ment opportunity in the Postal Establishment.

(b) Executive Assistant to the Assistant Postmaster General. Serves as principal staff aide to the Assistant Postmaster General relieving him of important day-to-day activities, including answers to urgent requests from important Government officials, top departmental officials, and sources outside the Federal Government; work on special projects; and interviews with important visitors. Reviews incoming and outgoing correspondence, requests and reports directed to Assistant Postmaster General; prepares the bureau budget, special reports, administrative staff orders; coordinates with other bureaus, offices and other Federal agencies on all matters pertaining to administrative management of the Bureau's functions. Maintains coordination between the planning and operating functions of the Bureau by keeping the Deputy Assistant Postmaster General, and the Program Planning Officer informed of developments affecting their responsibilities, and acts for the Assistant Postmaster General in directing the activities of the Departmental Personnel Office.

(1) Special Assistant to the Assistant Postmaster General. (i) Assists the Executive Assistant on management projects-preparation of the budget, obtaining data for special reports, and other administrative duties essential to management of the Bureau.

(ii) Works on special projects assigned by the Assistant Postmaster General or the Executive Assistant which are of immediate importance to the Assistant Postmaster General and other top level headquarters officials.

(2) Departmental Personnel Office. (i) Formulates and recommends policies and develops procedures relating to personnel matters affecting departmental (headquarters) employees.

(ii) Provides staff guidance and technical assistance to headquarters bureaus and offices on all matters of personnel administration affecting headquarters personnel.

(iii) Administers the provisions of the Classification Act of 1949, the Departmental Wage Board, and section 15 of Public Law 600 (5 U.S.C. 55a); takes final action on personnel actions covered by such provisions.

(iv) Administers applicable policies, programs, and procedures with respect to headquarters employees relating to

recruiting; testing, placement, and separations; training; performance rating; safety and health; suggestions and awards; relations with employee organizations; and employee services.

(v) Maintains direct relations with the Civil Service Commission on all headquarters personnel matters except policy matters.

(vi) Processes formal personnel transactions, maintains central personnel records, issues personnel reports, and conducts official correspondence relative to proposed, current, and former headquarters employees.

(vii) Represents the Bureau of Personnel in civil defense planning and security control.

(c) Program Planning Officer. (1) Serves as program planning advisor to the Assistant Postmaster General, Personnel and the Deputy Assistant Postmaster General.

(2) Formulates plans and recommends policies and programs to meet identified long-range needs.

(3) Maintains liaison with other agencies on major aspects of personnel planning for the Department, coordinating with Government-wide planning activities.

(4) Provides program planning guidance to bureau staff members assigned to personnel program development.

(5) Collaborates with the Deputy Assistant Postmaster General in providing guidance to regional personnel staff and personnel officers in postal field installations.

(6) Represents the Assistant Postmaster General at interbureau planning meetings as requested.

(d) Deputy Assistant Postmaster General. Represents the Assistant Postmaster General on significant matters related to all personnel management and labor relations functions and acts for him in his absence or at his request. Evaluates the effectiveness of present personnel programs and approves changes to meet current and anticipated needs; plans and administers nationwide labor relations programs under provisions of Executive Order 10988. Directly supervises all Bureau of Personnel divisions and provides technical direction for personnel and labor relations staffs in the 15 regional offices. Represents the Assistant Postmaster General on interagency groups concerned with

labor-management relations and personnel management. Conducts negotiations and consultation with recognized employee organizations at the national level. Exercises responsibility for the solution of operating personnel management problems including answers to inquiries and requests from the White House, the Congress, other Federal agencies, employees, and employee organizations. Directs the establishment and maintenance of all fringe benefits programs and employee services within the Postal Establishment. Provides administrative supervision to the Board of Appeals and Review to attain full utilization of staff resources and proper attention to establish management practices.

(1) Special Assistant (Labor Relations). (i) Serves as principal technical advisor to the Deputy Assistant Postmaster General on labor relations, personnel management operating problems, and employee benefits and services.

(ii) Serves on national negotiation team; chairs labor-management subcommittee meetings; maintains liaison with national officers of recognized employee organizations.

(iii) Represents the Deputy Assistant Postmaster General as requested on interagency labor management committees and study groups; at arbitration or unfair labor practices hearings; and in meetings with other labor-management groups.

(2) Board of Appeals and Review. (i) Serves as final appellate level for decisions on adverse action appeals and equal employment opportunity appeals within the Postal Establishment.

(ii) Reviews and recommends management actions on employee grievances appealed to the Department.

(iii) Determines the need for investigation on adverse action or equal employment opportunity appeals when additional information is required to reach an equitable decision on the appeal.

(iv) Represents the Department as requested by the Assistant Postmaster General or the Deputy Assistant Postmaster General in hearings and in discussions with the Civil Service Commission, and other Federal agencies on matters pertaining to employee appeals.

management meetings, and contacts with employee organizations.

