Human Resources Specialist - DIRECT HIRE Job in Location Negotiable After Selection

Vacancy No. DOT-2025-0020 Department Department of Transportation - Agency Wide
Salary $72,553.00 to $134,435.00 Grade 11 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 12/30/2024 Close Date 1/31/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Location Negotiable After Selection


Summary

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), seeks Human Resources (HR) Specialists to perform duties in one or more HR functional areas. Positions will be filled at one or more of 9 DOT agencies. You will be able to select which agency's you are interested in. Locations will vary, and some positions may be eligible for remote work consideration, depending on agency and position.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Due to the potential of a high volume of applicants, not all applicants may receive consideration. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. Bargaining unit participation varies by agency and position.

Duties

Duties will vary depending on agency and position. As a Human Resources Specialist within DOT, you will:

  • Provide administrative and technical support in one or more of the core HR functional areas: Recruitment and Placement, Classification, Staffing, Processing, Employee Benefits, Employee and Labor Relations, Performance Management, Compensation, Training and Development, HR Policy, HR Information Systems and Data Analysis.
  • Perform extensive or complex HR activities such as data analysis, development of reports and presentations, drafting internal operating procedures, researching HR issues, and ensuring the technical accuracy of work products and activities.
  • Provide consultative services on matters involving assigned HR functions to meet stakeholders’ needs. Draft responses to HR cases, prepare reports, and make formal recommendations regarding HR matters that impact decisions made by management and other employees.
  • Investigate HR inquiries and perform quantitative and qualitative analysis on complex interrelated HR trends, problems, and issues, and make recommendations to improve effectiveness of assigned HR program area and/or to support HR program/policy decisions.
  • Prepare clear and concise HR reports, responses, briefings, and written products using software tools and applications. May develop and present briefings, visual presentations, training, and informational sessions to stakeholders.
  • Provide products and services for a wide variety of employee categories that involve different systems with different statutory and regulatory authorities.

The ideal candidate will have the ability to perform assignments requiring the application of fundamental HR principles, concepts, techniques, and guidelines to successfully complete assignments.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify.
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
  • Review Required Documents Section - documents are required by closing date.
  • Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
  • POSITION SENSITIVITY AND RISK: Varies by position and will be based on the position to which appointed. For this 0201 series, this position may be designated as moderate, or higher, if the duties and responsibilities are of considerable importance to the agency or program mission.
  • BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position may involve travel.  A government contractor-issued travel card may be issued and must be retained for official business only.
  • REMOTE WORK: This position may be eligible for remote work, which does not require reporting to the agency worksite location on a regular basis. If selected for a remote work location, you will be required to sign a remote work agreement detailing agency remote work policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
  • TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework.  The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, review the following grade specific details. You will be asked a few questions as part of your application but make sure to verify how you meet these grade levels in your resume. 

For the GS-11: You qualify for this grade level if you meet one of the following:

 On Experience, at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level, which included:

  • Experience providing Human Resources services (i.e. Recruitment and Placement, Classification, Staffing, Processing, Employee Benefits, Employee and Labor Relations, Performance Management, Compensation, Training and Development, HR Policy, HR Systems and Data Analysis) for an organization.

On Education, you must have:

  • 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
  • Or, you can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

For the GS-12: You qualify for this grade level if you have at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, which included:

  • Experience independently providing Human Resources services (i.e. Recruitment and Placement, Classification, Staffing, Processing, Employee Benefits, Employee and Labor Relations, Performance Management, Compensation, Training and Development, HR Policy, HR Systems and Data Analysis) for an organization.

For the GS-13:You qualify for this grade level if you have at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level, which included: 

  • Experience providing expert Human Resources services in one or more specialty area (i.e. Recruitment and Placement, Classification, Staffing, Processing, Employee Benefits, Employee and Labor Relations, Performance Management, Compensation, Training and Development, HR Policy, HR Systems and Data Analysis) for an organization.

You cannot qualify on education at grades 12 and 13, you must have specialized experience. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

  1. Customer Service - Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
  2. Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of one or more of the following areas: recruitment classification, benefits, labor relations, negotiation, and Federal, state, and local employment regulations.
  3. Resilience - Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
  4. Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
  5. Communications and Media - Knowledge of the production, communication and dissemination of information and ideas to inform via written, oral, and visual media.

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.

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply for the GS-11 if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of the closing date of this announcement. If selected, the final transcript must be received before your start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

This announcement establishes an open continuous period for this series/grade. We will perform interim reviews of all applications as positions become vacant.  You must meet all eligible requirements at the time of consideration. 

At the discretion of the hiring agency, a position may be approved for Remote Work. This is a work arrangement in which an employee, under a written remote work agreement, is scheduled to perform their work at an alternative worksite and is not expected to perform work at an agency worksite on a regular and recurring basis. A remote worker’s official worksite may be within or outside the local commuting area of an agency worksite. Please note that consideration varies by DOT agency and this option is not guaranteed.

All applicants:  For this announcement, applicants may be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational requirements.  Applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications may be referred to the selecting official.

Duty locations will vary.  The difference in the salary is determined by the locality pay in each location. Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

If you are hired for this position; you will not receive additional consideration from this announcement.

Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will referred to the hiring manager.

Applicants will not be rated or ranked.  Veteran’s Preference does NOT apply.

Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. 

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

TELEWORK INFO: https://www.telework.gov/guidance-legislation

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Given our continuing need for professionals in this field, we will routinely review applications and refer candidates for potential interviews multiple times during the open period of the announcement. 

When an applicant list is requested, all applications received by that request date will be reviewed to determine if the basic qualifications for this position, and grades applied to, are met.  Applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official(s) for further review and consideration. From that point on the selecting official determines all aspects of the hiring process. If they wish to contact you for an interview or for selection, they will do so directly. Equal consideration will be given to all applications received.

Note that applications received under a direct hire public notice may or may not result in a referral or selection. Also, management has the prerogative to select at any grade level.

Applicants will not be rated or ranked.  Veteran’s Preference does NOT apply.

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.  All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume. If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration.



You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

ALL Applicants must provide a resume that fully supports the required specialized experience and was created within USA Jobs Resume Builder and respond to the vacancy questions by the closing date of the vacancy. 

TRANSCRIPTS - Transcripts are REQUIRED if you are applying for the grade 11 based on education. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. 

  • Official transcript(s) will be required if you are selected for the position. 
  • Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition. If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85 or falling in the Gold Category) and provide all of the following documents:  

  • your most recent performance appraisal,
  • the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
  • your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.

Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system.  You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.

  • To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting.
  • Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire.
  • You may review your saved application(s) at https://my.usajobs.gov.

If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at:  Transjobs@dot.gov

Agency contact information

Automated Staffing Office
Address
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Your application status will be updated online when applicable and you will be notified by email.

A final email will be generated when the vacancy closes. Note that there is no guarantee that your application will be reviewed under this vacancy, it depends on when and how often the selecting official(s) request to use this public notice.

You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com (Select "My USAJobs" and click "Applications".  Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist may evaluate your application. If evaluated, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.  If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly.  Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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