Human Resources Specialist

We are hiring entry-level Human Resources (HR) Specialists. If selected, you will be emersed in a robust two-year training and development program through the SEED. During the second year, and upon successful completion of the program, you may be reappointed in one of the various regional or functional Bureaus.

• Completes skill-building rotations in different areas of Human Resources, including:
  • Employee and Annuitant Services Provides the opportunity to work in the Department’s centralized Human Resources Service Center (HRSC) who filters and addresses general HR inquiries from Department of State employees. The HRSC manages and processes a variety of items for employees including employee benefits, personnel actions, employee data changes, beneficiary forms, and actions for retired Foreign Service employees.
  • Employee Relations- Provides the opportunity to develop, implement, and promote work-life policies and programs, employee accountability, disciplinary processes, and providing guidance on conduct and performance issues for Department employees.
  • Classification-Provides the opportunity to evaluate and apply the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) classification standards to assign the appropriate pay plan, position title, occupational series, and assessing the Fair Labor Standards Act designation for positions descriptions.
  • Staffing and Recruitment-Provides the opportunity to engage in the hiring process from the beginning by advising hiring officials, drafting and posting vacancy announcements, and conducting qualifications analysis. To the end by extending job offers, processing pre-employment paperwork, and onboarding new employees.
  • Policy Administration-Provides the opportunity to interpret, create and administer policy and program guidance related to the employment life cycle including, career and leadership development, performance management, senior executive service, and political appointments.
  • Bureau Executive Office-Provides the opportunity to support employees and managers in the Bureau by assisting with staffing and recruitment, performance management, training request, awards programs, benefits, work-life programs, workforce planning, position management, employee relations, and management resources.
• Completes structured training program including a variety of HR-related courses through internal and external vendors and passes any assessments required for courses.
• Prepare capstone project during the second year of employment to exhibit the learned competencies and present to management as a solution to an issue identified.
• Be assigned a mentor to provide you with valuable guidance on navigating workplace dynamics and offer insights into HR best practices and help you develop essential skills for success in this the field.

Additional Duties:

• Researches and provides guidance to management on all recruitment and placement issues, modes of recruitment, staffing alternatives, and recommends strategies to resolve problems.
• Creates job analyses, develops crediting plans and makes eligibility and qualifications determination. Researches pertinent policies and guidelines to provide consultative advice.
• Extends job offers, verbally and in writing; provides new employees information on eligibility requirements and various benefit options; and tracks the progress of recruitment actions by using electronic HR systems in a timely manner.
• Utilizes automated systems to process personnel actions in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Serves as the initial point of contact and source of information on benefits, (including Federal Employees Group Life Insurance, Health Benefit, and Thrift Savings Plan programs, etc.) counseling management, employees, and beneficiaries on program coverage, options, variances in coverage, and advantages and disadvantages of benefits.
• Examines pertinent guidelines relating to compensation and discusses issues with Departmental payroll officials to verify that the existing pay is correct or take the necessary action to correct it and adjust, if appropriate.
• Advises on appropriate procedures and practices involved in developing employee performance plans, conducting appraisal interviews, and submitting and justifying employee award nominations.
• Confers the basis for position classification decisions with management by providing advisory guidance on title, series, and grade as well as position structuring, effective position management, and establishment of career ladders.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.  NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

Applicants applying for the GS-09 grade level must meet one of the following requirements:

A. Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

1. Experience in at least one of the following HR functional areas listed below:

• Staffing and Recruitment – advises management on recruitment strategies to best attract, hire and retain a skilled, diverse motivated workforce including available flexible hiring authorities, and sources and special programs.
• Position Classification – reviews, prepares, and/or coordinates position classification requests from management officials to assess the accuracy and adequacy of the requests and its supporting documentation.
• Performance Management – conducts technical reviews to ensure performance plans, progress reviews, and summary rating comply with policies and procedures.
• Human Resources Development – promotes internal and external training and reviews training requests for approval.
• Benefits Management – serves as the initial point of contact and source of information on benefits.
• Employee Relations – advises managers on appropriate disciplinary or corrective performance management techniques that are responsive to a range of conduct and performance problems.
  Labor Relations – briefs management on labor relations laws, rules, and decisions

 2. Experience in relaying information to managers/supervisors and employees as necessary and explaining Human Resources actions taken.

OR

 B. Have a master's or equivalent graduate degree, OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR LL.B or J.D. from an accredited college or university. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position to be filled;

OR

C. Have a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience (as described above), which is equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal Service. This experience and education together meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. Combination of Experience and Education: When an applicant has less than one year of specialized experience as described in the announcement, he or she may combine successfully completed graduate-level education with experience to meet the total qualification requirements. Generally, 18 graduate semester hours is equivalent to 1 full-time year of graduate study (your school and department determine what constitutes 1 full time year of graduate study). The percentage of specialized work experience and the percentage of graduate study must total at least 100%. Note: All applicants WILL BE required to submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you may lose consideration for this position.

How you will be evaluated

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

The evaluation process consists of the Apply Gov Competency Based Assessments for which applicants will be assigned a score between 70 and 100. A resume review will be conducted for minimum qualification requirements, as described in the “Qualifications” section of this announcement, of applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates based on assessment scores.  Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.  

You will be assessed on the following job-related competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):  

Non-Supervisory: Oral Communication, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management. 

Set aside at least 2 hours to take the external assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. There are timed sections that must be completed within the allotted timeframe.

Your score from the external assessment  Non-supervisory  will remain on file for 180 days, allowing you to apply for multiple DOS-announced positions without needing to retake the assessments. 

Top applicants may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: 

• Ability to evaluate and apply HR business rules to ensure data integrity and accuracy
• Ability to research using Federal regulations
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing
• Ability to work both independently and on teams
• Skill in problem solving
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize to meet business deadlines

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration. 

Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.  

Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP):  View OPM’s  CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.

The FY24 NDAA Section 6202 Special Hiring Authority is being used to fill these positions. Under the provisions of this Special Hiring Authority, veterans’ preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply. For this announcement you may be subject to assessments during the selection process (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, structured interview, etc.). If you are selected, we will review your resume and required documents to determine if you meet the qualifications for this position, specifically the education, specialized experience, and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs)necessary to perform the work of the position.

All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

1. Resume limited to two pages showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

2. Transcripts, if applicable and you are qualifying based on education.  See the Qualification and Education sections of this announcement for more information. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment.

3.  Performance appraisal. Submit your most recent (i.e., usually within the last 18 months) final (not a mid-year review) official (i.e., signed by the rating official and in original format) annual performance appraisal.

4.  ICTAP/CTAP eligibility documentation (e.g., reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, RIF separation SF-50 personnel action (ICTAP only, if available), most recent SF-50 (ICTAP or CTAP), certification of expected separation, etc.).

Next steps