Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees serving under career or career-conditional competitive service appointments, former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility, or persons eligible for non-competitive appointment under special appointment authorities. Veterans who are preference eligible or separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 or more years of continuous service may apply under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

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Has full technical responsibility for independently carrying out complex studies and projects involving human resource management program development and/or program evaluation, or for providing complex management operations services. Provides management advisory services activities at high levels within the agency. Analyzes significant human resource management issues and problems and develops expert-level recommendations and alternative solutions.

Provides day-to-day assistance, interpretation, information and guidance on the full range of employee relations problems and issues which affect the function to include organizational goal performance, individual performance, performance appraisal systems, pay-for-performance compensation systems, employee relations (ER) training programs, etc. Contacts with the various offices are frequently under stressful conditions requiring a high degree of expertise and diplomacy to achieve prompt resolutions of problems between parties with widely varying degrees of employee relations expertise. Conducts on-site technical assistance visits as required to keep abreast of local conditions and to promote program objectives.

Identifies actual and potential problems in the employee relations program and develops recommended solutions. Develops guidance of program objectives for dissemination to supervisors and managers via policies, reports, emails, etc. Reviews existing and proposed policies, regulations from federal, executive, congressional, HHS or other sources. Identifies matters of agency-wide significance and coordinates actions as necessary with other staff offices, or OPM. Either individually or as a member of a team, conducts studies of highly sensitive and/or major problem areas of ER where investigations seek to prevent as well as resolve ER questions. Gathers data and establishes cooperative relationships with other components and government agencies. Researches precedent decisions and keeps abreast of latest developments of the MSPB arbitration meetings.

Serves as Subject Matter Expert (SME) and technical advisor for disciplinary and adverse action and performance-based action procedures. Provides advice and guidance to supervisors and managers and information to employees regarding employee relations issues as they relate to involuntary terminations (resignation, termination of temporary appointments, termination of probationary/trial period employees); adverse actions (removal, suspension, change to lower grade for cause); and both disciplinary actions (admonishments, reprimands) and non-disciplinary actions (counseling, investigations, within-grade increase denials, Performance Improvement Plans (PIP). Studies and analyzes other proposed or established employee relations programs laws and regulations in the areas of grievance/appeal procedures, voluntary actions, performance-based actions, etc.

Acts as technical advisor at formal and informal proceedings, developing the agency's position and, when necessary, represents the agency position along with legal staff before administrative adjudicative bodies such as MSPB, EEOC, etc. Formulates approaches and strategies to resolve issues such as performance grievances, adverse actions, involuntary actions, etc. Personal contacts regularly include officials of HHS, OIG, OPM and other pertinent organizations. Evaluates program operations through informal contacts on day-to-day operations and formally through participation in on-site evaluations. Conducts on-going ER training and review and/or develops policies and SOP's, as needed.

Examines performance management problems and operating issues, particularly those involving complex matters not covered by precedent. Develops solutions and appropriate interventions. Recommends changes to established procedures and practices or alternative approaches to resolve recurring problems and/or issues. Provides technical assistance to specialists and employment law attorneys, as well as supervisors and employees. Keeps abreast of new developments and regulatory guidance from higher authority.

Serves as technical expert in major functions of employee relations (e.g., organizational development, adverse actions, performance management.) Reviews policy and procedures to ensure consistency and recommend modifications as required. Provides policy guidance and advice to the OIG components. Provides day-to-day assistance, interpretation, information and guidance on the full range of employee relations problems and issues which affect the function to include organizational goal performance, individual performance, performance appraisal systems, pay-for-performance compensation systems, employee relations (ER)training programs.

Serves as agency or office representative in discussions, working groups, and both formal and informal inter-agency advisory forums to present, defend office or Agency positions as recognized representative of senior administrative management.

Conditions of employment

• U.S Citizenship is required.
• Registration with the Selective Service (if applicable).
• Suitability for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
• One-year probationary period may be required.
• Time in grade must be met within 30 days of closing date of announcement.
• THIS POSITION IS SUBJECT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 14043 MANDATING COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

Qualifications

You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 07/01/2022

Expanded/Maximum telework Posture:

• Your position may be eligible for workplace flexibilities which may include remote work or telework options, and/or flexible work scheduling. These flexibilities may be requested in accordance with the HHS Workplace Flexibilities policy.
• Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors described below within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Education used as part of an application package will only be considered if complete transcripts are submitted and must be from an accredited institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. To see if your institution is accredited, please follow this link: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience providing assistance, interpretation, information, and guidance on the full range of employee relations problems and issues to include individual performance, performance appraisal systems, pay-for-performance compensation systems, and employee relations training programs,
• Experience serving as the subject matter expert and technical advisor for disciplinary/adverse actions and performance-based actions and procedures;
• Experience serving as the technical advisor at formal and informal proceedings and representing the agency before administrative adjudicative bodies such as the merit systems protection board; and
• Experience developing, reviewing, and recommending modifications to policies, procedures, and guidance in the various areas of employee relations.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume should include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions. Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate possession of any specialized experience and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement.

The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies (KSA's). You do not have to provide a narrative response to the KSA's.

• Employee Relations
• Oral Communication
• Performance Management
• Problem Solving
• Writing

Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions, or your score may be adjusted or lowered accordingly which may affect your overall final rating. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or for changing your scored responses to questions you've answered, which may affect your overall final score.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the "Required Documents" section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11548453

Selections may be made for vacancies across the entire Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). By applying, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more HHS hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.