This announcement is open to current permanent (DoD) Department of Defense Employees with Career or Career Conditional status within the (DoD) Department of Defense, Military Spouse Preference eligible, ICTAP eligible , and Veteran Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) eligible veterans.
Additional positions may be filled from this announcement.
Additional positions may be filled from this announcement.
As a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations & Labor Relations), you will be responsible for the
following duties: (If selected at the GS-11 level, duties will be performed in a developmental capacity)
Provide guidance and support on management-employee relations, including discipline, adverse actions, grievances, performance management, recognition, and employee counseling.
Advise managers on interpreting Agency policies and address a wide range of HR issues such as substance abuse, sexual harassment, work hours, working-condition changes, job stress, leave administration, and pay entitlements.
Assist the Office of General Counsel in preparing and presenting cases before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and in arbitration proceedings.
Research background information, prepare formal responses for disciplinary actions, and maintain complete, accurate case files to support proposed or final actions.
Develop or support the development of management-employee relations programs, and create or revise Agency-wide policies, program guidance, and procedures.
This position offers promotion potential to a higher grade. To prepare you for the higher grade, work assignments will be progressively more complex. After meeting all qualifications and requirements for the next grade level and with your supervisor's recommendation, you may be promoted without further competition. However, promotion is neither guaranteed nor automatic.
Read the entire announcement before starting the application process.
Meet minimum age requirement. See Additional Information.
Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
May be subject to successful verification of identity and employment eligibility through E-Verify. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
May be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as required. New federal employees will be fingerprinted.
Be able to obtain and maintain clearance eligibility based on the appropriate background investigation.
May be subject to a probationary/trial period.
Direct deposit of pay is required.
Qualifications
To Qualify for a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations & Labor Relations), your resume and supporting
documentation must support:
A. Creditable specialized experience includes: GS-11
Provide advisory support on routine conduct, performance, attendance, grievance, and basic labor-relations issues under guidance.
Research federal HR laws, regulations, FLRA/MSPB decisions, and Agency policies to support ER/LR actions and recommendations.
Draft disciplinary and grievance documentation, case summaries, and labor-relations correspondence for review by senior specialists.
Assist with labor-management activities by identifying bargaining obligations, supporting I&I discussions, and responding to routine union inquiries.
GS-12
Provide expert guidance on complex ER/LR matters, including adverse actions, performance-based actions, grievances, and bargaining obligations.
Conduct fact-finding and analysis, including interviews and credibility assessments, to recommend legally defensible ER/LR strategies.
Represent management in MSPB appeals, arbitration, ULP investigations, and other third-party proceedings, preparing complete case files.
Develop Agency-wide ER/LR policies, performance tools, and bargaining strategies aligned with OPM regulations, FLRA precedent, and federal requirements.
B. Education Substitution: Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the
work. Education must be from a college or university accredited by an organization approved by the U.S.
Department of Education. See http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx. If using education to meet basic
qualifications, YOU MUST SUBMIT A TRANSCRIPT as supplemental documentation. To qualify based on
education in lieu of specialized experience, you must possess:
GS-11: Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level
graduate education leading to such a degree.
GS-12: There is no education substitution at this level.
C. Combination: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to
meet total qualification requirements for grade level GS-11 and may be computed by first determining
the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then
determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then
adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that
grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used
to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-11.
Time-in-grade applies to the promotion of current and former federal employees who hold or have held a
permanent GS position in either the competitive or excepted service in the previous 52 weeks, including current
employees applying under VEOA. Your application package must contain proof you meet this requirement. See
Required Documents for more information.
o For GS-11: You must have 52 weeks of Federal service at or equivalent to GS-09.
o For GS-12: You must have 52 weeks of Federal Service at or equivalent to GS-11
Time after competitive appointment. Current federal civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of
federal civilian service since being selected for a non-temporary appointment from a competitive examination
register of eligibles (an announcement opened to the public) or under a direct hire authority.
