Victoria Gross

Principal Strategist
Portfolio for Blacks

Victoria “Vikki” A. Gross is the Principal Strategist of the Portfolio for Blacks at NIH and has 31 years of federal experience. A native of Washington DC, she returned to the area years ago after a 23 year stay in New York City. While in New York, she worked for several federal agencies including the U.S. Customs Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ms. Gross processed EEO complaints at the informal stage and oversaw several EEO collateral duty counselors. As the Special Emphasis Program Manager (SEPM), she was responsible for revamping the Special Emphasis Programs and managing all special emphasis observances to include: MLK, Black History, Asian Pacific Islander, Women’s History, Hispanic Heritage and American Indian/Alaskan Natives. She created a Multi-Cultural Committee, consisting of over twenty employees from several disciplines (Engineers, Scientists, Geologists, Administrative Staff, etc.), to examine the barriers to employment for the protected classes, and to cultivate an awareness of diversity. She was also instrumental in establishing the first Mentoring Partnership between local alternative high school and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District.

In addition, Ms. Gross maintained data files to support the annual submission of the Management Directive 715 (MD 715); provided monthly, mid-year, and yearly reports on Workforce Analysis and Awards; and represented the EEO Office as an advisor for Corporate Selection panels, Incentive Awards Committees, and briefings to Commanders. She is a previous recipient of the National Federal Women’s Program Award for Diversity in 2004. In 2006, Ms. Gross became the first full-time SEPM for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters and Humphreys Engineer Center Support Activity where she was responsible for overseeing all special emphasis programs. Ms. Gross possesses extensive EEO technical and business knowledge. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Marketing from City University of New York.