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Human Resources Specialist

General Services Administration
Office of Human Resources Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

As a Human Resources Specialist, you will be responsible for providing advice and guidance to management and employees regarding the full range of employee relations issues.

Location of position: GSA, Office of Human Resources Management, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX; Denver/Lakewood, CO; Kansas City, MO; Raleigh, NC; Tacoma, WA; Washington, DC

We are currently filling two vacancies, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/04/2025 to 12/10/2025
Salary
$90,067 to - $131,826 per year

Locality pay will be determined upon selection.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Locations
Few vacancies in the following locations:
Lakewood, CO
Few vacancies
Washington, DC
Few vacancies
Kansas City, MO
Few vacancies
Raleigh, NC
Few vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—This position is full-time in the office. In rare instances, situational telework may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13 - Full Performance Level (FPL) is GS-13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CR-2026-0002
Control number
851571300

Duties

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As a Human Resources Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Perform analytical research, fact-finding, interviewing, recommending solutions and innovative changes in procedures, and resolve complex, controversial and sensitive employee relations issues with a high degree of independence. Review and recommend appropriate action on complex and controversial employee relations issues. Research past agency practices for similar actions and uses this knowledge to frame disciplinary charges that will withstand third-party scrutiny.
  • Determine methods for fact-finding; interpret a variety of guidelines; resolve conflicts in the facts or the guidelines as necessary; and, determine the best method to present findings and recommendations to management. Advise managers and supervisors on the appropriateness of a disciplinary based action given the severity of the action, the type of offense in question, past practices of the organization, the potential implications/ramifications of the proposed action, unforeseen issues (i.e., medical issues), mitigating factors pertinent to the pending disciplinary case and alternative options (such as proposing alternative dispute resolution).
  • Present findings and recommendations to management when providing advice and assistance. Provide advice and guidance to managers/supervisors related to all phases of the performance management process. Provide technical advice to supervisors regarding the intent and procedures of the awards and recognition program. May participate as an agency representative during alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings. Recommend, prepare and conduct supervisory training and training materials to address employee relations issues (i.e., documenting conduct issues, framing charges, deciphering between formal/informal conduct related matters, leave abuse, and similar matters).
  • Address complex issues and questions pertaining to hours of work, and the leave administration program, including flexible and compressed work schedules, telework, hours of work/provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, leave without pay (LWOP), military leave, annual leave, sick leave, court leave, administrative leave, the leave transfer program, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)/Family Friendly Leave Act (FFL), etc.
  • Advise managers/supervisors on appropriate steps when an employee’s performance diminishes or falls below the fully successful level. Work with the manager/supervisor to effectively place the employee on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). Review the employee's performance plan, assisting the manager/supervisor in developing the components of a PIP to ensure the manager/supervisor is performing his/her part during the process with the employee, and advising the manager/supervisor as to the appropriate options if the employee fails to improve performance under the PIP.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
  • Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
  • Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable
  • Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
  • Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level).
  • Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee.  We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

  • the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year)
  • number of hours per week you worked (if part time).    

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

The GS-12 salary range starts at $90,067 per year. Locality pay will be determined upon selection.

If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.  

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is experience independently providing advice and assistance to managers and employees for several organizational components of an organization on matters related to: discipline and conduct; performance management; awards; developing performance standards; adverse actions; and experience developing and recommending policies and procedures on employee relations issues.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.

If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage.
Since you will be selected at a grade lower than the full performance level, you may be promoted up to that grade level without having to re-apply or compete against other applicants.

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.  

On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved:

  • Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government

Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.

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.

A panel of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review the resumes of qualified candidates and assign a score for each of the five required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) based on the experience documented in the resume and narrative responses.

  1. Ability to conduct extensive research into laws, regulations, and case law to provide sound advice to managers/supervisors in employee relations matters, and posture the agency’s ability to defend the proposed disciplinary or performance based action in any third party review.
  2. Ability to identify and interpret facts and identify mitigating issues relevant to proposed disciplinary and/or performance-related cases.
  3. Skill in oral communications to present and negotiate sensitive recommendations to managers/supervisors in highly charged emotional cases, to obtain compliance with policies and to articulate positions/policy of technical complexity.
  4. Knowledge of employee relations principles, practices, regulations and legislation sufficient to provide complex technical advice, guidance and options to managers/supervisors regarding leave administration, work schedules and hours of work, telework, medical issues and similar employee relations programs.
  5. Ability and skill in utilizing performance management principles and practices as a tool to help managers/supervisors manage and improve employee performance.

Demonstration of these KSAs must be supported by your resume. Applicants should also make note of each KSA, as you will be asked to address them later in the application process.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume so that information will be taken into consideration during the selection process.  If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

If you are eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or GSA’s Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), your resume must clearly demonstrate experience in at least 3 of the 5 required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) to receive priority consideration.


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