As part of the online application process, you will respond to a series of questions designed to evaluate your level of experience in these competencies:
Employee Relations
Labor Relations
Overtime: Occasional Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): GS-12 Exempt & GS-11 Nonexempt Bargaining Unit Status: Not Covered Those retired under CSRS or FERS considered: No. DoD criteria not met. Telework eligible: Yes, Telework is at discretion of supervisor/Agency Remote work eligible: No
HR does not select or change your eligibility/eligibilities for you, regardless of the supporting documents you submit. You are considered ONLY for the eligibility or eligibilities you select and for which you provide all required supporting documents. You will not be considered if you do not select an eligibility.If you have questions about which eligibility/eligibilities apply to you, contact the HR POC listed on this announcement.
Education
ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts and/or other documentation to support your educational claims.
Transcripts. REQUIRED when using education to meet qualifications or when education is required.
Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.
Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable.
When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities.
Additional information
Executive Order 12564 requires a federal workplace to be free of illegal drugs and prohibits the use of illegal drugs both on and off duty by federal employees. As a reminder, marijuana is still classified as an illegal drug by the Federal government and is prohibited for use by Federal employees even if such use is legal in the state where the Federal employee resides and/or works. The Defense Commissary Agency is a Drug-Free Federal Workplace where the use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated and may result in penalties up to and including removal from Federal service.
The display of a salary range on this announcement does not suggest or convey an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Upon first appointment to a civilian position in the Federal government, you are entitled only to the lowest step (Step 1) of the grade for which selected.
The minimum age requirement is generally 18 years. Employing those under 18 may be possible under certain circumstances. If under 18 years of age, ensure you provide documentation showing how you are eligible.
Applicants with financial difficulty are not automatically removed from consideration.
Selectees are required to complete an online onboarding process.
Retired military service members cannot be appointed to a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian position within 180 days of their retirement date. 5 United States Code 3326.
PCS maybe authorized.
Most civilian PCS entitlements are now taxable. The Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) reimburses eligible employees for additional Federal, State, and local income taxes incurred as a result of receiving taxable travel income. More information is available at Civilian Relocation/PCS Tax Changes.
The following may result in a rating of ineligible. Ineligible applicants receive no consideration.
Not selecting an eligibility.
Submitting an incomplete application package may result in your not being considered for this position. Your resume must reflect that you are either Part-Time with the number of hours listed, Full Time, or 40 hours per week as your work schedule. If you fail to provide this information in your resume, your resume will be considered as incomplete.
Submitting encrypted documents or uploading Adobe portfolio documents.
Submitting any document that contains a photo or image of you.
Including social media links, inappropriate material or content, classified or government sensitive information, or personal information such as age, gender, race, religion, or social security number on your resume.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials.
Deliberately attempting to falsify your application information, such as copying portions of this announcement into your resume.
Appointment Eligibility Criteria. You choose how you wish to be considered for this position by selecting one or more of the eligibilities listed in the Assessment Questionnaire ANDproviding the supporting documents for the selected eligibility/eligibilities. Required documents are listed in the eligibility description. You are responsible for providing the documents required to prove you can be considered for the selected eligibility/eligibilities.
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.
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.
HR reviews your resume and supporting documents to determine if you meet the qualifications and requirements, and to determine if you meet the eligibility/eligibilities you selected. Your questionnaire score is a preliminary measure of how well your background matches the competencies. If you submit multiple resumes, the last one received is used for this evaluation and sent to the hiring manager if you are referred for selection consideration.
Your resume must thoroughly describe how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the Qualifications section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. We do not assume you have the necessary experience to successfully perform in this job regardless of your employment history or academic career.
At a minimum, your resume MUST contain your name, address, and contact information, and the following for each listed job experience: Job title; Series and grade, if it is a federal civilian position; Employer's name and address; Employment beginning and ending dates (Month/Year); Number of hours worked per week, and Description of duties performed. DO NOT send a list of competencies or skills in place of a description of the duties performed.
HR refers qualified and appointable applicants to the hiring manager for selection consideration In accordance with DeCA's Merit Promotion Plan. Selections are subject to restrictions of the DoD referral system for displaced employees.
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 AND 2) be rated well-qualified for the position AND 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified means you possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications.
Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the (RGP) eligibility. If you are claiming RGP and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.
Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible (PPP DoD MRNG):In order to receive this preference, you must choose the (PPP DoD MRNG) eligibility, and fill out and submit the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation.
Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) (PPP MSP): In order to receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the(MSP) (PPP MSP) eligibility. If you are claiming MSP (PPP MSP) and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.
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.
Resume:IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement. The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position. Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job? Page margins should be 0.5 inches, font styles must be legible, and consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text. The resume must not be more than 5MB and should be saved and uploaded as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages.
SF 50 Notification of Personnel Action. All current and former federal civilian employees submit
A copy of your most recent SF 50 showing your current position title, pay plan-series-grade, tenure and position occupied and
When applying for a promotion (higher grade than you currently hold), you must also submit an SF 50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements. Examples of appropriate SF50s include Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old. You may need to submit more than one SF 50 to show you meet this requirement.
To obtain copies of your SF 50s, all current Department of Defense (DoD) employees can access MyBiz, current federal non-DoD employees can access their eOPF, current employees receiving HR servicing from DLA can access eOPF, and former civilian employees can request a copy from the National Archives.
VEOA eligibility: You must provide a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty or other acceptable documentation. The member 4 copy is preferred as it contains key information necessary to adjudicate your claimed preference. DD-214 Worksheets are not acceptable documentation, nor are other than a member 4 copy to which a member 4 Character of Service section is added. Contact the National Archives or your military personnel records center to request a copy of your DD-214.
Current active duty armed forces personnel within 120 days of separation must submit written documentation from the armed forces certifying that the service member is expected to be separated from active duty service not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The document must include the following information: (1) service member's name, (2) date of the expected separation from active duty, (3) expected character of the active duty service at separation, (4) pay grade/rank/rate at separation, (5) dates of active duty service, and (6) any campaign or expeditionary medals received. You must submit the DD-214 when it becomes available.
ICTAP eligibility: Submit (1) a copy of your agency specific ICTAP eligibility notice or a copy of your separation personnel action form and(2) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal and(3) a copy of your most recent SF 50 or agency notification of personnel action showing your current position, grade level, and duty location. Separation personnel actions do not include a certificate/notice of expected separation.
Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP) eligibility: 1. Submit a signed Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist DD3145-1 (whs.mil. 2. a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) effecting the placement in retained grade status; or a copy of the notification letter you received regarding the RIF or classification downgrade.
Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible (PPP DoD MRNG):In order to receive this preference, you must choose the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician eligibility, and fill out and submit the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation.
Military Spouse Preference: Submit (1) the Self-Certification Checklist and(2) proof of marriage to the military service member (e.g., marriage certificate, marriage license), and(3) a copy of the military service member's PCS orders.
Performance Appraisal (Optional). Current and former federal civilian employees, including those of the employing agency, are encouraged to include a copy of their most recent rating of record. Hiring managers may consider performance appraisals in the selection process.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Your complete application package must be received by 11:59 PM ET on 02/17/2026.
You are responsible for verifying your application package is complete, accurate, and submitted timely. As uploaded documents may take one or more hours to clear the virus scan, plan accordingly to ensure your application process is complete and your application package is submitted by the specified closing date and time.
To begin, click Apply to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your resume, required documents, and/or other supporting documents. You need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply or create an account before applying. You will be taken to an online application. Follow all prompts and complete the online application, verify you've included all required and supporting documentation, and submit your application. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application is found at the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To receive consideration, you must complete all steps of the application process.
You can verify your application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, selecting the Application Status link, and then selecting the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page displays your application status, the documents received and processed, and your questionnaire responses.
DECA HQ
1300 Eisenhower Street
Fort Lee, VA 23801
US
Next steps
Notices post to your USAJOBS account and are emailed to you. You can expect to receive a notice when you complete the application process, when your qualifications status is determined (qualified or not qualified), and when your referral status is determined (referred or not). If you are referred but not selected, you can expect to receive a final notice after the hiring manager makes a selection.
The hiring manager may choose to conduct interviews and may conduct telephone interviews to preclude travel hardships for applicants. Someone from the hiring agency (i.e., DeCA) will contact you if the hiring manager decides to interview you.
Should you receive a tentative job offer, be aware such offers are automatically withdrawn if you fail to (1) record an acceptance or declination by the response date provided in the offer notice and/or (2) meet any pre-employment requirements, including a scheduled appointment. If you receive a job offer, use a computer to submit your response rather than a mobile/cell phone.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Resume:IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement. The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position. Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job? Page margins should be 0.5 inches, font styles must be legible, and consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text. The resume must not be more than 5MB and should be saved and uploaded as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages.
