MWA Office Professionals Meeting Peoria IL Willis Collie

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

EBSC Update Talking Points • AFM Reorganization and status • Proposed area reorganization • Human Resources • AFM Communications Template • EBSC Weekly Report

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. 1 st)

EBSC Update EBSC – Org Chart

EBSC Update EBSC – 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 Update EBSC – 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 Update EBSC – Addressing the HR Issues AFM • -107 FTE • -22% HR • -51 FTE • -26%

EBSC Update EBSC – Addressing the HR Issues ONE HR: Implement 8 new Systems • Empow. HR e. Recruit • e. Verify e. EODonline • e. Comp LERIS • Telework Database • Vacancy Status System Undergone 2 OPM Audits • Tightening processes • Increased Accountability • Increased Oversight

EBSC Update EBSC – 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 Update EBSC – Addressing the HR Issues All of this has led to: The Perfect Storm

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

EBSC Update EBSC – 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%20 LA%20 O NBOARDING%20 TRACKING/All. Items. aspx

EBSC Update New AFM Communications Template 18

EBSC Update Weekly Report 19

EBSC Update Thank you Questions? Willis Collie, Director 979 -229 -9960 Willis. collie@ars. usda. gov Jonathan A. Carrillo, Data Analyst 979 -260 -9493 Jonathan. carrillo@ars. usda. gov 20