Ethel Brooks Email and Phone Number

Provides consultative and advisory services to clients on a variety of employee related benefits such as: employee relations, retirement and human resource management programs.

Assistant Chief, Human Resources Management responsibilities included but limited to: Performing a full range of human resources programs to a 1B medical center. Served as the technical advisor and consultant to top management officials. Analyzed the broad implications of higher level authority, laws, rules, regulations, directives, Executive Orders, and policies. Provided staff assistance, and guidance to all supervisory levels on human resources management principles and techniques. Provided advice to management officials on the appropriate action that would be effective and accomplish objectives of strategic goals aligned with the medical center goals and objectives. First line supervisor for Recruitment and Placement and Employee and Labor Relations staff and programs. Managed the day to day operation of all human resources programs. Provided guidance to management officials, managers and front line supervisors on the appropriate disciplinary action to be taken based on regulations, rules, and policies.

Provided expert technical advise on various employee relations issues such: as the Federal Retirement System (Civil Service Retirement System--CSRS, Federal Employees Retirement System--FERS, Civil Service Offset System); leave and awards, workers' compensation program as the security and investigation section of human resources. Supervised staff responsible for Personal Identity Verification (PIV) section, adjudicated background investigations of all new employees, contractors as well as without compensation medical residents. Conducted higher level Background Investigations (BI)security investigations on all upper level managers such as: the Network Director, facility directors, and all service level chiefs at the the medical center. Initiated periodical security background investigations on above-mentioned employees as well as all police officers as required to ensure all security background investigations were completely timely and no security backgrounds were delinquent. Planned, organized, directed and supervised all section of the employee/labor relations benefits. Trained staff and prepared documentation for onsite PIV inspection with the VA Central Office (VACO) security personnel. Completed assessment guides prior to site inspection of the PIV program for compliance. Conducted annual supervisor training for managers and supervisors on various human resources rules, regulations and policies pertaining to human resources programs. Orientation of new hires by providing benefits information of human resources programs.

Provided consultation on employee benefits such as: retirement, health and life insurance as well as Thrift Saving Plan to all employees at the medical center. Consultation on various retirement plans and as well as processed death benefits claims for beneficiaries. Many of the death cases were very difficult and of sensitive nature. Conducted annual retirement training for prospective retirees within five/ten years of retirement. Coordinated with Social Security Administration representative, Thrift Savings Plans representative, as well as various financial advisors to provide information to prospective retirees. Attended annual retirement training with the Office of Personnel Management to ensure that I kept abreast of all changes pertaining to retirement and other employee benefits.

Supervised 6 Personnel Assistants by providing guidance and instructions daily on processing of all new hires to the medical center which included all Senior executive positions, Title 38 (Physicians and Nurses) all Title 5 positions and wage graded positions. Processed all employee related benefits such as health and life insurance, thrift savings plan as well as workers compensation claims and retirement. Coded and reviewed all personnel actions prior to releasing to the PAID system for pay such as new hires, promotions, reassignment, change to lower grade, resignation as well as all disciplinary actions. Processed all new hires of medical student residents from the University Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) yearly in July to ensure proper coding and employee benefits processed in a timely manner. Coordinated with UMMC personnel to ensure all medical residents received orientation to the medical center prior to rotation to the medical center.

Appointed legal guardians to administered Disabled Veterans accounts that were unable to manage their benefits/funds. Audited all monthly, quarterly, and annually reporting of the Veteran's account to ensure funds were used appropriately for the Veteran's benefits and the Veterans were receiving the best of care.

Processed all new hires on the rolls. Coded all personnel actions such as accessions, promotions, resignations, removal, reassignment, etc. Conducted annual open season health fairs that included coordination with various health insurance providers so that employees could choose a health plan that would met their needs. Processed all work-related injuries, health and life insurance changes in a timely manner.

Processed all new hires as well as applicant seeking employment. Completed background investigations on all new hires and forwarded completed package to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for processing of the security background investigations. Obtained a Top Secret Clearance from OPM because I was responsible for processing all military security background investigation for Colonel, Lt. Colonel, etc. as well as debriefing them once they left the agency.

Served as Secretary for the Natural Resources Management Branch. Performed a variety of clerical and administrative functions. Typed letters and memorandums in final form. Provided administrative assistance to several Civil and Mechanical Engineers within the office. Accompanied them on many inspections to the various dams in TN and KY to ensure compliance with federal regulations and guidelines.