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Conciliation Specialist

Community Relations Service | Philadelphia, PA

Posted Date 10/08/2024
Description This is a Conciliation Specialist position in the Department of Justice, Community Relations Service (CRS). CRS' mission is to provide tension reduction and conflict resolution services to diverse stakeholders to both resolve and prevent community-level disputes. CRS provides facilitated dialogue, mediation, training, and consultation to assist these communities to come together, develop solutions to the conflict, and enhance their capacity to independently prevent and resolve future conflict.This job allows telework in accordance with agency policy. The selected applicant will report to their assigned CRS worksite when not teleworking, attending local meetings/events, or on travel. As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service. As a Conciliation Specialist, you will provide facilitation, mediation, and conciliation services for communities facing conflicts and tensions arising from jurisdictional categories pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Fair Housing Act of 1968; the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996; the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007; and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. More specifically:
  1. You will provide complex facilitation, mediation, and conciliation services for communities facing conflicts and tensions pursuant to the CRS jurisdictional statues listed above.
  2. You will complete conflict assessments and develop action plans in order to determine CRS jurisdiction, identify key stakeholders and issues, and to determine appropriateness of CRS services.
  3. You will provide training and consultation services to public officials and community representatives and provide them with the skills and mechanisms necessary to prevent and resolve future tensions.
  4. You will lead regional projects or initiatives, as assigned by leadership, to improve CRS's ability to deliver services, and ability to anticipate and prevent conflict in jurisdictional communities.
  5. You will develop and implement comprehensive outreach plans for each state/location assigned to you that target all jurisdictional communities.
  6. You will serve as a mentor to staff by modeling professional behavior, providing advice regarding mediation, facilitation, conflict resolution practices and procedures, and identifying areas needed for improvement.
  7. You will speak at various formal and informal briefings, workshops, and events to provide information on conflict resolution activities and hate crime prevention.
  8. You will perform other duties as assigned in accordance and within scope of the position description.
The duties listed above are generally written for one grade level. If the position is advertised at multiple grades, the duties will be adjusted in difficulty, complexity, and level of supervision, for higher or lower grades, as appropriate. Organizations may also add other duties as assigned' once you are hired, based on what is included and allowed by the position description.To qualify for the position of Conciliation Specialist, (GS-0101-11/12/13), you must meet the basic qualification requirements listed below AND possess the required specialized experience specific to the series and grade you are applying to.

Basic Requirement:
Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university that included a major field of study in conflict/dispute resolution or a foundational discipline (such as behavioral or social science, education, or the humanities). (You must submit a copy of your transcripts to prove completion of four full years of course study.)

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of conflict/dispute resolution or a foundational discipline equivalent to a major in the field (such as behavioral or social science, education, or the humanities), or otherwise substantial enough to provide a foundation for success after receiving specialized CRS conciliator training. (You must provide a copy of your transcripts)

OR

Experience: Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrate that the applicant has acquired knowledge of conflict/dispute resolution or a foundational discipline equivalent to a major in the field (such as behavioral or social science, education, or the humanities), or substantial enough to provide a foundation for success after receiving specialized CRS conciliator training. (This must be demonstrated in your resume.)

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

For the GS-11:
Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service AND demonstrate substantial community connections in conciliation, conflict-resolution, and other specific community building experiences, in the location where you are applying.

In addition, specialized experience is defined as:
  1. Evaluating conflicts or the potential for conflicts within communities based on civil rights-related tensions; AND
  2. Assisting with facilitation and mediation services to groups with civil rights-related tension. (Examples include conflicts or disputes related to police-community relations; tensions or hate/bias incidents (real or perceived) related to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability status; or civil rights tensions in educational environments.)

OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

For the GS-12:
Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service. To qualify at the GS-12 grade, your resume must show substantial demonstrated community connections in conciliation, conflict-resolution, and other specific community building experiences, in the location where you are applying; AND at least two of the following substantive professional experiences:
  1. Evaluating conflicts or the potential for conflicts within communities based on civil rights-related tensions.
  2. Providing facilitated dialogue, trainings, mediation, or consultation services for community groups experiencing civil rights-related conflicts or tensions. (Examples include conflicts or disputes related to police-community relations; tensions or hate/bias incidents (real or perceived) related to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability status; or civil rights tensions in educational environments.)
  3. Developing positive working relationships with governmental and non-governmental officials. (Examples include law enforcement officials, community leaders, civil rights organizations, faith-based groups, educational institutions, and/or other community groups.)

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For the GS-12 grade level, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone. No substitution of education for experience is permitted.

For the GS-13:
Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service. To qualify at the GS-13 grade, your resume must show substantial demonstrated community connections in conciliation, conflict-resolution, and other specific community building experiences, in the location where you are applying; AND at least two of the following substantive professional experiences:
  1. Leading trainings, mediation, or consultation services for community groups experiencing civil rights-related conflicts or tensions. (Examples include conflicts or disputes related to police-community relations; tensions or hate/bias incidents (real or perceived) related to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability status; or civil rights tensions in educational environments.)
  2. Developing and maintaining positive working relationships with governmental and non-governmental officials. (Examples include law enforcement officials, community leaders, civil rights organizations, faith-based groups, educational institutions, and/or other community groups.)
  3. Conducting and drafting conflict assessments of communities based on civil rights-related tensions and developing recommended agency actions and strategies.

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For the GS-13 grade level, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone. No substitution of education for experience is permitted.

You MUST meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/31/2024. Your resume must support your responses to the questionnaire and qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating.


You MUST meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/31/2024.

Your resume must support your responses to the questionnaire and qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.

Positive Education Requirements: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/social-science-series-0101/

  • Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university that included a major field of study in conflict/dispute resolution or a foundational discipline (such as behavioral or social science, education, or the humanities) (You must provide a copy of your transcripts.)
OR
  • Combination of Education and Experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of conflict/dispute resolution or a foundational discipline equivalent to a major in the field (or a foundational discipline such as behavioral or social science, education, or the humanities), or otherwise substantial enough to provide a foundation for success after receiving specialized CRS conciliator training. (You must submit a copy of your transcripts.)
OR
  • Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of conflict/dispute resolution or a foundational discipline equivalent to a major in the field (or a foundational discipline such as behavioral or social science, education, or the humanities), or substantial enough to provide a foundation for success after receiving specialized CRS conciliator training. (This must be demonstrated in your resume.)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements, please see the statements below: Education must be reviewed and certified by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, in order for it to be creditable towards your qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

For more information about this requirement, please visit the U.S. Department of Education website for Foreign Education Evaluation.

All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

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