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Human Resources Specialist (ER/LR)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Desert Pacific Healthcare Network - VISN 22 Human Resources Management Service

Summary

Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 22 Desert Pacific Healthcare Network is seeking a Human Resources Specialist (Employee & Labor Relations). The primary purpose of this position is to serve as an expert who provides technical guidance and draft disciplinary actions for management officials to all Network employees.

Overview

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Accepting applications
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$61,722 - $116,362 per year

Salary is based on the General Schedule - Rest of the U.S. - and will be adjusted based on the actual location of the selectee.

Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Promotion potential
12
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
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
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
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
CAZJ-13043290-26-MG
Control number
882565100

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Duties

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

Duties:

Employee Relations - 50%

  • Incumbent provides technical guidance, advice and counseling to management officials and supervisors to address issues with workforce-related conduct and performance.
  • Advises on employee relation matters to include coordination and oversight of fact finding, technical advisor to investigation boards, contract/master agreement interpretation, state licensure reviews, Drug Free Workplace, and third-party hearing representation.
  • Provides local training to supervisors.
  • Represents management on labor topics to include issue grievances, demand to bargain, unfair labor practice, arbitration.

Labor Relations - 50%

  • Provides technical guidance, advice and counseling to management officials and supervisors on labor law and master agreement interpretation.
  • Develops management strategies to respond to labor issues.
  • Offers technical guidance, information and assistance to management and senior leadership officials on sensitive, serious, and controversial labor relations issues regarding employees in a wide variety of administrative and clinical occupations with substantial differences in working conditions, entitlement, and occupational practices and policies.
  • Responds to issue grievances, demands to bargain, impasse proceedings, local bargaining, unfair labor practices, drug testing and related functions.
  • Provides management with interpretation of policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements.
  • Researches and interprets legal and regulatory program guidance, including case law, United States Code, Code of Federal Regulations, and VA Handbooks and Directives.
  • Serves as subject matter expert regarding policies and procedures pertaining to Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) and Federal Services Impasses Panel (FSIP).
  • Plans and implements actions to satisfy obligations to bargain in good faith, performs thorough analysis of policies and practices, and ensures that policies and practices promote partnering to prevent unfair labor practices.
  • Negotiates local labor agreements and drafts memorandum of understanding.
  • Represents management at arbitrations and in situations involving proceedings before other third-parties, as appropriate.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Pacific Time Zone (Tour of Duty may be negotiable upon selection)
Compressed/Flexible: Yes, upon supervisor's discretion.
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Specialist (ER/LR)/PD99976S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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

Requirements

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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 will be required to serve a 1-year probationary or 2-year trial 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 or trial 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, 09/04/2026.

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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7.
For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9.
For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11.

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-9 level, you must meet one of the following:
Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 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:

  • Knowledge of a wide range of methods, principles, and practices commonly used in the employee and labor relations process;
  • Knowledge of or experience within an unionized organization sufficient to:
    • Advise management officials on various types of employee management actions including leave management, performance management and discipline;
    • Advise on the procedural and regulatory requirements governing the employee and labor relations process;
  • Interpret and analyze basic issues of fact and law and develop and prepare clear explanations of case facts; and
  • Draft labor, performance, or corrective actions.
~OR~
Education: Successful completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher- level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. ~OR~
Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above, to meet the total requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 level, you must meet one of the following:
Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 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:
  • Skill in interpreting, laws, regulations, policies, collective bargaining agreements, and employee relation functions sufficient to:
    • Provide comprehensive employee and labor relations services to include drafting all levels of discipline;
    • Coordinate with and advise supervisors and managers on technical issues involving disciplinary, adverse and all other relevant corrective actions.
    • Must possess knowledge of, and skill in applying, collective bargaining agreements and related principles, concepts, laws, regulations, techniques, and guidelines sufficient to support an organization's employee and labor relations program, including negotiation with labor representatives and representing management in arbitration or other discipline appeal forums;
    • Provide training to other ELR employees and Supervisors on same.
. ~OR~
Education: Successful completion of a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. ~OR~
Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first two years) and specialized experience, as described above, to meet the total requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position.


***QUALIFICAITONS CONTINUED BELOW***

Education

*** QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED***

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 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-09 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:

  • Expert-level knowledge and skill to advise management on employee relations concepts, principles, practices, and case law;
  • Conduct analyses on a variety of complex issues utilizing research, interviews, and observations;
  • Determines appropriate corrective actions;
  • Provide training and communication to management on agency-wide labor relations and employee relations policies and procedures;
  • Independently represent management in third-party proceedings/arbitration;
  • Knowledge of performance management concepts, principles and practices related to planning, monitoring, rating and rewarding employee performance.
~OR~
Criteria 2- Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 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:
  • Expert-level knowledge, skill in applying and analytical skill to advise management and employees on employee relations concepts, principles, practices, and case law (e.g., related to policy development, prohibited HR practices, and third-party powers and procedures);
  • Skill in researching case law, research complex facts in order to draw conclusions and solutions to complex legal issues, problems and situations;
  • Skill in applying the full range of labor relations theories, principles, methods and techniques to conduct studies for management and respond to union interests at the bargaining table;
  • Provide training and communication to management on agency-wide labor relations and employee relations policies and procedures;
  • Independently represent management in third-party proceedings;
  • Knowledge of how other government agencies' rules and regulations impact the Department of Veterans Affairs;
  • Skilled in fact-finding and investigation boards, interviewing, and case management techniques to advise on and/or conduct investigations.
  • Advise and provide technically accurate interpretations of local negotiated agreements and provisions to reconcile conflicting technical viewpoints.
  • Serve as principal point of contact on labor management matters of overall concern to established bargaining units at the local level.


Qualifying education for the GS-0201 series includes courses and programs in HR, HR development, HR management, business, business management/administration, industrial relations, labor relations, industrial psychology, organizational psychology, organizational development, management, organizational behavior, pre-law/law, legal studies, health care management/administration, public administration, public policy, human services, leadership and/or humanities.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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 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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

Agency contact information

Megan Grajeda
Phone
562-844-9475
Email
Megan.Grajeda@va.gov
Address
VHA VISN 22 Human Resources
300 OCEANGATE
SUITE 700
LONG BEACH, CA 90802
US

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