Lead Human Resources Specialist (R&P) (Temporary Promotion)

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current permanent VA employees of VISN 5.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Specialist Total Rewards
Major Duties:
Lead Duties - 25%

• Incumbent serves as a VISN Shared Services Unit (SSU) R&P Team Lead with minimal supervision from the SSU R&P Supervisory HR Specialist. Responsible for the general working oversight of at least 5 HR Specialists (GS-0201-12) in the R&P SSU.
• Incumbent operates independently and receives assignments in terms of overall goals and objectives.
• Incumbent exercises judgment and discretion with regards to work assignment and processing among the staff led.

Recruitment & Placement - 25%

• Evaluates applications and resumes using Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Veterans Administration (VA) qualification standards, verifies eligibility, and rates and ranks applicants. Adjudicates and makes decisions on applicant appeals and agency's request to pass over (or objects to) eligible(s) certified. Provides input to the immediate supervisor on final decisions.
• Prepares vacancy announcements based on Position Description (PD) and/or functional statements (FS) and Subject Matter Expert (SME) analysis of the position, qualifies/disqualifies applicants, and maintains all documentation for the job announcement. Reviews and consults, in conjunction with the hiring manager, on job analysis and/or rating and ranking panels when needed.
• Identifies management problems and analyzes them from the management viewpoint. For instance, if particular jobs cannot be filled, assists in the planning of a solution by advising on availability of needed skills and previously overlooked sources of candidates and achieving full utilization of available skills. Coordinates with local and regional supervisors, managers, and other HR specialists on possible regulatory changes. Supports the employment program by advising supervisors and managers on the fundamental legal and regulatory provisions of employment programs. Recommends strategies for overcoming employment barriers.

Recruitment & Placement Quality Review - 25%

• Serves as a Senior Quality Reviewer for the assigned R&P SSU. Reviews all facets of HRSmart work for their team including staffing, recruitment and retention.
• Responsible for the quality review of Staffing, Recruitment and Placement information management systems and its management to ensure compliance with regulations and interpretation of the organization's Personnel Accountability, HR policies and procedures to address issues that require substantial interpretation. Conducts quality reviews of documents to ensure compliance and collaborates and coordinates with supervisor on corrections and internal process improvement measures.
• Provides independent and sound judgement to perform complex, sensitive, project work characterized by a high degree of difficulty related to the Quality Review Management of Personnel Actions Request (PAR) within the Human Resources Management Service applicable database (HR Smart).

Consultation - 25%

• Collaboratively evaluates VISN-wide trends in missions, technology, manpower, fiscal resources, and other factors influencing future needs; coordinates with advisory staff to obtain management information; advises staff on difficult and unusual recruitment, placement and pay issues or problems.
• Coordinates with leadership stakeholders, to include local, regional and national leadership throughout the entire recruitment process. Advises on the selection of SMEs and the rating panel process. Provides management advisory services in conformance with established criteria to resolve conventional problems that arise in administering an applicant recruitment.
• Prepares written correspondence and other documents. Writes a variety of documents to include items for newsletters, information needed on congressional inquiries, responses to reconsiderations, letters responding to inquiries from employees and other customers, and provides guidance on regulations, policies, directives and applicable supplements.

Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: available
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Lead Human Resources Specialist (R&P) (Temporary Promotion)/PD99974S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP

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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/16/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS 13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Preferred Experience: Worked in Human Resources Recruitment and Placement. Knowledge of building announcements and qualifications.

The BASIC REQUIREMENT for the HR Specialist GS-0201 series is presumed met if found qualified at the GS-0201-7 level and above.

To qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, you must meet one of the following listed Criteria:

Criteria 1- Graduate Degree and Specialized Experience: Successful completion of a graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level.

Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector.

Qualifying specialized experience included at the GS 11:

knowledge of, and skill in applying, laws, Executive orders, regulations, policies, concepts, and various HR policies, practices, procedures, and management controls of the recruitment and placement functions at a regionalized operations center sufficient to:
provide comprehensive staffing and placement services to on-site advisory centers;

• coordinate with, and advise HR specialists located at the on-site advisory centers on technical issues involving recruitment and placement actions;
• perform internal placement duties including conducting job analysis, preparing promotion and placement products, and issuing promotion and referral certificates;
• perform external recruitment by developing multiple recruitment strategies utilizing such sources as veteran readjustment, reinstatement, and direct hire appointment authorities.

In addition, the incumbent must possess a knowledge of, and skill in applying, HR staffing and recruitment principles, concepts, laws, regulations, techniques, and guidelines sufficient to:

• support an organization's recruitment and placement program;
• conduct job analyses on a wide variety of complex positions using research, interview, observation, and analytical techniques to gather, document,
• analyze information to develop qualifications rating factors; determine appropriate rating and ranking selective factors and develop crediting plans to assess varying degrees of job qualifications; and explain the methodology to management.

~OR~

Criteria 2- Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge, concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the HR specialty areas.

Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector.

Qualifying specialized experience included at the GS 12:
Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of HR concepts, principles, laws, regulations, and practices, to include OPM requirements, VHA specific policy and labor organization agreements for Title 5, Hybrid T38 and full Title 38 positions.

• Ability to provide custom recruitment strategies and consultative services based upon occupational knowledge of current local and regional market area.
• Ability to apply quantitative and qualitative data to advise local, regional and national leadership in regard to recruitment trends, such as providing data in annual workforce planning cycles and advanced recruitment strategies to align and improve upon the methodologies utilized in the private sector.
• Ability to provide innovative recruitment strategies related to the national operational mission.
• Knowledge of a wide range of HR specialization concepts, practices, regulations, precedents, and procedures; special recruiting authorities and strategies.
• Knowledge of current HR database systems to query, retrieve, and analyze information to complete and monitor routine and special assignments.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

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

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR 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; religions; 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the VISN.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

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
• 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 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

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