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Human Resources Specialist

Department of State
Department of State - Agency Wide

Summary

This position is located in the Bureau of Personnel and Training (PERT), Office of Organization and Talent Analytics (OTA), Systems Oversight Division (SOD).  OTA/SOD provides a number of services in the areas of policy, reporting, compliance services, resource management, application support, and organizational analysis.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/13/2026 to 03/27/2026
Salary
$102,415 to - $133,142 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Announcement number
M/PERT-MPI-2026-0018
Control number
861061100

Duties

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  • Provides client Bureaus two more of the following Human Resource functions: staff acquisition, organization and position management, compensation management, benefits management, performance management, separation and/or information systems.
  • Initiates all requests for personnel actions for Foreign and Civil Service, ensuring accurate preparations and accomplishment of purpose.
  • Serves as a key member on teams of HR Specialists who participate in the development and evaluation of new or revised Department policies, procedures, and regulations.
  • Reviews requests for recruitment and advises management on recruitment strategies, sources and special programs which emphasize affirmative action in staffing positions.
  • Maintains liaison with Departmental human resources and financial systems on matters relating to staffing, employee relations and benefits, position classification, pay benefits.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. 

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

Applicants applying for the GS-12 must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

  • Experience processing a variety of personnel actions in GEMS (Global Employment Management Systems), to include promotions, reassignments, recalculation of service computation dates, and leave without pay (LWOP) related actions.  Your experience should show attention to detail, accuracy, and thoroughness. 
  • Experience providing guidance and answering questions on personnel actions to include benefits, retirements, COLA (cost of living adjustment), MSIs (Meritorious Service Increases), and awards.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position.

To be considered well-qualified, in addition to meeting minimum qualifications, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all of the major aspects of the position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

  • For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at OAA@state.gov.
  • If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. 
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.  If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in this Bureau for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance.  Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
  • Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM’s  CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. 

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.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume limited to two pages will be conducted and evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications for this position. The evaluation process consists of an online assessment and a subject matter expert review of your resume. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:

  • Knowledge of civil and foreign service Human Resources policy and programs
  • Ability to provide advisory services to management officials.
  • Skill in applying, a wide range of advanced HR principles, concepts, laws regulations and practices.
  • Knowledge of techniques used to evaluate programs and policies.
  • Skill in providing advisory services relating to personnel action processing.

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration.

Resume review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. Your resume should demonstrate how you meet all aspects of the specialized experience statement. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened.). If meeting basic qualifications through education only or a combination of education and experience, applicants will not be referred to the SME panel but will be reviewed by the HR Specialist for referral. 

Agency Career and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be considered well-qualified for the position and submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement to receive consideration for selection priority. To be considered well-qualified, in addition to meeting minimum qualifications, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all of the major aspects of the position.


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