(ii) Analyzes and evaluates labormanagement staff activities at regional and local levels; reviews local negotiating procedures, agreements and application of national agreement; prepares format for written agreements, election format and procedures, and reports requirements.

(iii) Controls and edits all personnel issuances assuring proper technical review, interbureau clearance and coordination, as required, with employee organizations. Refers personnel issuances to Personnel Operations Division for technical review, as required.

(iv) Prepares agenda and minutes of national consultation and negotiation sessions, prepares and edits final draft of National Agreement.

(v) Supervises conduct of national and local employee organization representation elections, audits returns and prepares certification for final approval.

(vi) Provides staff representatives to assist the Deputy Assistant Postmaster General and Special Assistant to the Assistant Postmaster General on negotiation and consultation teams; at subcommittee meetings; and in interbureau discussions of labor-management problems.

(vii) Processes violations of Code of Fair Labor Practices and Standards of Conduct. Reviews invalidations, refers to Personnel Operations Division, as required, for technical analysis.

(4) Personnel Operations Division. (i) Interprets existing policies, regulations. procedures, national labor-management agreements and rules pertaining to personnel management in the Postal Service and drafts issuances to guide postal officials.

(ii) Conducts research on the origin and intent of personnel laws, civil service rules, Executive orders and other regulations applying to the Postal Service, utilizing the services of the Office of the General Counsel as required.

(iii) Prepares drafts of new personnel management proposals or reviews proposals prepared by planning staff to assure technical adequacy before presentation to employee organizations and publication.

(iv) Drafts answers to technical operating personnel questions or problems referred from the White House, the Congress, Regional Directors or postal installation heads.

(v) Supplies technical support to Department's negotiation and consultation teams on personnel management procedures and regulations.

(vi) Adjudicates employee promotion appeals and prepares brief for Assistant Postmaster General decision.

(5) Employee Benefits and Services Division. (i) Provides technical guidance to the Postal Establishment in the administration of all employee services and benefits including retirement, life insurance, health benefits, unemployment compensation, injury compensation, leave, cafeterias, vending machines, welfare funds, employee organization convention budgets, code of ethics, suggestions and awards and uniform allowances.

(ii) Prepares procedures and regulations; responds to inquiries on technical questions, maintains liaison with Civil Service Commission and other appropriate Federal agencies to resolve regulatory and procedural problems pertaining to employee benefits and services.

issuances explaining

(iii) Processes suggestions and awards received at headquarters, recommending appropriate action by the Department.

(iv) Reviews and recommends action on contracts for cafeterias, vending machines, and other contracts pertaining to employee services, coordinating with General Counsel and other bureaus, as required.

(6) Compensation Division. (i) Develops and maintains a system for evaluating and classifying all positions in the postal field service. Ranks authorized standard and individual positions, except those in salary levels 18, 19, and 20, and such other positions as the Assistant Postmaster General, Bureau of Personnel, may specify.

(ii) Conducts surveys and establishes procedures and guidelines for proper maintenance of position standards and adherence to approved position ranking criteria.

(iii) Develops procedures for hearing appeals and conducting reviews of actions taken under the postal field service classification system.

(iv) Promulgates instructions and allowance tables, in accord with legal requirements, covering basic compensation, overtime, compensatory time, holiday pay, differential pay, longevity pay, periodic step increases, equipment maintenance allowances, heavy duty compen

sation, and per diem allowances for mobile service personnel.

(v) Conducts research on compensation practices and trends in private industry and Government services; submits recommendations for legislation including fringe pay benefits; and assists in formulating departmental position on other legislative proposals affecting the compensation of postal employees or of the entire Federal service.

(7) Training and Development Division. (i) Advises and assists the Assistant Postmaster General on matters affecting or relating to the training of officers and employees in the departmental and field services of the Post Office Department.

(ii) Identifies needs for, develops and recommends establishment or modification of policy, legal, regulatory and procedural requirements pertinent to training and to the procurement and use of training services, facilities, supplies and equipment in the Postal Establishment.

(iii) Initiates, conducts, administers contracts for and supervises research into new training concepts, methods, facilities, supplies and equipment. Initiates actions to apply these for improvement of postal training.

(iv) Represents the Post Office Department in relationships with private and other public organizations, both domestic and international, concerning training matters of mutual interest.

(v) Within the framework of established policy, laws, regulations and procedures, insures that line managers throughout the Postal Establishment may receive the qualified staff guidance and assistance they need to carry out their responsibility for identifying training needs and for planning, providing, evaluating and following up on training of personnel under their jurisdiction.

(vi) Evaluates plans for proposed training projects to determine whether they (a) embody effective training principles and practices; (b) comply with policy, legal and regulatory requirements; (c) recommends concurrence or nonconcurrence with training plans to the Assistant Postmaster General; and (d) evaluates the manner in which training programs and activities are executed in relation to approved training plans. Makes recommendations for appropriate changes to improve such programs and activities.

(vii) Provides technical guidance to regional training staffs.

