Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment & Placement)

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open ONLY to current, permanent Des Moines, Iowa, VBA HRC Office employees and current/former VA employees who are CTAP eligible. For the purpose of this job announcement, Fiduciary Hub bargaining unit employees in the commuting area are considered facility employees.

Specific duties include:
Provides overall advice and assistance to management and employees in major human resource management functional areas.
- Advises managers of regulatory considerations, available alternatives, possible effects of various alternative decisions, and recommends actions/solutions.
- Provides technical assessments and advice as requested by managers in exercising their position classification responsibilities.
- Analyzes, evaluates, and reviews positions against Office of Personnel Management position classification standards and agency classification guidance.
- Ensures that pay entitlements and work schedules are set in accordance with laws and regulations.
- Helps SMEs with developing crediting plans.
- Interprets and applies regulations pertinent to recruitment and placement.
- Makes qualification determinations in accordance with OPM's standards and prepares referral certificates.
- Provides information and/or assistance to employees/applicants regarding questions on qualification requirements
- Prepares written responses to congressional inquiries for signature by higher authority, as necessary.
- Directs a Human Resources Assistant who assists in the accomplishment of work for the assigned Regional Office.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The grade progression for this position is GS 0201 07, GS 0201 09, GS 0201 11, GS 0201 12.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7:00 am - 3:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.
Virtual: Current HRC Des Moines staff with an out-based duty location will continue to report to their current approved duty location upon selection.
Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment & Placement); PD38753A, PD38469A, PD38467A, and PD36468A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.

Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the Agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service;

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows:

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:08/10/2026.

BASIC REQUIREMENT:
To qualify for the HR Specialist position, candidates must meet the following basic requirements as described in one of the following methods: a. Merit-Based Method, b. Education-Based Method, or c. Training-Based Method.

Method 1: Merit-Based Method. The Merit-Based Method allows a candidate to meet the basic requirement by possession of the following specialized experience:
OR
b. Method 2: Education-Based Method. The Education-Based Method allows a candidate to meet the basic requirement by possession of the following:

c. Method 3: Training-Based Method. The Training-Based Method allows for a candidate to meet the basic requirement by possession of the following: Six months of general experience, equivalent to at least the GS-4 level of the Federal Government, requiring knowledge of and/or skill in applying laws, regulations, rules, principles, policies, methods, practices, supporting customers, communicating in writing and/or verbally and using various computer systems, and office equipment in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions, plus the possession of one of the four training criteria.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal, GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

• For a GS-07 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level.
• For a GS-09 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level.
• For a GS-11 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.
• For a GS-12 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one year of time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year of time-in-grade.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS-07 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-5 level. Specialized Experience is defined as researching, analyzing, and applying policies, regulations, and standard procedures to provide internal and external customer support. Experience must include use of automated recordkeeping systems to research and resolve issues or provide management support.
• Education Substitution: To qualify at the GS-07 level based on education, you must have: One (1) full year of graduate-level education. Graduate-level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position; OR A Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (3.0 GPA or higher). Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) is based on 1) class standing, 2) grade point average, or 3) honor society membership. For more information on calculating SAA please visit www.opm.gov.

GS-09 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-7 level. Specialized experience is defined as interpreting and applying a variety of routine Federal or state personnel management rules, regulations, and procedures. Experience must include use of automated personnel recordkeeping systems to research and resolve personnel issues or provide management support.
• Education Substitution: To qualify at the GS-09 level based on education, you must have: Possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LLB or J.D, if related; OR possess a combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Only graduate-level education beyond the first year may be used to qualify at the GS-09 level. To compute your combined percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify for this grade.

GS 11 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience is defined as applying Title 5 Federal civilian personnel principles, procedures, and regulatory guidance to provide advanced technical guidance on recruitment, staffing, pay setting, and associated personnel actions. Experience includes the use of automated systems for processing of personnel actions, gathering and analyzing data, helping customers regarding human resources issues, and drafting technical responses to inquiries, problems, and complaints.

OR

• Education Substitution: Possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher- level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.

GS-12 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Specialized Experience is defined as providing comprehensive and authoritative guidance on a variety of complex and controversial Title 5 Federal civilian personnel situations and identifying flexible alternatives for problem resolution in a variety of HR areas. Experience must include the application of Title 5 Federal civilian personnel principles, procedures, and regulatory guidance to provide advanced technical guidance on recruitment, staffing, pay setting, and associated personnel actions.

Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information.
Volunteer Experience: 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.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume, you must specify the average hours worked per week.
Physical Requirements: The work is mainly sedentary, except for walking to local meetings and carrying briefcases and luggage
when in travel status.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
1. ANALYTICAL REASONING: Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems to develop alternative courses of action(s) and recommend workable solutions.
2. CLASSIFICATION: Ability to apply classification concepts, principles, and practices related to structuring organizations and positions and determining the appropriate pay system, occupational grouping, title, and pay level of positions.
3. STAFFING AND RECRUITMENT: Ability to determine effective recruitment strategies; develop crediting plans necessary for recruitment and placement of well-qualified candidates; analyze candidates for eligibility and qualifications for position vacancies and issue selecting officials lists of qualified candidates.
4. COMPLIANCE: Attention to detail and ability to properly apply laws and regulations in pay setting determinations and the processing of personnel actions.
5. TECHNICAL COMPETENCE: Demonstration of knowledge and ability to apply HR concepts, practices, laws, regulations, policies, and practices sufficient to provide advisory services and/or perform HR related technical services.
6. COMMUNICATION: Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, considering the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13014298

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job-related information, which may include, but not be limited to, responses to the knowledge, skills, and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or an interview.

Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package to include the documents detailed below. Failure to submit the required documents may result in your application being considered incomplete and you being deemed ineligible. It is your responsibility to ensure your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. We will not request additional documentation or accept late or missing documents after the announcement has closed.

Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan.

• Resume, limited to 2-pages, detailing specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position.
  • For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
• Transcript if you are using education to qualify.
  • Your transcript must show coursework and the total number of credits earned, including graduation date and degree. A diploma is NOT sufficient to determine qualifications.
• Your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
• Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade (e.g., Promotion, Appointment, etc.) in order to verify time-in-grade requirements.

Additional Documents accepted:

• Most recent Performance Appraisal (VA Form 0750)
• Award SF-50s
• CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal

Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50s (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or CTAP documentation (for displaced VA employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee (must be less than one year old).
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.
• Award 50s do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50s include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50s at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
  • Most current general adjustment.

Resumes must be legible for review of eligibility, minimum qualifications, and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and page count. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT, or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font, such as Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open Sans, Source Sans Pro, Roboto, or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point font size for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and by using the information in your USAJOBS profile to get you started.

Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume:

• Prioritize most relevant and recent experience
• Use concise, results-focused language
• Align language from the job announcement
• Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies
• Remove outdated or unrelated experience
• Use the USAJOBS resume builder

Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume-building tools can be found at:

• USA Jobs Help Center - Resume Page Limit
• Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit

Next steps