Introduction

On September 25, 1997, the Dallas Oversight Division of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) received a classification appeal from [the appellant]. His position is currently classified as Supervisory Realty Specialist, GS-1170-12. He believes his classification should be Supervisory Realty Specialist, GS-1170-13. The appellant is the chief of the Planning and Control Branch, Real Estate Division, [specific] District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, [specific location of appellant's position]. We have accepted and decided his appeal under section 5112 of title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.).

To help decide the appeal, an Oversight Division representative conducted a telephone audit of the appellant's position on December 19, 1997, and had followup discussions with the appellant, his supervisor and servicing personnel office representatives. In reaching our decision, we have reviewed the audit findings and all information of record furnished by the appellant and his agency, including his official position description (PD), 03389.

Position information

The appellant is chief of one of four branches in the Real Estate Division. The Division carries out projects involving real estate acquisition (i.e., purchase and lease), management, and disposal, for both military and civil works purposes. The appellant directs the work of the Planning and Control Branch which is responsible for the initial data and site analysis of proposed real estate projects, the preparation of project planning reports and design memoranda, the development of project schedules and budgets, and the continual monitoring and control of project activities and expenditures. The appellant's organization also is responsible for formulating and managing the day-to-day operating budget for the entire Real Estate Division. To mention a few duties in his PD, the appellant directs the collection, preparation, assembly, and review of current property ownership information, legal descriptions, aerial photogrammatic mapping and surveys, and various maps and plats relating to real estate acquisition. The appellant directs the performance, coordination, and control of various project and program funds, including the planning and preparation of operating budgets and schedules, and maintenance of accounts and account reports. The appellant also is responsible for promoting and maintaining harmonious and effective working relationships with local governments/communities that facilitate the completion of local/Federal cost sharing agreements for the execution of needed flood control/protection projects.

The appellant's PD and other material of record furnish much more information about his duties and responsibilities and how they are performed.

The appellant agrees that his PD provides an accurate depiction of his duties and responsibilities. However, he believes that his position is undergraded because Factor 5, Difficulty of Work Supervised, has been evaluated too low by his agency. Since he supervises two GS-12 employees and only one GS-11, the appellant believes that this factor should credit him with a GS-12 "base level" of work directed. The agency evaluation of Factor 5 finds that GS-11 is the highest level of basic work comprising 25 percent or more of the unit's nonsupervisory workload.