(8) Employment and Placement Division. (i) Formulates and recommends policies and develops procedures relating to recruiting, examining, employing, placing, promoting, disciplining, and separating personnel in the Postal Establishment.

(ii) Determines the need for employee examining and testing in conjunction with affected bureaus and offices and, in collaboration with the Civil Service Commission, develops and directs the application of a program of suitable examinations and tests.

(iii) Plans and promotes special emphasis programs, including employment of women, equal employment opportunity, employing the physically handicapped and mentally retarded.

(9) Safety and Health Division. (i) Develops and maintains an effective safety and health program for the Postal Establishment, in conjunction with other bureaus and offices, covering health hazards, fire prevention and protection, transport and traffic safety, first aid and medical services, and safety aspects of property and equipment conservation and utilization.

(ii) Provides consulting service on safety and health matters to management officials throughout the Postal Establishment.

(iii) Provides official representation of the Department with other agencies of the Government and with outside organizations on safety and health matters of a national character.

finance, engineering, equipment, supply, facilities, and personnel within an assigned region (except the postal inspection service, internal auditors, the mail bag equipment shops, mail bag repair centers, and depositors, area supply centers, postal agency and stamped envelope agency, equipment production specialists, and other specific matters reserved to the Postmaster General and to the bureaus and offices of the national headquarters).

(b) Is responsible for the efficient management, utilization, and control of manpower, allotted funds, facilities, and equipment within the authority delegated to the region.

(c) Directs the conduct of management and operating surveys in post offices.

(d) Provides guidance and specialized assistance to post offices on mail processing, mail movement methods, and other postal operations.

(e) Exercises direct supervision over all officers and employees within the regions, except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section.

(f) Is responsible for the annual appraisal of performance and final rating of postmasters at first-class offices.

(g) Serves as deputy employment policy officer under Executive Order 10925. § 823.2 Deputy Regional Director.

(a) Assists the Regional Director in the overall management of the region. (b) Acts for the Regional Director in his absence and at his direction. § 823.3 Assistant to Regional Director.

(a) Assists the Regional Director in liaison with the general public, principal mail users, Members of Congress, other Federal agencies, local authorities, and others.

(b) Directs regional information activities and promulgation of postal instructions to the public.

(2) Develops and carries out plans for improving services provided by the postal service officers.

(3) Participates in nationwide planning for improving the services of the postal service.

(4) Serves the Regional Director in giving continuity to general management liaison with postmasters provided through the postal service officers.

(b) Responsibilities of Postal Service Officers. Within assigned geographical

areas:

(1) Provides to the Regional Director a focal point of general management liaison with postmasters on a continuous basis.

(2) Guides and counsels postmasters on postal service matters and brings to the attention of the regional office problems and situations which require technical expertise in gaining solutions.

(3) Serves as a source of day-to-day information on needs and performance by postal installations for the regional offices in performing their management activities.

(4) Contributes to the Regional Director's annual appraisal of postmasters.

(5) Maintains continuous observations of the postal service activities.

(6) Carries out special assignments of the Regional Director which may be outside geographical areas of regular duty.

(a) Controller Division. Advises and assists the Regional Director on all financial matters within the region; provides technical financial guidance to post offices; prepares the regional budget and maintains accounting records on the control of funds; develops regional targets, makes cost studies and related recommendations responsive to management needs; provides data processing services; maintains general ledger accounts; processes transportation claims and employee accounts and settles various other claims; compiles, analyzes, and interprets financial, statistical, and economic data in order to advise the Regional Director and other regional officials on regional operations.

(1) Postal Funds (Office of Controller). (i) Interprets and amplifies Bureau of Finance and Administration instructions and regulations on depository policies and procedures.

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(2) Financial Control Branch. (In some regions the budget and cost activities are not combined but are established as two separate branches-the Budget Branch, and the Cost Control and Analysis Branch.)

(i) Budget. (a) Develops and directs the regional budget and planning control program in accordance with established policies; advises the Regional Director and his staff on all regional budget matters.

(b) Coordinates budget activities with related activities of other regional divisions.

(c) Establishes budgetary controls to prevent overobligation of funds; develops effective budgetary reporting to promptly inform management on progress under approved financial plans, targets, and allotments; analyzes budgetary trends and statistics for management.

(d) Provides technical supervision for budget activities in large operating installations to improve forecast of revenues, workload, and man-hours to permit operating budgets and targets to be more closely related to actual operations.

(ii) Cost control and analysis. (a) Directs the application of approved policies and procedures for accumulating, analyzing, and reporting cost data, postal program progress, and cost ascertainment data, including work and volume measurement, man-hours, and production; and for controlling the release of data to other agencies and the public. (b) Collaborates with other regional offices in developing cost control programs to produce comparative statistics as management tools in measuring and regulating operating costs; evaluates operating and financial reports prepared in the Controller Division and at post offices; prepares highlights of significant changes, interpretations, and recommendations for use by management.

(c) Provides technical guidance to post offices on financial and statistical