Stephen Smith

Experience

• 

  U.S. Department of the Treasury

  Apr 2004 - Sept 2014

  I served as the Associate Director for the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI), Department of the Treasury, where I was responsible for carrying out all matters of the agency relating to diversity in management, employment and business activities. Section 342 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 ("Dodd-Frank Act") requires OMWI, in part, to develop standards for equal employment opportunity and the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the agency's workforce and senior management; increase participation of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the agency's programs and contracts including standards for coordinating technical assistance to such businesses; and assessing the diversity policies and practices of entities regulated by the agency. Treasury established its Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI) in 2011. In addition, my duties included setting standards and developing metrics, assessment of various processes, reporting and the development of primary day-to-day diversity related strategies and initiatives, monitoring diversity and inclusion in management, employment, supplier diversity, diversity recruitment, diversity inclusion and outreach, and standards to assess diversity policies of financial entities regulated and supervised by Treasury.Moreover, I managed the development and implementation of the agency-wide diversity and inclusion program including formulation and development of policies and guidance impacting program delivery, integration of diversity and inclusion into agency strategic planning initiatives, recruitment and outreach, monitoring and evaluation, coordination of initiatives with community-based organizations, and managing programs designed to familiarize students with financial services, along with researching current and future D&I needs and trends, shaping business and competency development. Show less I served as the Director for the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) with full authority and responsibility for planning, directing, and coordinating program management, employee resources, serving as a spokesperson, and strategist for the administration of the Departmental Offices' EEO Program responsible for ensuring that all actions comply with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other relevant anti-discrimination laws and regulations, and providing expert advice on significant and sensitive issues impacting the bureau and its EEO program.Provided leadership and oversight towards implementing EEOC Management Directive (MD) 715 and maintaining a Model EEO Program at the Department of the Treasury, Departmental Offices (Headquarters). Provides program direction and guidance for complaint resolutions; conducts reviews of EEO settlement agreements that are negotiated at Departmental Offices; and coordinates and monitors EEO reporting systems that track counseling activity, formal complaints, investigations, hearings, and appeals.In addition, I was responsible for the development, implementation and comprehensive assessment of EEO, and diversity and inclusion training and multi-cultural competency training initiatives designed to give employees the knowledge, skills and tools to work in a diverse work environment and avoid harassing and discriminatory behavior, thus creating and sustaining work environment that fosters a more creative, inclusive, respectful and productive workforce. Show less As the Equal Opportunity (EO) Branch Manager, Equal Opportunity and Organizational Enhancement Division (EO/OE), Financial Management Service (FMS), with full authority and responsibility, I provided management direction, vision and development to a staff of professional EEO specialist, administrative support, and collateral-duty personnel for various disciplines. I provided leadership and direction in achieving the bureau’s affirmative programs of equal employment opportunity and civil rights compliance by planning, directing, and evaluating EEO programs and policy matters of a broad range of complex, and highly sensitive and confidential nature. I also set work plans, priorities, performance evaluations and ratings, training needs, promotions, awards, complaints, recruitment and other actions.As the principal advisor, I managed all aspects of the agency’s EEO Complaints Program by administering 1) the pre-complaint process; 2) the monitoring and overseeing EEO counselor assignments; 3) EEO counseling; 4) pre-complaint reporting requirements; 5) tracking of formal EEO complaint processing and status; 6) reviewing and analyzing report of investigations (ROI’s) for sufficiency; 7) monitoring an overseeing the compliance of negotiated settlement agreements; 8) conducting interviews and fact-finding conferences to facilitate early EEO complaint resolution; and 9) providing conciliation services to managers and employees regarding systemic EEO issues and concerns.In addition, I managed all aspects of the agency’s Diversity Program by administering and providing advisory and consultative services on assessing the organization to eliminate workforce barriers that adversely impact the recruitment, hiring, development, and retention of minorities, women, and persons with disabilities by creating and implementing tools and resources to enable senior executives, and managers/supervisors to integrate diversity strategies into their professional working relationships. Show less

  • Associate Director (OMWI)

    Aug 2011 - Sept 2014

  • Director of EEO (Departmental Offices)

    Jan 2011 - Aug 2011

  • Equal Opportunity Branch Manager (FMS - Bureau of Fiscal Service)

    Apr 2004 - Jan 2011
• 

  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

  Sept 2014 - Jan 2020

  Director

  I served as the Director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Division but now serve as the Director of the Affirmative Employment Division, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Departmental Equal Employment Opportunity, responsible for the development and implementation of the Department-wide EEO program including the formulation and development of policies and guidance impacting program delivery, integration of EEO into Department’s strategic planning initiatives, diversity of differences, inclusion and innovation, engagement initiatives, workplace civility and unconscious bias intervention training, behavioral/attitudinal analysis, affirmative employment, monitoring and evaluation, compliance reviews and technical assistance, coordination of initiatives with community-based organizations, and managing programs designed to familiarize students with Federal Government (Public) services. In addition and while serving as the Director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Division, I was responsible for providing direction, coordination of policy development, procedural guidance, management, and implementation of the Department-wide equal employment opportunity (EEO) program. Under the Equal Employment Opportunity Division (EEOD), my duties includes administering, managing, and ensuring compliance of HUD's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaint process and it's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program by counseling, investigating, and adjudicating complaints filed by HUD employees and applicants for employment. In addition, I'm also responsible for advising Departmental senior management on issues affecting workplace, EEO and Diversity, developing and implementing relevant EEO policies and procedures, and serving as a focal point for conflict resolution thus providing confidential and informal assistance to employees, senior management, and managers/supervisors in resolving workplace disputes and conflict. Show less

• 

  U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

  Jan 2020 - now

  Program Manager

  As the Program Manager, I have the responsibility for administering, managing, and ensuring compliance and oversight of the Agency’s internal EEO/Civil Rights and external EO/Civil Rights programs and activities. In this role, I serve as an advisor to the Director, in the leadership, strategic planning, coordination, assessment, and management of the EEO/civil rights, affirmative employment and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) management activities. In addition, I ensure that the organization complies with all relevant Federal, State, and local laws that protect employees from discrimination and promote equitable treatment in the workplace. This includes overseeing EEO counselings and investigations into allegations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, and ensuring timely resolution while maintaining confidentiality and fairness. Additionally, I’m responsible for developing and implementing affirmative action programs, analyzing workforce development data to identify disparities, and preparing mandatory reports to Congress, OMB, EEOC, OPM, GAO, Education, HHS, and other Federal governing bodies.Moreover, I provide overall guidance and direction in conducting audits to assess compliance with EO and civil rights laws in Federally conducted and financially assisted programs and activities, addressing potential inequities in access or treatment. I make it a point to collaborate with our internal stakeholders and external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, to advocate for workplace equity and foster a culture that values diversity of thought and inclusivity. Further, I play a leadership role in policy development, providing training and agency-wide messaging on anti-discrimination laws and inclusive practices, and serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert (SME) to leadership on integrating EEO/Civil Rights principles into all of our organizational policies, processes, and initiatives. Show less