Summary
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) has an exciting opportunity for an exceptional leader to be its next Chief for Employee and Labor Relations. The AOC is a Legislative Branch agency responsible to the U.S. Congress for the maintenance, operation, development and preservation of the United States Capitol complex. As a global destination for thousands of visitors, Capitol Hill intersects history, architecture and art with the birthplace of our nation’s laws.
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
See Requirements section of this announcement for information on who may apply.
Duties
Reporting to the Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer, the Chief of the Employee and Labor Relations Branch will provide strategic and tactical leadership of the Architect of the Capitol’s (AOC) employee and labor relations program.
As a strategic business partner, the selected candidate will have primary responsibility for developing, implementing and administering progressive employee and labor relations programs. Responsibilities include enterprise oversight and administrative and performance management; leave and absence; FMLA; labor relations; conduct and disciplinary actions; workplace violence; and grievances.
The role also serves as the principal contract negotiator providing labor relations advisory services on behalf of the AOC in dealing with labor organizations that seek to represent or are currently representing AOC employees in a collective bargaining unit.
Specific responsibilities include:
- Provide leadership, administrative, managerial and technical supervision for day-to-day employee and labor relations programs.
- Serves as the technical authority on employee and labor relations programs and functions.
- Develops new and revises existing policies, plans, guidelines and procedures to meet strategic goals or evolving operational needs.
- Leads union-management contract negotiations culminating in labor agreements or timely renewals in accordance with management objectives and federal labor relations regulations, demonstrating a thorough knowledge in labor law.
- Develops employee and labor relations programmatic initiatives that include dynamic approaches to employee performance, conduct, discipline, grievance, attendance and other related issues.
- Evaluates and assesses the effectiveness of the AOC employee and labor relations program, identifying program deficiencies and problems, while recommending solutions and resolutions to accomplish AOC objectives.
- Directs development and analyzes relevant data to inform decision making; provides sound counsel and expertise to agency leaders and managers and collaborates with agency counsel of data, provision of expertise and insights, secures legal opinions, and prepares position papers that support goals and objectives.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
-
You must be able to pass a drug test.
- Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
- You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
Qualifications
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, 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.
Candidates for the GS-14 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-13) in the Federal service. Candidates must meet all of the specialized experience criteria listed below in order to be referred for consideration.
Examples of specialized experience for this position include:
- Experience in providing advice involving regulatory requirements, agency policies and practices to effect disciplinary actions, removals and suspensions and resolving grievances, appeals and other employee relations matters.
- Experience researching facts and legal precedents to define the parameters of labor and employee relations cases.
- Experience in providing formal leader training on employee relations issues to ensure management readiness related to employee relations matters.
- Experience providing strong analytical skills to leverage knowledge in employment law and fact-based data to provide sound counsel and coaching with a demonstrated track record of exceptional client service delivery.
- Experience leading people and achieving buy-in to advance organizational goals to drive effective results.
Education
There is no educational requirement for the Human Resources Management series (0201); however, a Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university is preferred.
Additional information
Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#6.
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.
DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide, and cover the cost for the drug test.
BACKGROUND CHECK: The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.
E-VERIFY: The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm
The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, genetic information and/or disability.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
Moving expenses are not authorized.
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD: A newly appointed selectee(s) is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.
All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.
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.
A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holidays; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc.
The Architect of the Capitol offers eligible employees the opportunity to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program.
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.
Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.
Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies:
- Ability to supervise and lead people toward meeting the agency's and division's vision, mission and goals.
- Ability to provide oversight of sound and positive employee and labor relations practices.
- Skill in leading from both a strategic and tactical perceptive to achieve strategic goals and meet day-to-day work requirements while managing competing and changing priorities.
- Skill in writing, reviewing, and approving employee relations policies and procedures and other relevant documents.
- Skill in applying employee relations laws, regulations, principles, precedents and policies.
- Skill in advising management and in developing networks to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.
- Skill in developing and conducting supervisory training.
Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or disqualification for further consideration.
Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) job application process is designed to ensure you only provide information necessary to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position vacancy.
To apply for this position, you only need to submit: a) your resume and b) answers to the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant information. No additional documentation or attachments are required at the time of application.
Your resume should list your education, training and work experience including job titles, employment dates, duties and accomplishments.
Nothing further is required until it is requested by AOC’s Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for the position, you will be asked to provide it during the interview or selection process. At that time, you may be asked to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.
For example, you may be asked to provide a copy of your diploma, college transcripts, or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires licensure or certification, you will be asked to provide proof at the time of selection.
If Veterans’ preference is claimed, you will be asked to submit proof (DD-214, and, if claiming a 10-point preference, a SF-15 and the proof required by that form).
Failure to provide the required documents will end further consideration and/or result in the withdrawal of any tentative job offers.
How to Apply
You MUST apply online. FORMS RECEIVED BY FAX, EMAIL OR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
If you are a new user to the USAJobs Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJobs user AND you must be signed-in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help setting up an account or for general help using USAJobs, go to USAJobs Help Page.
If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! If you have problems completing your on-line application, contact the Monster Hiring Management Help Desk at 1-866-656-6831 or by e-mail at MGSHELP@monster.com. The help desk is available Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may call and leave a voice mail message at all other times.
All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJobs “Saved Documents” feature.
If you are unable to apply on-line, you may visit our Employment Center for technical assistance in entering your application. The Employment Center is located at 441 Second & D Streets S.W., Washington, D.C., Room H2-178, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call (202) 226-7000 for directions.
Next steps
You will receive a notice generated by the USAJobs System when you have successfully submitted your application. We will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.
You can check the status of your application by logging into http://www.usajobs.gov. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJobs Account, editing your profile and changing the ‘Notification Settings’ to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes. Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within two (2) weeks after the closing date of this job announcement.