge of one or more significant components of an equal opportunity program(s).

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a 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 Advanced is differentiated from the Equal Opportunity Officer II in that the Equal Opportunity Officer Advanced performs advanced duties as a specialist in charge of one or more components of an equal opportunity program while the Equal Opportunity Officer II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Plans, develops and coordinates specific equal opportunity program components, such as minority business enterprise, equal employment opportunity, or equal access (Title VI) programs;

Develops operating procedures and guidelines for one or more components of an equal opportunity program;

Makes recommendations to the administrator for the development of new or modification of existing policy in the component areas of expertise;

Provides advice and guidance to managers, designees and liaisons in carrying out specific equal opportunity program procedures and in preparing mandated reports;

Recommends alternate funding sources;

Represents the agency as the program component authority on strategic task forces, boards and committees;

Chairs intra-agency committees and task groups dealing with program component issues for which the employee is considered the agency expert;

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

Interprets agency programs, operations and policies concerning equal opportunity and program access to agency staff, minority groups and the general public;

Monitors compliance with equal opportunity laws, regulations, codes, and policies;

Prepares, reviews and analyzes statistical reports concerning equal opportunity programs and objectives;

Develops and administers training on workplace issues including but not limited to equal employment opportunity and fair practices;

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

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of civil rights laws, regulations and practices;

Knowledge of community organizations and resources available to assist in resolving discrimination problems affecting minority groups;

Knowledge of 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 impartially investigate complaints of discrimination;

Ability to represent the agency as a subject matter expert for a significant component of an equal opportunity program;

Ability to conduct studies, analyze data and 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: Nine years of experience, five years of experience implementing an equal opportunity program in employment or equal access program and ensuring adherence to fair practice standards and an additional 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 and five years of experience implementing an equal opportunity program in employment or equal access program and ensuring adherence to fair practice standards for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute post-baccalaureate education from an accredited college or university in the fields of personnel administration, human resources management, business administration, public administration, statistics, tests and measurements or psychology at the rate of 30 credit hours for five years of the required experience.

3. 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.