HR Specialist (Employee and Labor Relations)

Clarification from the agency

Your application will be considered if you: Live in the Columbia, S.C. commuting area and are eligible under GSA’s Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP); are a VEOA eligible veteran; are a Military spouse, are an eligible Land Management employee.

• 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).
• Provide advice and guidance to managers related to all phases of the performance management process to include performance-based actions.
• Address complex issues and questions pertaining to hours of work, work schedules, 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, reasonable accommodation, etc.
• Advise managers and supervisors of their responsibilities under the various steps of both administrative and negotiated grievance procedures.
• Participate in informal and formal meetings with management and union representatives and provide advice and counsel to managers as to union matters during what can be very sensitive and confrontational meetings with the union and/or the employee.

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:

Qualifications

To evaluate your qualifications, your resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet the specialized experience described below. Your resume must not exceed two pages. To ensure your qualifications can be fully evaluated, we recommend including the following information: 

• Name, address, telephone number, email address;

• Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade);

• Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement.

• Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts.

Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet experience requirements for each grade level you are applying to. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.

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 $89,508 per year.  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 interpreting and applying a wide range of human resources employee relations and labor relations concepts, laws, regulations, principles, practices and policies in order to resolve both employee and labor relations problems and issues. Experience must include providing comprehensive employee relations and labor relations management advisory and technical services in the areas of performance, conduct, discipline, adverse actions, grievances and appeals.

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 application 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. Knowledge of employee relations principles, practices, regulations and legislation sufficient to provide technical advice, guidance and options to supervisors and managers regarding a range of disciplinary based actions and third-party case law. 
2. Skill in federal performance management principles, regulations, and strategic practices, to provide consultation to supervisors and managers on improving employee performance.
3. Ability to analyze personnel situations and deliver technical advice, strategic guidance, and actionable options to management and supervisors regarding leave administration, hours of work, telework, and medical accommodations. 
4. Skill in written communication techniques to draft disciplinary charges for performance-based actions, grievance responses, and to assist in developing the agency’s position in response to third party filings to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).
5. Skill in oral communication 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.

Demonstration of these KSAs must be supported by your application. 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.

ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.

Resume: Must not exceed two pages. Refer to the Qualifications section for resume requirements. 

IF YOU ARE:

If you are a 30% or more disabled veteran, VEOA or VRA applicant or qualified spouse, widow/widower, or parent:

(a)  Copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 that shows your type of discharge and the dates of your active duty service.
(b)  If you are a disabled veteran, or are applying under VRA or VEOA as a spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a veteran, submit both of the following in addition to the DD-214: (1) completed SF-15 form; and (2) proof of your entitlement (refer to SF-15 for complete list).

If you are active duty military- Certification on a letterhead from your military branch that includes your rank, character of service (must be under honorable conditions) & military service dates including discharge/release date (must be no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted).

Current or former Land Management Agency Employee - Submit a and b:

     (a) one or more SF-50s, including your most recent one that shows you were on a competitive time-limited appointment(s) with a Land Management Agency and served on the appointment for a period(s) totaling more than 24 months without a break of 2 or more years.
     (b) Copy of your agency’s annual performance appraisal(s) or written reference(s) from a supervisor at the agency verifying satisfactory performance during your appointment(s).

ICTAP/CTAP eligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.

Current or former political appointee: Submit your SF-50.

Next steps