MWA Office Professionals Meeting Peoria, IL Willis Collie, Director Jonathan A. Carrillo, Data Analyst Eastern Business Service Center.

MWA Office Professionals Meeting

Peoria, IL

Willis Collie, Director

Jonathan A. Carrillo, Data Analyst

Eastern Business Service Center

• AFM Reorganization and status

• Proposed area reorganization

• Human Resources

• AFM Communications Template

• EBSC Weekly Report

EBSC Update

Talking Points

EBSC Update

Current Area Structure

EBSC Update

AFM Reorganization into BSCs

EBSC Update

New AFM Structure

EBSC Update

BSC – Top Priorities

• Build high quality, responsive, cohesive teams

• Standardize processes• Learn and better understand

needs of customer• Define expectations for BSC staff

& customer• Strengthen relationships with

Areas and Locations• Re-establish and re-build

communication links (vertically, horizontally, internally, externally)

EBSC Update

BSC – Current Standing

2½ years into the reorganization:• Dust has settled • Area-specific identity Eastern Business Service Center • Internal Teams have learned to work well together• Functional areas are collaborating across all BSCs and AFM Divisions• BSC Directors / Area Directors communicate frequently (still not DAD)• Virtual concept -- no longer major obstacle• Workload heavy due to loss of positions• Communications continues to need a lot of attention (AFM Greenies)• More Buy-in for standardizing processes, but much more to do • Tools are coming on line to help us work more efficiently

EBSC Update

New Area Structure – (Oct. 1st)

EBSC Update

EBSC – Org Chart

EBSC UpdateEBSC – Addressing the HR Issues

Challenges faced by HR:

•Prior to reorg, Agency had to close 10 ARS locations

•Hiring Freeze Agency-wide to accommodate impacted

employees

•VERA/VSIP

•Lots of vacant positions across Agency

•2 months later – AFM reorganized

• HRD – policy, systems, external reporting, liaison

• BSC – operations (recruitment, classification, staffing,

processing)

EBSC UpdateEBSC – Addressing the HR Issues

Challenges faced by HR:

•Budget cuts in 2012

•Sequestration in 2013

•Since that time:

Received numerous “unfunded mandates”, such as:

•Pathways

•Additional reporting requirements

•CT tracking and reporting

•HR Director Position became vacant

EBSC UpdateEBSC – Addressing the HR Issues

AFM•-107 FTE•-22%

HR•-51 FTE•-26%

EBSC UpdateEBSC – Addressing the HR Issues

ONE HR: Implement 8 new Systems

• EmpowHR eRecruit

• eVerify eEODonline

• eComp LERIS

• Telework Database

• Vacancy Status System

Undergone 2 OPM Audits

• Tightening processes

• Increased Accountability

• Increased Oversight

EBSC UpdateEBSC – Addressing the HR Issues

Eliminated use of Demo authority for any positions other than Scientists

• Implementing use of DEU authority

New Departmental Policies:

• Merit Promotion process changes

• Telework

• Awards

EBSC UpdateEBSC – Addressing the HR Issues

The Perfect Storm

All of this has led to:

EBSC UpdateEBSC – Addressing the HR Issues

What are we doing to “weather the storm”? •Hired a new EBSC HR Branch Chief – David Glines

•Recently hired new HR Director

•Leveraging resources with other agencies (FSA, OPM)

•Pushing back (where possible) with the Department

•Training, training, training staff

•Hiring more resources – 25 new HR positions just established; 9 new HR Spec in EBSC.

EBSC UpdateEBSC – Addressing the HR Issues

Latest Challenges: •Need to recruit as many SY positions as quickly as possible.

•Several hundred L/A and Pathways appointments to be processed and

onboarded in May and June

•Formation of Tiger Teams to focus on above two areas

•Development of new L/A Tracking Database• https://adminservices.ars.usda.gov/sc/NCR/Lists/STUDENTS%20%20LA%20O

NBOARDING%20TRACKING/AllItems.aspx

18

EBSC UpdateNew AFM Communications Template

19

EBSC UpdateWeekly Report

20

EBSC Update

Thank you

Questions?

Willis Collie, [email protected]

Jonathan A. Carrillo, Data [email protected]