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Human Resources Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Office of Human Resources (OHR)

Summary

Join our team and help shape the policies and programs that support NIH's world-class scientific and administrative workforce. We are seeking HR professionals with expertise in recruitment, compensation, classification, and policy under Title 5 and Title 42 authorities. Our work ensures fair, consistent, compliant, and innovative human capital practices that enable NIH to recruit, retain, and support exceptional talent.

Overview

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Posted today · Apply by 07/27/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 27, 2026
This job will close when we have received 500 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Location
Few vacancies in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$77,983 - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 13
Promotion potential
13
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
NIH-OHR-MP-26-13005693
Control number
877216100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

You must be a current or former federal employee eligible to apply under merit promotion procedures or otherwise be eligible as a status applicant (e.g., Veterans Employment Opportunity Act) OR be an individual who is eligible through an OPM interchange agreement or for a non-competitive appointment. This job is also open to USPHS Commissioned Corps Officers and Call-To-Active Duty (CAD) Candidates.

Duties

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This announcement will be used to fill several Human Resources vacancies within the following offices: Client Services Division (CSD), Compensation and Policy Division (CPD) and other divisions within OHR.

The Client Services Division (CSD) serves as the primary provider of human resources operational services for the NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs). As a HR Specialist in CSD, you will work in a collaborative and fast-paced environment providing expert consultation, technical guidance, and comprehensive HR services across the employee lifecycle. This includes strategic recruitment, staffing, delegated examining, position classification, and Commissioned Corps human resources. HR Specialists partner with NIH managers, supervisors, employees, and colleagues across the Office of Human Resources (OHR) to deliver responsive, customer-focused human capital solutions that support NIH's mission.

The Compensation and Policy Division (CPD) serves as NIH's center of expertise for compensation, position management, and human resources policy. As an HR Specialist in CPD, you will provide expert consultation and authoritative guidance on complex position management, compensation, and policy issues affecting a diverse scientific and administrative workforce. Working collaboratively with NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs), you will interpret Federal HR laws and regulations, develop innovative solutions to challenging workforce issues, and help shape policies that ensure equitable, compliant, and mission-focused human capital practices across the NIH.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.

Qualifications

You qualify at the GS-11 level, if you meet one of the following qualification requirements:
You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks:
providing advice and guidance to managers and employees on recruitment and placement processes; utilizing automated human resources staffing systems to perform recruitment functions, including reviewing, rating, and ranking applications; preparing job opportunity announcements and qualification determinations; applying Federal staffing laws, regulations, and policies to recruitment actions; classifying positions into occupations based on their duties and responsibilities; and assisting managers with filling vacant positions and resolving routine
staffing and classification issues.;
OR
B. Completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in an accredited or pre-accredited college or university; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, if related;
OR
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience that meets the qualification requirements for this position.

You qualify at the GS-12 level, if you meet the following qualification requirement:
You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: serving as a human resources consultant and advisor to management officials on recruitment, staffing, classification, and compensation matters; advising on and applying pay-setting authorities, compensation flexibilities, and monetary and non-monetary incentives; conducting position classification and position management reviews to determine appropriate occupational series, title, and grade levels; developing job analyses, assessment strategies, and specialized experience statements; evaluating recruitment metrics and workforce data to identify trends and recommend process improvements; and interpreting and applying Federal human resources laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to resolve complex staffing and classification issues.

You qualify at the GS-13 level, if you meet the following qualification requirement:
You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: Independently determining applicant eligibility and qualifications for Federal positions by applying OPM qualification standards, selective placement factors, and Federal staffing regulations, and serving as the final authority on qualification determinations. Making final veterans' preference determinations and adjudicating eligibility for appointment, referral, and selection actions in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and OPM guidance. Reviewing, certifying, and issuing certificates of eligibles and referral lists, ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance of recruitment actions prior to release to selecting officials. Reviewing and approving personnel actions and supporting documentation for accuracy, legal sufficiency, and compliance with Federal human resources laws, regulations, policies, and procedures prior to processing.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13005693

Education

If you qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience, you are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application packages. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Additional information

  • This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
  • Military Spouses selected from this announcement will remain in their current duty location (i.e., the official duty station of the military service member
  • At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: telework compressed schedules, flexible schedules.
  • PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration.
  • Visit Help Applying for helpful information on the application process.
  • 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 the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: Reasonable Accommodation Information.
  • Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies:

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

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The position(s) advertised in this announcement are covered by the agency's Reemployment Priority List (RPL). RPL candidates will be rated, placed into one of the quality categories below, and referred to the hiring office, once veterans' preference is applied. · Qualified · Well Qualified · Best Qualified

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least 80 points on the assessment(s) and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

National Institutes of Health

Agency contact information

Julie Vazquez
Phone
301-435-8721
Email
vazquezje@mail.nih.gov
Address
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
US

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https://hr.nih.gov/working-nih/work-life

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