Clarification from the agency

These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority for the occupation and is open to all U.S. citizens.

This announcement closes on08/04/2026 for receipt of applications. Applications received the first 10 days of the announcement being opened will receive first consideration. Applications received beyond the first 10 days, may be considered, upon management's request.

The incumbent must be a customer service professional who can work in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment. Things happen quickly and continuously in this position, and the incumbent will find the need to move from one task to another without much time in between or juggling multiple duties at the same time.

This position is located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Human Capital (OHC), Human Resources Operations Center (HROC), Staffing Unit. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Human Resources (HR) Specialist (Recruitment & Placement) and serves as a member of a team with assigned responsibility for providing the full range of recruitment and staffing services. Provides guidance and assistance to employees, managers and supervisors on the HR Recruitment & Placement actions, procedures, and requirements. As a Human Resources Specialist, at the full performance level, you will perform the following duties:

• Provide technical advice and assistance in recruitment and placement activities, which includes reviewing position descriptions, conducting job analysis, developing vacancy announcements, performing applicant reviews to determine basic qualifications and eligibilities, adjudicating veterans' preference, preparing selection certificates, setting pay for various positions, validating selections prior to extending job offers and processing personnel actions for a wide variety of external or internal recruitment actions;
• Explain regulations, procedures, and determinations to inquiring employees, candidates, and supervisors;
• Perform analysis of a variety of facts and issues, research complex problems or complaints, identifying the cause of problems or complaints, and initiate action to resolve;
• Provide technical recruitment and placement advisory services to hiring managers and supervisors on use of various hiring strategies to attract and place highly qualified candidates, e.g. Delegating Examining, Merit Promotion, Temporary Promotions, Reassignment, Pathways Intern Programs, Veteran's Employment Programs, and other Special Hiring Authorities to include Non-Competitive Hiring Authorities;
• Deliver high level customer service and responds to actions in a timely manner and in accordance with hiring procedures and timelines;
• Serve as a team member on special assignments/projects;
• Conduct formal and informal training to internal OHC staff, hiring managers and customers on recruitment and placement processes, procedures, and requirements.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Probationary Period: This is a full-time permanent position (Career/Career-Conditional appointment). Upon appointment to this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• GS-07: The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain the OPM Delegated Examining certification.
• GS-09: The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain the OPM Delegated Examining certification. Requirement to obtain Delegated Examining certification within one year. Advancement to GS-11 is contingent upon receipt of certification.
• GS-11: The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain the OPM Delegated Examining certification. Requirement to obtain Delegated Examining certification within one year. Advancement to GS-12 is contingent upon receipt of certification.
• GS-12: If selected at the GS-12, the incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain the OPM Delegated Examining certification. Requirement to obtain Delegated Examining certification within 120 days after appointment.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.

Qualifications

You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess either experience, education, superior academic achievement or a combination of education and experience as described below:

Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-05 grade level or equivalent performing these duties:

• Responding to customer inquiries on application procedures and status requests;
• Reviewing personnel actions to ensure they meet all legal and regulatory requirements;
• Completing recruitment and placement actions utilizing various tools and software applications (such as USAStaffing, Onboarding Manager, Electronic System for Personnel and National Finance Center); AND
• Maintaining and track recruitment and placement folders, reports, records and/or documents. OR

Education: Successful completion one year of full-time graduate level education at an accredited college or university. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR

Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and claim eligibility for superior academic achievement based on one of the following: (1) class standing in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; (2) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society; (3) grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (4) grade-point average of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed graduate education in an appropriate discipline and experience as described above. To meet total qualification requirements for GS-7, first determine the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required; then determine the education as a percentage of the education required; and then add the two percentages. The total combination must equal at least 100 percent of the requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess either experience, education, or a combination of education and experience as described below:

Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level or equivalent performing these duties:

• Drafting vacancy announcements;
• Developing rating factors and crediting plans for vacancy announcements;
• Reviewing and processing recruitment and placement actions utilizing various tools and software applications (such as USAStaffing, Onboarding Manager, Electronic System for Personnel, National Finance Center); AND
• Making recommendations on recruitment strategies to aid in strategic recruitment planning. OR

Education: Successful completion of a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree; or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D. if related to the position, from an accredited college or university. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed graduate education in an appropriate discipline and experience as described above. Only graduate education in excess of the first full year can be credited for the combination. The total combination must equal at least 100 percent of the requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess either experience, education, or a combination of education and experience as described below:

Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level or equivalent performing these duties:

• Assisting higher level specialists with recruitment and placement activities such as developing vacancy announcements, performing applicant reviews to determine basic qualifications and eligibilities, adjudicating veteran's preference, preparing selection certificates, and processing personnel actions;
• Providing advice to hiring managers on recruitment and placement activities;
• Reviewing and completing various requests for personnel actions and ensuring they are consistent with legal and regulatory requirements; AND
• Delivering high level customer service and responding to actions in a timely manner and in accordance with hiring procedures and timelines. OR

Education: Successful completion of all of the requirements for a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading toward such a degree, or LL.M., if related to this position from an accredited college or university. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed graduate education in an appropriate discipline and experience as described in A and B above, as outlined in the announcement, and when combined equals 100% of the total requirement. Only graduate education in excess of the first full two (2) years can be credited for the combination.

You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess at least One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing these duties:

• Researching complex recruitment and placement problems or complaints to identify the cause and initiate actions to resolve;
• Providing technical advice to hiring managers and agency leadership on recruitment and placement activities;
• Explaining regulations, procedures, and determinations to inquiring employees, candidates, and supervisors; AND
• Conducting end to end hiring actions, including but not limited to reviewing position descriptions, conducting job analysis, developing vacancy announcements, performing applicant reviews to determine basic qualifications and eligibilities, adjudicating veterans' preference, preparing selection certificates, setting pay for various positions, validating selections prior to extending job offers and processing personnel actions.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. 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.

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.

If you are qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. The "Rule of Three", Category Rating, and Veterans Preference will not apply to this vacancy. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans: Although the Direct Hire Authority permits hiring without regard to Veterans Preference, applicants who are eligible for Veterans Preference are still encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). Staffing Policy View information on veterans' preference.

Federal Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP/RPL/ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not eligible for consideration as a CTAP, RPL, ICTAP candidate. Visit the OPM website for information on eligibility and how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP candidate. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements, specialized experience, all selective factors, and be placed in the well qualified category for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564, and the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan, ICE is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions (testing designated positions) are subject to random drug testing. Moreover, other drug testing of employees (e.g., reasonable suspicion drug test) may be conducted in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. All applicants tentatively selected for employment at ICE are subject to pre-employment drug testing and a final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result.