Summary
The Bridge Program provides a meaningful way for administrative professional employees to change their career paths and obtain positions as a Labor Management Relations Examiner. This is a three-year training program with an option for a one-year extension. The program focuses on robust developmental activities through practical application and formal education and training.
This job is open to
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
Clarification from the agency
Current NLRB Administrative Professionals serving in the Division of Operations Management. You must submit an SF-50 that shows you currently work for the NLRB.
Duties
As a Labor Management Relations Examiner (Labor Relations Investigator (Bridge)), GS-0244-5,
The incumbent will participate in a training program where they will learn to perform the duties of a Field Examiner to include:
- Interviewing witnesses
- Preparing affidavits
- Drafting reports of investigations
- Assisting in holding elections, checking the eligibility of voters, and processing challenged ballots
- Assisting in investigation of assignments, which may involve excerpting data from respondent's books, production records, and cost statements.
For more information regarding the details of the Bridge Program and Pay Retention requirements, please see OM website about the Bridge Program. Click on the link
for the OM and Attachments.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- Males born after 12/03/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
- Relocation is not authorized.
- This is not a remote position.
- This is a bargaining unit position.
- Applicants will serve in the Regions in which they currently work.
- Submit complete application package online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
- This position is in the Competitive Service.
- May be subject to a background investigation prior to appointment.
Qualifications
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Candidate must be a current Career or Career Conditional NLRB Field Administrative Professional Employee AND have the below general experience or education.
GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Candidate must have at least 3 years of general experience. At least one year (52 weeks) of the three years of general experience must be equivalent to the GS-04 grade level. Qualifying experience is that which is gained in technical, specialized, clerical, administrative or other responsible work that has demonstrated the candidate's potential to satisfactorily complete the developmental program.
General experience is described as:
- Experience that provides evidence of the ability to meet and deal objectively and effectively with people (e.g., as a counselor, personnel investigator (conducting research into an individual's personal, professional and criminal history to assess suitability for employment), and/or as a crediti rating investigator (analyzing financial history and verifying data)); and
- Experience that provides evidence to survey organizations and analyze management methods and practices (e.g., as a management analyst); and
- Experience that provides evidence to collect, assemble, and analyze pertinent facts and to write reports on findings (e.g., as in investigative or research types of work).
OR
EDUCATION
Have successfully completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in labor relations, industrial relations, personnel/human resource administration, business administration, economics, labor economics, labor law, political science, accounting, or law; or other education that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in these subjects. (Note: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.)
OR
COMBINATON OF GENERAL EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.
(Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website
here.
TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible as an Internal Merit Promotion Candidate.
(NOTE: A SF-50 "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility must be provided. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure code (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive).
NOTE: 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.
Education
Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation here.
All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. (Note: If you are selected for this position based on education, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day.) You must meet all qualification requirements.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
Additional information
Selected candidates currently serving at the GS-06 or higher, will be assigned to the program at the GS-05 grade level with pay retention for the duration of their participation in the program, consistent with 5 CFR Part 536, subpart B.
Candidates who do not favorably complete the program will be returned to their prior competitive status position, or to a similar position with equivalent status and grade.
SUPPLEMENTARY VACANCIES
Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY / REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
The National Labor Relations Board is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for appointment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.
Applicants with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Agency's Selective Placement Coordinator by email . NLRB offers a wide array of reasonable accommodations and programs for individuals with disabilities. (Note: for additional information for job seekers with disabilities, please click on the following website .)
PLACEMENT POLICY
The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, or promotion. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
ALTERNATE APPLICATION INFORMATION
Applicants may contact the Office of Human Resources.
The National Labor Relations Board offers career opportunities that feature competitive starting salaries and the potential for performance-based increases, flexible hours, and the ability to achieve and maintain a balanced lifestyle. You will enjoy a range of comprehensive and competitive employment benefits that include Work/Life Balance Programs (Alternative Work Schedules, Employee Assistance Program, and the Childcare Subsidy Program), the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, Flexible Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance, Thrift Savings Plan, and the Transit Benefit Program.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
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.
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) and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
You will be assessed on the following competencies:
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials 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/12964612
Optional Four Essay Questions
At the time of application, applicants will be provided with four short, free-response essay questions designed to ascertain their dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee) to review. Responses are not required and will not be scored. If applicants choose to provide a response to the essay questions, they will be required to certify that they are using their own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question.
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
For evaluating the quality of applicants for referral to the selecting official, a multi-phased process will be used.
Phase 1: Applicants' resume and supporting documents will be reviewed by Human Resources (HR) to determine whether they meet the basic qualification requirements.
Phase 2: Applicants who are minimally qualified may be advanced to a Structured Resume Review assessment conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. SMEs may review applicants' resumes to evaluate technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience.
Phase 3: Applicants who successfully pass the Structured Resume Review assessment may be advanced to a Structured Interview conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. SMEs may assess applicants' ability to demonstrate the required competencies for the position.
Phase 4: A final score, which may combine the results from one or more assessments, may be used to identify the top-rated applicants. Applicants meeting the established cut-off score may be referred to the selecting official for consideration and may be required to participate in one or more additional interviews as part of the hiring process.
Required Documents
Please submit the supporting documents outlined below for your claimed eligibility status.
Resume
In compliance with Executive Order 14170, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service resumes must not be longer than two pagesin length. The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement. If the two-page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met, candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration.
Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below:
Contact Information: Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number.
Relevant Work Experience
- Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
- Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 -08/2022 or present)
- The number of hours you worked per week
Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement.
Most Recent Performance Appraisal. (Current/Former Federal Employees). If performance appraisal is not dated within the last
18 months or if you are unable to provide a performance appraisal, an explanation why
must be provided. Please include a document in your application package explaining why the performance appraisal is not available.
Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50). (Current/Former Federal Employees). Most recent SF-50 showing current grade, tenure, and highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade.
Performance Award, Realignment/Reassignment, Name Change and Detail SF-50s will not be accepted as proof of grade and tenure. If applying for a higher grade, provide a SF-50 or SF-50s which show the length of time in current/highest grade (i.e. Promotions, With-in Grade Increases, and SF-50s with dates that show proof of you holding the grade for at least a year) to support meeting time-in-grade requirements.
As a current or previous Career or Career Conditional employee in the Competitive Service, you may determine your current status by checking block 24 on your SF-50. The block must reflect "1" or "2". Also, block 34 must reflect "1". A copy of your SF-50 must be provided for verification.
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)
If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting the minimum requirements for the position and scoring at least an 85) and provide all of the following documents:
- your most recent performance appraisal; AND
- 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 to 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.
All materials must be received by 06/03/2026 to be considered for this announcement.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:
- Resume; and
- Any other documents needed to verify your qualifications or eligibility (see the Required Documents section).
Please follow the instructions listed below for submitting your complete application package. Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all instructions before you begin.
To begin the process, click the APPLY ONLINE button at the right side of this screen to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire. Please ensure you click the SUBMIT MY ANSWERS button at the end of the process.
If you have never applied through USAJOBS for a position with the Federal Civil Service, you will need to create a USAJOBS account.
To change or update your application, simply reapply through USAJOBS, before the closing date. New or updated resumes are considered "incomplete" applications until the required virus scan is cleared.
To check the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
Next steps
Once your application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application, and a final notice once a selection has been made.