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Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment/Placement)

Department of Defense
Washington Headquarters Services
Human Resources Directorate (HRD): Personnel Services Division (PSD)

Summary

This position is located in the Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), Human Resources Directorate, Personnel Services Division (PSD). The PSD provides a wide range of consolidated human resource management program functions and advisory services associated with talent acquisition, delegated examining, and classification for the Office of the Secretary of War and various Defense Agencies and Field Activities located in and around the Nation Capital Region (NCR).

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/05/2026 to 02/09/2026
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$121,785 to - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Alexandria, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
ST-12873472-26-CJM
Control number
856486500

Duties

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Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following:

  • Serves as a Senior Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment & Placement) with full technical and advisory responsibility for merit and delegated examining, priority placement programs, and strategic talent management and acquisition. The incumbent provides services on wide range of professional, scientific, administrative, and highly technical positions.
  • Performs external recruitment, by developing multiple recruitment strategies using sources such as DE, DHA, and Merit Promotion procedures. Advises on special hiring authorities specific to the DoW and non-GS personnel systems (such as FWS, ACQDEMO, CES, and DCIPS).
  • Inputs and extracts data from a wide variety of source materials, to include, but not limited to DCPDS, USASTAFFING, and ASARS. Ensures the prompt processing of all personnel actions and accurate position documentation in DCPDS, Creates USA Staffing assessments, job announcements, and certificate of referrals that reflect the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other requirements for the positions to be filled. Coordinates the local PPP and other projects applicable to recruitment and placement.
  • Conducts myriad on-site customer services visits both independently and/or in partnership with counterparts within the Personnel Services Directorate. Incumbent required to advise organizational leadership regarding staffing questions regarding aspects of recruitment strategies and employee qualifications.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment
  • Required to participate in the direct deposit program
  • This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
  • This position is subject to the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
  • This position may require occasional travel away up to 20% from the normal duty station for official business on military or commercial aircraft.
  • The incumbent may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to:

  • Provide authoritative interpretation and advisory services to management on complex recruitment and placement issues, such as merit promotion, priority placement programs (PPP), and Reduction in Force (RIF) regulations.
  • Conduct expert qualification analyses and creating or validating complex assessment tools for a variety of federal positions within an automated hiring system (such as USA Staffing), while ensuring data integrity across HR information systems.
  • Resolve complex staffing issues by researching and applying regulations from sources such as the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and coordinating with external agencies (e.g., DCPAS, DFAS) to provide definitive solutions.
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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

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 an online application, you may request an alternative application. Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: whs.job.application.assistance@mail.mil

Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants (DODI 1400.25, volume 300). http://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/

Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

SME Panel Review: Human resources will review resumes for eligibility, and then forward eligible resumes to a Subject Matter Expert (SME Panel) for determination of minimum qualifications. Eligible candidates determined to be qualified by the SME Panel will be certified for further consideration.

Your eligibility and 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 USA Hire Competency Based Assessment(s) required for this position (if applicable). If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Recruitment/Placement - Knowledge of HR concepts, principles, and practices related to identifying, attracting, and selecting individuals and placing them into positions to address changing organizational needs.
  • Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
  • Customer Service - Works with clients and customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. Note: Clients and customers include any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government.

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