Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. Due to the potential of a high volume of applicants, not all applicants may receive consideration. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Many', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

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As a Human Resources Specialist (ELR), you will:

• Analyze complex Employee and Labor Relations (ER/LR) issues to identify root causes, resolve workforce challenges, and deliver strategic guidance to employees, supervisors, and management.
• Administer, evaluate, and maintain agency ER/LR programs, including negotiating agreements and supporting collaborative labor-management partnerships.
• Manage core HR program areas, including Performance Management, Performance Awards, Telework policy administration, and Leave programs.
• Oversee and facilitate the agency’s Drug Testing Program in compliance with federal regulations and established agency guidelines.

The ideal candidate is a Human Resources professional with demonstrated expertise in providing comprehensive guidance to managers on complex Employee and Labor Relations matters. They possess strong problem-solving skills to resolve intricate workplace issues and a proactive mindset for driving process improvements within HR operations.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Direct Hire Authority/SME will be used to fill this position

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

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 the 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.

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel.  A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify on for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09, it must include:

• Experience assisting with research on regulations, case law, and agency policies to draft preliminary responses or documentation for performance, conduct, discipline, grievances, or appeals, AND
• Experience assisting supervisors and employees with processing routine performance, leave, and telework actions in accordance with established statutory and regulatory guidelines.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:

• 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
• You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience.  This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.  

To qualify on for the GS-12, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11, it must include:

• Experience managing daily administration for agency Human Resources programs such as Performance Management, Telework, Leave, or Drug Testing Program, AND
• Experience researching, providing technical guidance, and drafting official documentation for employee performance actions, misconduct, disciplinary actions, adverse action, grievance, and appeals, AND
• Experience advising managers and supervisors on employee and labor relations requirements, management rights, and obligations under statutes, collective bargaining agreements, and agency practices.

You cannot qualify on education at this level, you must have experience.

To qualify on for the GS-13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include:

• Experience establishing program priorities, evaluating agency-wide ER/LR operations, and ensuring full compliance with statutory, regulatory, and collective bargaining obligations, AND
• Experience conducting factual research, third-party investigations, and analysis to recommend formal decisions on contested performance actions, disciplinary/adverse actions, grievances, and administrative appeals, AND
• Experience serving as an advisor to senior leadership on within-grade increase denials, unsatisfactory performance ratings, third-party hearings, and labor negotiations.

You cannot qualify on education at this level, you must have experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs):  Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Employee and Labor Relations: Knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, case law, principles, and practices related to employee conduct, performance, dispute resolution, and practices related to negotiating and administering labor agreements.
• Performance Management and Awards: Knowledge of performance management concepts, principles, and practices related to planning, monitoring, rating, and rewarding employee performance. Knowledge of awards processing, procedures, and policies.
• Drug Testing and Alternative Work Program: Knowledge of executive orders and policies regarding Federal Mandated Drug Testing Programs. Ability to identify Testing Designated Positions (TDPs), and chain-of-custody protocols. Knowledge of telework legislation, federal/corporate alternative work schedule (AWS) options (e.g., flextime, compressed workweeks), FLSA regulations, and remote-work policy design. Knowledge of the federal workers' compensation laws, OSHA reporting standards, medical terminology, and case management procedures.
• Oral and Written Communication: Knowledge of how to effectively express facts, ideas, or opinions to groups, managers, and senior leadership. Makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. 

For all types of consideration, 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, religious, 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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link:  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

For this announcement, applications will be reviewed to determine if the applicant meets the basic qualifications for this position. The applications of individuals who meet the basic qualifications will be assessed to validate that the applicant possesses the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) at the level of proficiency needed to perform the job successfully. Applicants who are found to possess the necessary KSAs to perform the job may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

To receive full credit during evaluation, your assessment responses must explicitly point back to your resume, as HR cannot make assumptions about your experience. You must write your narrative answers in full paragraph format, beginning each response with the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full-time/part-time, average hours worked per week, and federal series/grade (if applicable) as listed on your resume. Within the paragraph, clearly describe your specific individual duties, actions taken, tools used, and measurable outcomes to prove your level of expertise. HR will cross-check your narrative against your resume; if your resume does not fully support every detail and timeframe claimed in your written response, the claimed experience will be disallowed, which may result in an ineligible determination.

You will not be considered for the position if any part of the application or supporting documentation is incomplete.  Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or adverse action after hiring.  

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.