The Federal government is looking to fill HR Specialist positions across many different agencies through this shared job announcement. HR Specialists serve in essential, mission-driven roles and have the opportunity to help the government achieve a trusted effective civilian workforce. Many HR Specialists will immediately begin supporting agencies in implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The IIJA supports projects rebuilding America's roads, bridges and rails; expanding access to clean drinking water; increasing access to high-speed internet; tackling environmental challenges; advancing environmental justice; and investing in communities.
In this position, you will serve as a Human Resources Specialist. Typical work assignments may include:
Supporting managers and other stakeholders in identifying, attracting, hiring, and retaining a high-quality and diverse workforce that is capable of accomplishing the organization's mission.
Using automated human resources information systems to perform HR activities (e.g., qualifications review).
Collaborating with hiring managers to understand their staffing needs and develop workforce management strategies to meet future organizational demands.
Analyzing job duties and requirements to develop and classify position descriptions.
Assisting managers with onboarding new staff.
Using hiring data to provide insights on the hiring process and hiring trends.
Providing guidance to employees on pay, leave, and benefits.
Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
You must be able to pass a background investigation and/or obtain and hold a security clearance as identified by the hiring agency.
New employees must serve a one year probationary period.
You must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before onboarding date (see "Required Documents" section).
Telework/Remote opportunities will vary based on the hiring agency and the agency's remote/virtual work policy.
This position may be designated as included in a bargaining unit depending on the hiring agency.
Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
You must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov.
Qualifications
You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess either experience, education or a combination of education/experience as shown below:
Experience
A. One full year of specialized experience performing the following duties:
Applying established guidelines to carry out one or more human resources functions (e.g., classification, staffing, recruitment, pay and benefits);
Responding to customer questions about routine, factual matters (e.g., human resources procedures); and
Using an automated system to track human resources related tasks.
This experience, which may be obtained in the private sector, public sector, or through volunteer experience, must be equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service.
--OR--
Education
B. A Master's degree or two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Master's degree in human resources, business, management, public administration, public policy, or another closely related field which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position; or possess a J.D or LL.B.
--OR--
Combination
C. A combination of specialized experience as described in A and graduate level education as described in B that, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. Please Note: Only graduate education in excess of the first year (generally, 18 semester hours) may be used in this calculation.
You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess either experience, education or a combination of education/experience as shown below:
Experience
A. One full year of specialized experience performing the following duties:
Independently planning and carrying out human resources actions (e.g., classification, staffing, recruitment, pay and benefits) in alignment with established policies;
Providing guidance to customers on human resources rules, flexibilities, or systems;
Using an automated system to complete human resources related tasks.; and
Researching laws and policies to recommend solutions to human resources problems.
This experience, which may be obtained in the private sector, public sector, or through volunteer experience, must be equivalent to the GS-9 level in the Federal service.
--OR--
Education
B. A PhD or three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a PhD in human resources, business, management, public administration, public policy, or another closely related field which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position; or possess an LL.M.
--OR--
Combination
C. A combination of specialized experience as described in A and graduate level education as described in B that, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. Please Note: Only graduate education in excess of the first two years (generally, 36 semester hours) may be used in this calculation.
Qualifications Must Be Met
The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Your experience (paid and unpaid), education, awards, training and self-development will be evaluated as it relates to the position based upon the information provided in your resume/application and any other supporting documents.
Education
Are you qualifying based on education? Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at http://www.ed.gov.
Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable). You may also submit a course listing to include the school, degree, date conferred, and the credit and grade given for each course completed. Official transcripts will be required prior to appointment.
Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.
All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
Additional information
Here are the agencies and the locations of the positions for these opportunities:
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Location Negotiable After Selection OR Albuquerque, NM; Beltsville, MD; Minneapolis, MN; Riverdale, MD; Washington, DC
Department of Commerce (DOC)
Washington, DC
Department of Energy (DOE)
Location Negotiable After Selection
Department of the Interior (DOI)
Location Negotiable After Selection OR Billings, MT; Boise, ID; Boulder City, NV; Lakewood, CO; Sacramento, CA; Salt Lake City, UT
Department of Labor (DOL)
Location Negotiable After Selection OR Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Location Negotiable After Selection OR Atlanta, GA; Cambridge, MA; Chicago, IL; Ft. Worth, TX; Kansas City, MO; Lakewood, CO; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Washington, DC
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Location Negotiable After Selection OR Kansas City, MO; Norfolk, VA; Philadelphia, PA; San Antonio, TX; Norfolk, VA
Location Negotiable After Selection: Agencies using this option may be offering remote opportunities. Final duty station and pay will be determined by the hiring agency.
Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be available and will depend on the hiring agency.
Applicants selected for positions within the Department of Commerce (DOC) will be in the equivalent pay band (ZA-II to ZA-III) that covers the GS-9/11 grade level.
Due to COVID-19, agencies may currently be in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you may be expected to report to the duty station. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days per pay period, depending upon the terms of the hiring agency's telework and/or remote/virtual work policy.
Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.
For an audio description version of the video shared in this job opportunity announcement, please use the following link:
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.
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. 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.
As part of the online assessments, you will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
Accountability
Attention to Detail
Customer Service
Flexibility
Integrity/Honesty
Interpersonal Skills
Learning
Self-Management
Stress Tolerance
Teamwork
Decision Making
Reading
Reasoning
The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.
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.
This announcement is issued under the Direct Hire Authority (DHA) to recruit for positions for which there is a critical hiring need. Under the provisions of the Direct-Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply.
Selection Process: Your application and assessment materials will be reviewed, and if you are found qualified, your application will be sent to the hiring managers of the relevant agencies for review and possible interview. Participating agencies will make offers directly to applicants. Once a job offer at a specific grade/promotion potential is extended to you by any agency for which you have expressed an interest and you accept, decline, or do not respond to any contact from that agency, you are not guaranteed another offer, but may receive one from another agency covered under this job announcement.
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.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/10/2022 which includes the following:
Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year, and indicates hours worked per week. If military or a civilian Federal employee, you must include your rank and/or grade.
Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
Official or unofficial College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Official transcripts will be required prior to appointment.
Your responses to the application questionnaire and the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment
Reasonable Accommodation 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 online USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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 Reasonable Accommodation, 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.
If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be rated well-qualified by scoring 85 or better on the assessment. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. If your application is rated as well-qualified (score 85 or above) and you are claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (I/CTAP) you must submit:
1) a copy of your agency notice;
2) a copy of your most recent performance rating; and
3) a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before appointment or onboarding with the agency. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the online application, including the assessment questionnaire and USA Hire assessment, if applicable, and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
The application process is as follows:
To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements.
Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Multiple Executive Branch Agencies Recruitment
1900 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20415
US
Next steps
Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.
To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/10/2022 which includes the following:
Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year, and indicates hours worked per week. If military or a civilian Federal employee, you must include your rank and/or grade.
Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
Official or unofficial College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Official transcripts will be required prior to appointment.
Your responses to the application questionnaire and the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment
Reasonable Accommodation 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 online USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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 Reasonable Accommodation, 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.
If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be rated well-qualified by scoring 85 or better on the assessment. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. If your application is rated as well-qualified (score 85 or above) and you are claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (I/CTAP) you must submit:
1) a copy of your agency notice;
2) a copy of your most recent performance rating; and
3) a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before appointment or onboarding with the agency. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the online application, including the assessment questionnaire and USA Hire assessment, if applicable, and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
The application process is as follows:
To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements.
Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Multiple Executive Branch Agencies Recruitment
1900 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20415
US
Next steps
Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.
To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
