Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current permanent VA employees of legacy VISN 5.

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VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Specialist Total Rewards

Major Duties:

• Provides staff level management advisory service to Network and field facilities on a full range of employee (ER) and labor (LR) relations issues. Resolves difficult and complex problems which could have a direct impact on the Department mission. Works closely with staff and operational officials, employee groups, etc., to develop and explore labor relations alternatives to improve policies, techniques and procedures. Analyzes, evaluates, and develops major aspects of agency-wide labor relations programs that require isolating and defining unknown conditions, resolving critical problems, and developing new concepts and methodologies; and resolving issues of sensitivity and potential controversy that may promote advances in principal human resources program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones. The work establishes precedents for other technical experts to follow and may influence and persuade top management officials to change major human resources policies or procedures.
• Serves as a staff subject matter expert (SME) to other consultants handling negotiations that typically involve the development of new approaches; and serves as a technical advisor to management on the potential impact of negotiations and third-party decisions, charges of unfair labor practices, negotiability issues, and impasse resolutions as they relate to organizational and mission goals.
• Reviews issuances from Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Veterans Affairs (VA), Headquarters (HQ) Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP), Department of Labor (DOL), etc., and develops implementing instructions for use by the VISN. Coordinates the application and implementation of new guidance and assures general consistency in interpretation. Assures sound and consistent application of regulatory guidance and procedures. Recommends and/or writes supportable grievance decisions. Determines proper response to higher echelon requests for data/information and coordinates or performs the gathering and compilation of same. Serves as specialist/troubleshooter with independent responsibility for providing advice on very difficult problems presented by all levels of managers for their resolution by their respective organizations. Reviews all Medical Center Memoranda for potential bargaining unit impact and designs approaches to fulfilling bargaining obligations.
• Prepares responses to proposed policies, and standards of higher authority regarding ER and/or LR issues. These can include requests from members of Congress, Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), FLRA and FSIP, and the OPM. Ensures that the impacts of proposals are thoroughly considered by management officials and that VA views and needs are adequately represented. Provides professional advice to other Network HR specialists presenting cases in similar venues. May serve as a SME representative or key witness in third-party proceedings as necessary.
• The incumbent must also apply an unusual degree of insight and technical competence to recognize and accomplish management objectives without sacrificing fundamental principles. The incumbent must have the stature, foresight, maturity, and ability to negotiate and reach amicable solutions to complex and controversial problems.
• Reviews requests and submits justification for those ER/LR actions requiring approval by Network Director, VHA, VA or higher authority, then takes appropriate action, and prepares necessary correspondence.
• Actively participates in applicable VISN Performance Improvement Committees and VISN Leadership Committees providing support to facilities in the form of guidance, recommendations, and solutions to achieve and sustain a high level of performance
• regarding all measures related to employee relations, performance management and recognition. In addition, represents the VISN in facility-level executive meetings as needed.

Work Schedule: 8 AM to 4:30 PM
Compressed/Flexible: available
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: VISN (ER/LR) Exec Support HR Specialist (Temporary Promotion-NTE 1 year)/PD99988S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/21/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

The BASIC REQUIREMENT for the HR Specialist GS-0201 series is presumed met if found qualified at the GS-0201-7 level and above.

To qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, you must meet one of the following listed Criteria:
Criteria 1- Graduate Degree and Specialized Experience: Successful completion of a graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector.

Qualifying specialized experience includes:
Extensive knowledge of the principles, concepts, laws and regulations of Employee Relations, Labor Relations and ADR principles, concepts, practices and techniques and considering their relationship to management objectives, as well as seasoned consultative skills sufficient to:

• Serve as a staff advisor/technical expert advisor.
• Provide advisory services from an ER/LR perspective in regard to: modernization, mobilization/contingency planning, recruitment and placements, compensation, position classification, human resource development, labor relations, and management and employee relations.
• Plan and conduct ER/LR program reviews to evaluate program effectiveness and conformance with laws, regulations, policies and accepted practices.
• Knowledge of the national collective bargaining agreements and national level midterm bargaining agreements affecting operational and personnel issues.
• Knowledge of conflict resolution techniques.
• Extensive knowledge of broad labor relations concepts, principles and practices, including non-traditional collaborative approaches to labor relations, labor-management partnership, alternative dispute resolution, interest-based bargaining, and facilitation, provide advisory services on issues pertaining to the potential impact of negotiations and third party decisions concerning management rights as defined in statute. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

~OR~

Criteria 2- Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge, concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the HR specialty areas.

Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector.

Qualifying specialized experience includes:
Mastery of the principles, concepts, laws and regulations of Employee Relations, Labor Relations and ADR principles, concepts, practices and techniques and considering their relationship to management objectives, as well as seasoned consultative skills sufficient to:

• Serve as a staff advisor/technical expert advisor.
• Provide advisory services from an ER/LR perspective in regard to: modernization, mobilization/contingency planning, recruitment and placements, compensation, position classification, human resource development, labor relations, and management and employee relations.
• Plan and conduct ER/LR program reviews to evaluate program effectiveness and conformance with laws, regulations, policies and accepted practices.
• Knowledge of the national collective bargaining agreements and national level midterm bargaining agreements affecting operational and personnel issues.
• Knowledge of conflict resolution techniques.
• Mastery of broad labor relations concepts, principles and practices, including non-traditional collaborative approaches to labor relations, labor-management partnership, alternative dispute resolution, interest-based bargaining, and facilitation, provide advisory services on issues pertaining to the potential impact of negotiations and third party decisions concerning management rights as defined in statute.

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How you will be evaluated

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

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR 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; religions; 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the legacy VISN-5