This is a paid internship opportunity under the Pathways Internship Program which provides students opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers. Pathways Programs are in the Excepted Service and Veteran's Preference will be applied in filling positions under the Pathways Programs.
These Student Trainee (HR Specialist) positions are located in the Division of Human Resources Management, Staffing and Classification Branch.
Summary
This is a paid internship opportunity under the Pathways Internship Program which provides students opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers. Pathways Programs are in the Excepted Service and Veteran's Preference will be applied in filling positions under the Pathways Programs.
These Student Trainee (HR Specialist) positions are located in the Division of Human Resources Management, Staffing and Classification Branch.
Open to individuals who are at least 16 years old, who are students currently enrolled for the Summer/Fall 2023 academic terms in a degree or certificate seeking program, taking at least a half-time course load. You also must have a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must have at least one year remaining in their required coursework for completion of their degree or certificate. Non-citizens may apply but must complete a citizenship affidavit.
This is an opportunity under the Internship Program under Pathways. The Internship Program provides students enrolled in high schools, colleges, trade schools & other qualifying educational institutions with paid opportunities to work in agencies & explore Federal careers while completing their education. Veteran's Preference is applied.
As a Student Trainee (HR Specialist), you will perform the following duties:
Develops and maintains effective working relationships with Human Resources staff members, managers, and employees.
Participates in organizational meetings and other activities as a member of a team.
Assists the organization in resolving routine issues by offering solutions and alternatives.
Collaborates internally with Human Resources staff to ensure consistency in approach and to general resolution of problems that are less complex in nature.
Works with Human Resources staff to accomplish a wide range of Human Resources transactions related to recruitment, placement, and classification.
Works under the guidance of more senior Human Resources staff addressing issues and topics.
Supports a variety of Human Resources projects or programs and provide general office support.
Performs technical and administrative support to foster the growth of Human Resources presence on social media platforms.
Assists in processing personnel actions, drafting vacancy announcements, performing qualification/eligibility determinations, drafting commitment letters, etc. under the guidance of senior HR Specialists.
Selectee will be required to have a background investigation prior to onboarding.
Selectee must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited academic institution & maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher for the duration of the Internship.
Selectee will be required to sign an agreement that outlines the parameters of the Internship Program.
Selectee may be required to submit updated transcripts and proof of enrollment upon selection and during the duration of the Internship.
Selectee may be required to serve a 1 year trial period.
Selectee may be required to complete a background investigation prior to onboarding.
Additional Requirements:
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
From the closing date of this vacancy announcement, applicants MUST have at least one year remaining in their required coursework for completion of their degree.
This announcement is open to The Public who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements. Federal Appropriations Law requires that Non-Citizens meet certain eligibility criteria to be considered. Therefore, Non-Citizens must certify eligibility by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered. Non-citizens may NOT be converted to competitive service appointments.
Students may be hired for Internship positions at any time during the year and may work full-time or part-time based on office needs.
This position is a non-bargaining unit.
NSF has determined that all of its positions are eligible for telework. Work suitable for telework depends on job duties; therefore, employees must receive approval from their supervisor for telework and have a telework agreement in place. Entering into a telework agreement is voluntary.
It is NSF policy that NSF personnel employed at or IPAs detailed to NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign government talent recruitment programs. Failure to comply with this NSF policy could result in disciplinary action up to & including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment & referral to the Office of Inspector General. Foreign Talent Definitions.
Qualifications
Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited academic institution and have a 2.5 GPA or higher to be eligible for a Pathways Internship Appointment.
In addition to the above appointment requirements, see below qualification requirements:
To qualify at the GS-05 level, you must have successfully completed four full years of education above the high school level; OR One year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the GS-4 level in Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: assisting higher graded HR Specialists in staffing, recruitment, position classification/management components; applying basic staffing and pay administration policies, principles; participating in outreach events for a federal agency; or supporting an organization's special hiring programs processes.
To qualify at the GS-07 level, you must have completion of one full academic year of graduate level (18 semester hours) education; OR have a Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (as evidenced by class standing in the upper third of the graduating class; 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for all academic work; grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in the major field of study; or election to membership in a national honor scholastic society). OR One year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the GS-5 level in Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: assisting higher graded HR Specialists in staffing, recruitment, position classification/management components; applying basic staffing and pay administration policies, principles, and practices prefer under title 5; assisting an organizational in resolving routine issues by offering solutions and alternatives; organizing outreach events; or supporting an organization's special hiring programs processes.
To qualify at the GS-09 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: providing advice and assistance to managers on effective methods of recruitment; independently preparing job announcements for recruitment; preparing online tools for assessing the qualifications of candidates; reviewing job applications and making determinations on whether candidates meet basic qualifications; processing agreements for individuals who are hired under special programs, such as the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA). OR You must have 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Master's or equivalent degree (such as an LL.B. or J.D.) that has equipped you to perform the duties of this position. OR You must have a combination of post high school education and experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position.
