Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment & Placement)

Clarification from the agency

Open to current and former Federal employees with competitive status; ICTAP and CTAP eligibles in the local commuting area; Veterans' Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) eligibles; Military Spouse eligibles; Land Base Management eligibles; those eligible under an Interchange Agreement; 30% disabled veterans; Schedule A eligibles (persons with disabilities).

This position is in the Division of Staffing within the Office of Human Resources (OHR), OASAM. The employee serves as a Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment & Placement) responsible for performing duties that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provides expert advice and guidance to supervisors, managers, and other Human Resources (HR) specialists to jointly develop strategies and solutions for dealing with a wide variety of difficult and controversial staffing and placement issues.
• Applies expert knowledge to analyze and provide solutions to complex and difficult staffing problems.
• Identifies areas of procedural and regulatory deficiencies. Translates findings into specific corrective actions, including new or revised program requirements and guidance, training, or other appropriate measures.
• Serves as an expert on staffing and recruitment issues for complex organizations or sub-agencies characterized by frequently changing priorities and functions, recruitment difficulties, and technically complex staffing determinations.
• Prepares written analyses regarding complex staffing issues and recommended action to various audiences.
• Advises and assists management in using automated processes associated with rating and ranking and accessing and understanding merit promotion and delegated examining certificates.
• Develops multiple recruitment strategies utilizing such sources as veteran's recruitment, reinstatement, and direct-hire appointment authorities.
• Serves as a Delegated Examining Unit (DEU) technical expert and contributes to the operation and activities of the DEU.
• Sets pay and provides authoritative advice and guidance to managers, supervisors and the leadership regarding requests for using special recruitment mechanisms such as requests for appointments above the minimum; recruitment, relocation and retention bonuses, etc.

The incumbent serves in a developmental capacity at the GS-09 and GS-11 level. Major duties and responsibilities are similar to those described at the full performance level (GS-13) of the position. However, the incumbent works with greater guidance from the supervisor or other senior specialists.

Conditions of employment

• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.

Qualifications

For GS-9: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-7, in the Federal Service.

For GS-11: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-9, in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

To qualify for GS-9, applicants must meet all of the following examples of specialized experience:

• Providing advice or guidance on staffing and recruitment activities;
• Reviewing and/or creating job analyses and specialized experience criteria;
• Reviewing and adjudicating applications among various federal hiring authorities (Merit Promotion, Delegated Examining, Veteran's Recruitment Appointment (VRA) Authority, Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA), Schedule A, 30% Disabled, etc.) to determine eligibility and qualifications in order to issue valid certificates of eligibles through an automated staffing/recruitment system.

OR

Possess 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.

OR

Possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education that provided the specific knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position.

To qualify for GS-11, applicants must meet all of the following examples of specialized experience:

• Applying OPM pay-setting policies to determine salaries across various positions, including setting pay using multiple pay systems, special rate tables, or Highest Previous Rate (HPR);
• Utilizing staffing/recruitment systems to develop and post vacancy announcements, including the review and/or creation of job analyses, assessments, and specialized experience criteria;
• Reviewing and adjudicating applications among various hiring authorities (Merit Promotion, Delegated Examining, Veteran's Recruitment Appointment (VRA) Authority, Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA), Schedule A, 30% Disabled, etc.) to determine eligibility and qualifications in order to issue valid certificates of eligibles through an automated staffing/recruitment system;
• Providing advice and guidance to hiring managers to support strategic recruitment efforts and methods including appropriate application in both the competitive and excepted services.

OR

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.

OR

Possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education that provided the specific knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your evaluation will be based on how well you meet the qualifications outlined in this vacancy announcement, as demonstrated through your resume and supporting documentation.

You may preview application questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13069074

USA Hire

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

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

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.

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, and volunteer, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.).

INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) will be considered well-qualified if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

When Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management completes its hiring, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with additional sub-agencies in the Department. You will have an opportunity to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with additional sub-agencies at DOL. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.

Documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date.

Applicants must meet time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service) within 30 days of 09/30/2026 the announcement closing date.

Required Documents (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):

• FEDERAL STATUS APPLICANTS: When applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility. *WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.
• Resumes are required - provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your computer and USAJOBS profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
• Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, ICTAP/CTAP applicants must submit this document - please see ICTAP/CTAP links below for more details.

The following documents are required if applicable:

• Displaced Employee Placement Documents-Only required if requesting priority consideration under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibility. Review these ICTAP/CTAP links to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met.
• DD-214-verifying military service, eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), and showing the character of discharge (ex. Member Copy 4 and 2 are acceptable vs. Copy 1 which is not acceptable to adjudicate veteran's preference)
• Special/Non-Competitive Appointing Authorities-Applicants who wish to be considered under one of the following non-competitive hiring authorities must submit appropriate documentation (click on the links): (a) Persons with Severe Disabilities (SCHEDULE A) (b) 30% or More Compensable Disabled Veterans (DAV) (c) Military Spouses (MISP)
• Land Management Eligible: a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) proving your eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act. This service must have been performed in competitive service, under a time-limited appointment in a Land Management Agency, as defined by P.L. 114-328. For more information, click here.
• Unofficial Transcript(s) in English-If you are using education as a basis for qualifying for this position, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. MA, JD, Ph.D., etc.). If specific coursework is required to qualify, you must supply an unofficial transcript from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit. You may upload your unofficial transcript(s) as one document with a maximum size limit of 5 MB. OFFICIAL Transcript(s) MUST BE RECEIVED if you are selected prior to receiving the firm offer.

Reference the Education Section for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.

Do not upload password-protected documents.

Applicants selected who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 year probationary 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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