SF 50 Notification of Personnel Action. All current and former federal civilian employees submit
A copy of your most recent SF 50 showing your current position title, pay plan-series-grade, tenure and position occupied and
When applying for a promotion (higher grade than you currently hold), you must also submit an SF 50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements. Examples of appropriate SF50s include Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old. You may need to submit more than one SF 50 to show you meet this requirement.
To obtain copies of your SF 50s, all current Department of Defense (DoD) employees can access MyBiz, current federal non-DoD employees can access their eOPF, current employees receiving HR servicing from DLA can access eOPF, and former civilian employees can request a copy from the National Archives.
VEOA eligibility: You must provide a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty or other acceptable documentation. The member 4 copy is preferred as it contains key information necessary to adjudicate your claimed preference. DD-214 Worksheets are not acceptable documentation, nor are other than a member 4 copy to which a member 4 Character of Service section is added. Contact the National Archives or your military personnel records center to request a copy of your DD-214.
Current active duty armed forces personnel within 120 days of separation must submit written documentation from the armed forces certifying that the service member is expected to be separated from active duty service not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The document must include the following information: (1) service member's name, (2) date of the expected separation from active duty, (3) expected character of the active duty service at separation, (4) pay grade/rank/rate at separation, (5) dates of active duty service, and (6) any campaign or expeditionary medals received. You must submit the DD-214 when it becomes available.
ICTAP eligibility: Submit (1) a copy of your agency specific ICTAP eligibility notice or a copy of your separation personnel action form and(2) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal and(3) a copy of your most recent SF 50 or agency notification of personnel action showing your current position, grade level, and duty location. Separation personnel actions do not include a certificate/notice of expected separation.
Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP) eligibility: 1. Submit a signed Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist DD3145-1 (whs.mil. 2. a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) effecting the placement in retained grade status; or a copy of the notification letter you received regarding the RIF or classification downgrade.
Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible (PPP DoD MRNG):In order to receive this preference, you must choose the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician eligibility, and fill out and submit the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation.
Military Spouse Preference: Submit (1) the Self-Certification Checklist and(2) proof of marriage to the military service member (e.g., marriage certificate, marriage license), and(3) a copy of the military service member's PCS orders.
Performance Appraisal (Optional). Current and former federal civilian employees, including those of the employing agency, are encouraged to include a copy of their most recent rating of record. Hiring managers may consider performance appraisals in the selection process.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Your complete application package must be received by 11:59 PM ET on 02/17/2026.
You are responsible for verifying your application package is complete, accurate, and submitted timely. As uploaded documents may take one or more hours to clear the virus scan, plan accordingly to ensure your application process is complete and your application package is submitted by the specified closing date and time.
To begin, click Apply to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your resume, required documents, and/or other supporting documents. You need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply or create an account before applying. You will be taken to an online application. Follow all prompts and complete the online application, verify you've included all required and supporting documentation, and submit your application. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application is found at the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To receive consideration, you must complete all steps of the application process.
You can verify your application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, selecting the Application Status link, and then selecting the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page displays your application status, the documents received and processed, and your questionnaire responses.
DECA HQ
1300 Eisenhower Street
Fort Lee, VA 23801
US
Next steps
Notices post to your USAJOBS account and are emailed to you. You can expect to receive a notice when you complete the application process, when your qualifications status is determined (qualified or not qualified), and when your referral status is determined (referred or not). If you are referred but not selected, you can expect to receive a final notice after the hiring manager makes a selection.
The hiring manager may choose to conduct interviews and may conduct telephone interviews to preclude travel hardships for applicants. Someone from the hiring agency (i.e., DeCA) will contact you if the hiring manager decides to interview you.
Should you receive a tentative job offer, be aware such offers are automatically withdrawn if you fail to (1) record an acceptance or declination by the response date provided in the offer notice and/or (2) meet any pre-employment requirements, including a scheduled appointment. If you receive a job offer, use a computer to submit your response rather than a mobile/cell phone.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
