HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST (EMPLOYEE RELATIONS & PERFORMANCE)

Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees with competitive status; Former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; CTAP/ICTAP eligibles; Veterans with VOW, VEOA, or 30% disability; Military Spouses. Those eligible under an OPM interchange agreement.

As a HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST (EMPLOYEE RELATIONS & PERFORMANCE) GS-0201-13 your typical work assignments may include the following under supervision:

• Serves as technical expert on performance and conduct-based actions and related employee
  relations program policies and practices. Responds to program issues where there is the potential
  for serious impact on the OIG's mission. Assesses the impact of new practices and/or the pursuit of
  certain actions that could have a perceived impact on the OIG or the Federal government. Develops
  solutions to extremely complicated, complex or non-standard problems that may have the potential to
  impact numerous employees and/or major OIG programs;
• Prepares reports and makes recommendations and decisions that involve precedent-setting cases
  that may affect the policies and programs of outside organizations. Conciliates remedies in cases
  that are likely to result in precedent decisions. Prepares comprehensive investigation reports that
  summarize investigative activities;
• Serves as advisor and consultant on performance management issues. Provides managers with
  interpretation of the agency's performance management procedures, practices, policies, and
  guidelines. Counsels managers on performance situations, including cases with the potential to
  generate administrative or negotiated agreement grievances, EEO complaints, performance-based
  adverse actions, etc.;
• Plans, coordinates and conducts special studies of employee relations policies, issues, and
  practices, including performance evaluation ratings, awards and adverse actions;
• Researches case law to ensure that actions are appropriate and legally defensible. Devises
  organizational case strategies, prepares and/or reviews documentation of adverse action cases and presents and defends
  the agency's technical position before third parties;
• Provides expert level advice in the area of performance management. Serves as a trouble-shooter,
  providing authoritative advice and guidance on problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted
  methods; recommendations and decisions are characterized by breadth and importance;
• Provides key consultative performance management advice and services to managers, supervisors,
  senior level officials, and employees involving the full spectrum of human resources policies,
  programs, processes, and procedures;
• Reviews and advises management on performance plans and provides technical information on
  performance management systems. Interprets agency policies and provides advice on other human
  resources issues that align with performance management; and
• Provides expert advice on policy, directives, and guidelines on a full range of matters pertinent
  to performance management and/or performance management. Recognizes recurrence of similar
  unprecedented and highly controversial problems. Develops or proposes new or revised agency
  approach. Anticipates problems that management may encounter, and accomplishes preventive human
  resources management projects to best serve management's goals.
  

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Résumé and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
• Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period

Qualifications

All applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.

You may qualify for the GS-13 grade level, if you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal sector, or the equivalent in the private sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position your specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

1.) Independently provides advice, guidance, and assistance to varying levels of management officials on a full range of GS performance management and conduct issues to include, but not limited to reviewing, fully drafting, and advising management on performance management
plans, providing interpretations and guidance on highly complex issues, addressing informal performance and conduct counseling, and
drafting performance improvement plans (PIPs) and preparation of disciplinary and adverse action, grievance, and appeal letters; 2.) Delivering virtual, on-site, and off-site trainings; 3.) Advises managers on appropriate performance and disciplinary corrective action techniques that were responsive to a range of conduct and performance problems; 4.) Draft and revise policy as it relates to performance and conduct; and 5.) Serve as a subject matter expert on all matters surrounding GS program and policy as it relates to performance and conduct.

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

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.

Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position within thirty (30) days of 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.

All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in three phases to determine how you move forward in the hiring process.

Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed.

Applicants passing "Phase I" will move on to the "Phase II" of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents). Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.

Applicants passing "Phase II" of the assessment process will be invited to participate in a structured interview, as part of "Phase III". A SME panel will conduct the structured interview and assign a score for each of the required competencies listed below, based on your responses to the interview questions.

You will be assessed on 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

If you are referred for consideration, you may be subject to additional assessments by the selecting official (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, job knowledge test, case scenario analysis, scientific data assessment, structured interview, etc.).

NOTE: If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change, or you may be removed from employment consideration.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Offices within the OIG community who have vacancies with the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s). Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. You may choose to opt in of having your information shared with other agencies when applying for this position. If an agency requests a copy of a certificate, you are on, you will be notified.

Documents to be submitted online:

NOTE: You should ensure your social security number, date of birth, and any other personal information are redacted.

1. Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement. The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position. 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, and 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.
2. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education
• Most recent SF-50 (Showing Within Grade Increase or Promotion)
• Most recent Performance Evaluation/Appraisal
• Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action noting position, grade level, tenure, and duty station; and most recent performance appraisal.)

Next steps