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

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EBSC UpdateNew AFM Communications Template

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EBSC UpdateWeekly Report

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EBSC Update

Thank you

Questions?

Willis Collie, Director979-229-9960Willis.collie@ars.usda.gov

Jonathan A. Carrillo, Data Analyst979-260-9493Jonathan.carrillo@ars.usda.gov