The Human Resources Specialist will provide a full range of human resources (HR) services including recruitment, payroll and benefits administration, leave administration, and performance management. Additionally, the incumbent will assist with policy, analytical, and administrative duties that support the effective functions of the office, including drafting, analyzing, and maintaining HR related policies and procedures and providing support to the office's process improvement program through project management and development, data analysis, and process improvement recommendations. This position is located within the court's Administrative Services Team and reports directly to the Human Resources Officer.

Responsibilities

• Perform duties related to benefits administration, personnel action processing, and records maintenance. Serve as benefits coordinator, providing judges and employees with guidance and assistance with benefits policy interpretation and benefits election process. Conduct benefits orientation for new appointments. Ensure personnel actions are processed in a timely and accurate manner. Develop and maintain electronic databases to track personnel actions, including promotions, appointments and separations. Maintain personnel, payroll, and recruitment records in accordance with judiciary guidelines. Ensure strict confidentiality and security of all personnel matters and records.
• Serve as an official leave administrator for the court. Advise judges, executives, and staff on leave administration matters. Monitor and process employee time and attendance records. Resolve complex leave related issues. Provide employees with training on and assistance with the automated leave tracking system. Develop and analyze a variety of leave related reports. Ensure that all leave transactions and records adhere to appropriate rules and regulations.
• Coordinate with judges, executives, and managers on the assessment and evaluation of staff performance throughout the year. Maintain a tracking system for employee evaluations and within-grade step increases. Process performance management related personnel action requests accurately and in a timely manner.
• Implement and administer HR policies, procedures, and standards. Provide information to judges, executives, managers, and staff on HR matters, procedures, and practices. Assist with the drafting and coordination of the development and review of HR policies, standard operating procedures, and job aides. Provide support to court offices in implementing HR procedural and policy changes. Conduct research on HR policy questions of relevance to the court. Receive, manage, and organize general HR inquiries, including mail, telephone calls, emails, employment verification requests and other HR related inquiries. Research and provide timely responses to inquiries in accordance with local, judiciary, and federal policies and practices.
• Manage and support process improvement projects. Review and analyze HR operations, identifying problems, trends, and areas for efficiency or improvement. Review, recommend, and assist with the development and implementation of projects, processes, and changes designed to improve overall quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of HR operations as needed.
• Communicate and respond to requests from judges, chambers staff, and management about human resources operations. Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, to explain human resources concepts to individuals and groups with varying experience and backgrounds. Interact effectively with the public and staff, providing good customer service and resolving difficulties efficiently while complying with regulations, rules, and procedures. Facilitate, mediate, and negotiate complex and sensitive matters with judges, executives, managers, and staff, while maintaining confidentiality. Develop, implement, and maintain written procedures for assigned functions. Comply with the Guide to Judiciary Policy, applicable Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts' policies and procedures, internal controls guidelines, and local policies and procedures. Abide by the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees and court confidentiality requirements. Demonstrate sound ethics and good judgment. Display a careful and deliberate approach in handling confidential information in a variety of contexts.

Conditions of employment

Applicants must be United States citizens or lawful permanent residents actively seeking citizenship. This is a highly sensitive position within the Judiciary. Employment will be considered provisional pending successful completion of a background investigation, credit check, and a favorable suitability determination. Investigative updates are required every five years.

Qualifications

General Experience:
Progressively responsible experience that provides evidence that the applicant has: (a) a good understanding of the methods and administrative machinery for accomplishing the work of an organization; (b) the ability to analyze problems and assess the practical implications of alternate solutions; (c) the ability to communicate with others, orally and in writing; and (d) the capacity to employee the knowledge, skills, and abilities in the resolution of problems.

Specialized Experience:
At least two years of specialized experience. Progressively responsible experience in at least one but preferably two or more functional areas of human resources management and administration (classification, staffing, training, employee relations, etc.) that provided knowledge of the rules, regulations, terminology, etc. of the area of human resources administration.

How you will be evaluated

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

Please read the "Next steps" section for more information.