U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1. National Employment Conference Federal PanelDecember 6, 2012 Inez Uhl, EEO DirectorOffice of Diversity and Inclusive Workforce Management U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

2. Mission Our mission is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a bureau within the Department of the Interior.

3. Mission A few of the ways we try to meet our mission: • Enforce federal wildlife laws, • Protect endangered species, • Manage migratory birds, • Restore nationally significant fisheries, • Conserve and restore wildlife habitat such as wetlands

4. Mission • Approximately 9,000 employees across the U.S. • Manage 150 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System (551 Refuges) • Operate 70 National Fish Hatcheries, 65 fishery resource offices and 86 ecological services field stations.

5. Regional Offices • Headquarters: Washington, DC • Regional Offices: • Albuquerque, NM • Anchorage, AK • Atlanta, GA • Denver, CO • Hadley MA • Portland, OR • R. Snelling, MN • Sacramento, CA

6. As the Nation’s largest employer, the Federal Government must become a model for the employment of individuals with disabilities. Executive Order 13548, July 26, 2010

7. FWS Best Practices - Executive Diversity Council - 5 Year Diversity and Inclusion Implmentation/Action Plan - Hired 9 Recruiters (Diversity Employment Specialists) - Establish Partnerships (DoD, DRS, OPM, Gallaudet, etc.) - Change Agent Program

8. How do we work with Vocational Rehablitation (VR) to hire individuals with disabilities?

9. We Work Together to Recruit, Hire, and Retain Persons with Disabilities FWS Managers/Supervisors VR Job Placement Counselor FWS Recruiters & Disability Program Manager FWS HumanResources

10. FWS and VR work together on Outreach Activities • VR provides on-site and webinar training for FWS managers and supervisors on VR recruitment services and disability awareness. • FWS Recruiters, Managers/Supervisors, HR, and DPM provide career information at VR Job Club Meetings for consumers

11. FWS and VR work together on Outreach Activities • FWS Representatives also participate in VR Resume Workshops and Mock Interviews • FWS refers job seekers to local VR for support with Schedule A letters and other VR services

12. Hiring Process • Hiring Manager contacts Recruiter to setup non-paid internship or to hire under the special hiring authorities • Recruiter sends job description to VR State contact to request resumes and supporting documentation for qualified candidates • HR verifies that candidates submitted by VR have the supporting documentation and qualifications for job • Hiring Manager reviews resumes and interviews candidates • Hiring Manager makes selection to hire

13. State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Unpaid Internships • Allows consumer to learn more about FWS jobs while laying foundation for employment • FWS works with VR Counselor to develop duties. • VR provides transportation costs and liability coverage • FWS had 75% direct placement rate for Virginia Dept. of Aging and Rehabilitative Services

14. Work with VR to Provide Reasonable Accommodations We work together to provide work accommodations and assistive technology such as: • Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices, • Job restructuring • Part-time or modified work schedules • Reassignment to a vacant position • Providing readers and interpreters, and • Making the workplace readily accessible.

15. NEXT STEPS • Setup webinar for FWS Recruiters and the NET to share best practices and to increase networking around the country • Continue to work with the NET and Virginia DARS to explore business development opportunities nation-wide.

16. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Inez Uhl EEO Director Office of Diversity and Inclusive Workforce Management (ODWIM) (703) 358-1724Inez_Uhl@fws.gov