Experience refers to paid/unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) & other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, & skills & can provide valuable training/experience that translates directly to paid work. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Internship Program allows students an opportunity to be converted non-competitively to a career-conditional or term position once the student completes all requirements of the Internship Program. Noncompetitive conversion to a permanent or term position is NOT guaranteed. The Intern's eligibility for conversion does not guarantee that the agency will opt for conversion.
Education
Education may be substituted for experience as described in "Qualifications."
If qualifying based on education, you must submit TRANSCRIPTS (unofficial copies are acceptable) or a DIPLOMA that verifies that the requirement is met.
All education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants may verify accreditation at the following website: Accreditation.
PLEASE NOTE: Certificate program is defined as post-secondary education in a qualifying educational institution equal to at least one academic year of full-time study that's part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.
Additional information
Relocation expenses will NOT be paid.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests:
If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):
ICTAP and CTAP provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP or CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified you must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least "Very Good" on the questionnaire. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP or CTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information regarding ICTAP or CTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources
Veteran's Preference:
If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. For 5-point veterans' preference, please provide your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, DD-214, and the VA letter or other required documentation as specified on the SF-15.
This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the National Science Foundation.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
Accountability
Attention to Detail
Customer Service
Decision Making
Flexibility
Integrity/Honesty
Interpersonal Skills
Learning
Reading Comprehension
Self-Management
Stress Tolerance
Teamwork
To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
Final rating will be determined by category rating procedures will be used to rank and select eligibles. Based on your responses to the occupational questionnaire and a structured resume review, you will be assigned a score. Your score will determine in which of three categories you will be placed: Excellent, Very Good, or Good. Veteran's Preference will be applied. Under this process, veterans will be assigned to the appropriate category (without additional preference points) and then placed at the top of their category. Veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more will be placed at the top of the highest quality category.
Applicants eligible for selection preference under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or CTAP must meet the agency definition of "well qualified." In NSF categories, this means at least "Very Good" with a score of 90.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
All applicants should submit a resume/CV of their choice and may also submit a cover letter.
Other documents required:
Official or unofficial college transcripts, including your cumulative GPA, with your application. This office will be unable to determine qualification eligibility without transcripts. Applications without transcripts are incomplete applications and will be rated "INELIGIBLE". Transcripts will NOT be accepted after the closing date of this announcement.
Proof of enrollment for the current Spring 2023 academic term (i.e., course schedule, acceptance letter, letter from the registrar). Applications without proof of enrollment are incomplete applications and will be rated "INELIGIBLE". Proof of Enrollment will NOT be accepted after the closing date of this announcement.
(Note: Applicants must have one year remaining in their degree/certificate program in order to be considered)
Additional Documents, if applicable, may include:
Veteran's Preference Documentation (DD-214, VA Letter, and SF-15): If you are eligible and claiming 5-point veteran's preference, you MUST submit a copy of your "member copy 4 version" DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veteran's preference, you MUST submit a copy of your DD-214, SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" and the VA letter or other documentation required by the SF-15. (Please note: An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing veterans' preference will not be accepted as proof of entitlement.)
Non-Citizens may apply but must certify eligibility by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. However, non-citizens may NOT be converted to competitive service appointments.
All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DATE OF BIRTH OR ANY OTHER PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position will be able to apply until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS.
As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact on this job opportunity announcement.
All applicants should submit a resume/CV of their choice and may also submit a cover letter.
Other documents required:
Official or unofficial college transcripts, including your cumulative GPA, with your application. This office will be unable to determine qualification eligibility without transcripts. Applications without transcripts are incomplete applications and will be rated "INELIGIBLE". Transcripts will NOT be accepted after the closing date of this announcement.
Proof of enrollment for the current Spring 2023 academic term (i.e., course schedule, acceptance letter, letter from the registrar). Applications without proof of enrollment are incomplete applications and will be rated "INELIGIBLE". Proof of Enrollment will NOT be accepted after the closing date of this announcement.
(Note: Applicants must have one year remaining in their degree/certificate program in order to be considered)
Additional Documents, if applicable, may include:
Veteran's Preference Documentation (DD-214, VA Letter, and SF-15): If you are eligible and claiming 5-point veteran's preference, you MUST submit a copy of your "member copy 4 version" DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veteran's preference, you MUST submit a copy of your DD-214, SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" and the VA letter or other documentation required by the SF-15. (Please note: An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing veterans' preference will not be accepted as proof of entitlement.)
Non-Citizens may apply but must certify eligibility by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. However, non-citizens may NOT be converted to competitive service appointments.
All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DATE OF BIRTH OR ANY OTHER PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position will be able to apply until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS.
As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact on this job opportunity announcement.
