HR Specialist (Employee Relations)

Clarification from the agency

All candidates who are: Current or former federal employees qualifying as Status Candidates, Federal employees currently serving on a VRA, VEOA eligibles, CTAP/ICTAP eligibles, eligible for special hiring authorities (e.g., the Schedule A appointment for persons with disabilities, or covered by an Interchange Agreement), or Land Management employees eligible under Public Law 114-47.

***Important: This vacancy uses a two-phase application process. This is Phase 1 of 2 for this vacancy. To be considered for this position, you must complete both phases of the application process or your application will be considered incomplete. ***

Phase 1: You must first complete and submit your application under this announcement.

Phase 2: After this announcement closes, eligible applicants will receive an email containing an exclusive link to a separate competency assessment announcement. This email will provide details on completing phase 2. You must use that link to complete and submit Phase 2.

You must submit a résumé under both announcements, and both announcements must show Application Submitted for your application to be considered complete. You will receive application status updates only under the Phase 1 announcement.

• Serve as a technical expert and consultant to management, staff on controversial and difficult employee relations problems.
• Review established programs, evaluate their effectiveness, recommend improvements, and redesign as necessary to meet changing objectives.
• Undertake special studies and develop detailed strategies to implement more expeditious methods of accomplishing work in the branch.
• Explore alternative courses of action to accommodate management needs and considerations. Work closely with management officials to gain support and confidence in program initiatives.
• Provide advice and assistance in situations requiring extensive analysis in which the nature and scope of the issues are complex, necessitating careful study in search of innovative solutions to problems in consideration of the needs of management.

Conditions of employment

• All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period. During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated. You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period. Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service. If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated. You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations. Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.
• Must successfully complete a background investigation. Periodic reinvestigation is required no later than five years after selection and at least every succeeding five years.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
• Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.

1. Please refer to "Conditions of Employment."
2. Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
3. Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé.

For the GS-13, you must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

-Experience researching human resources concepts, principles, laws and regulations in order to advise management on appropriate resolutions regarding employee relations and performance management related issues.

Examples of such experience could include:
-Interpreting and applying federal regulations, laws, executive orders, and agency HR policies to resolve employee conduct, performance, and grievance issues; AND
-Conducting research and analysis to provide informed guidance on employee relations; AND
-Independently developing and delivering employee relations training to senior officials; AND
-Drafting legally sufficient disciplinary and performance documentation.

In addition to meeting specialized experience, individuals must meet proficiency levels in each of 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

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application includes your resumé, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your resumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resumé may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Rating: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Accountability, Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Influencing/Negotiating, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork.

Qualifications will be evaluated based on experience in your application relevant to the position's duties, as well as any education or training that may be qualifying. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) may be used in the process of rating and rank applicants. If you meet the minimum eligibility and qualifications, you will advance to the next phase of the assessment process. This phase will include a Writing or Work Sample assessment: You will receive a sample job task or scenario to complete; or, you will provide a writing sample.

This vacancy uses a two-phase application process. You must complete and submit both Phase 1 and Phase 2 to receive consideration. Failure to complete and submit both announcements will result in an incomplete application and no further consideration.Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Phase 1: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas:Accountability, Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Influencing/Negotiating, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork

Phase 2: After this announcement closes, eligible applicants will receive an email containing an exclusive link to a separate work sample assessment announcement. You must use the link to complete and submit the required questions. The responses will be reviewed by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to determine whether you meet the required proficiency levels.
To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires measurement of critical technical competencies needed to perform the job. This vacancy uses a two-phase application process. You must complete and submit both Phase 1 and Phase 2 to receive consideration.

Failure to complete and submit both announcements will result in an incomplete application and no further consideration.

Overstating your qualifications or experience in your application materials or questionnaire may result in removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in removal from consideration.

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

A complete application includes 1. A résumé, 2. Vacancy question responses, 3. Submission of any required documents and 4. Phase 2 competency assessment. If you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible). Please ensure all required documents, including any required competency assessment, or other materials as stated in this announcement, are attached to your application package.

Phase 2- Work Sample Assessment: After the Phase 1 announcement closes, eligible applicants will receive an email containing an exclusive link to complete the competency assessment. Please allow sufficient time to complete the responses before midnight on the closing date of the Phase 2 announcement. Narrative responses are expected to take at least one hour to complete. Non-detailed answers, such as N/A, "See Resumé," etc., will be deemed ineligible. Failure to complete and submit the Phase 2 competency assessment will result in an incomplete application and no further consideration.

CURRENT AND FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES -- Documentation Relating to Your Federal Employment:
-You must submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your current (or most recent) grade and competitive service status. (The "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2".) Your SF-50 must show that you have held the required grade level for at least 52 weeks.
- If you are currently on a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), you must submit a copy of an SF-50 showing that. Also, you must submit a copy of your DD214 or other documentation showing dates of service and type of discharge (Member 4) and any other applicable documents such as SF-15, VA letters, etc.
- Indicate on your application the highest permanent grade you have held; if this grade is different from your current grade, you must submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing this grade.

Land Management Eligibles must provide all required documentation to verify eligibility, prior performance, and qualifications for the target position. You can find information on the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act and eligibility HERE. Land Management Eligibles must compete under competitive merit promotion procedures and meet all applicable requirements as such (time-in-grade restrictions do not apply).

If you are applying under a special hiring authority (e.g. Military Spouses, Interchange Agreement, VEOA, Schedule A Disability, etc.), please see USAJOBS Help Center - Unique Hiring Paths. In order to be eligible under one of these authorities, you must submit all required documentation as outlined in the applicant guide.

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