Human Resources Specialist

About the role

This position is with the Department of Justice, United States Attorneys' Offices. The selected candidate will join a well-respected team responsible for a variety of human resources management services across two or more functional areas: recruitment and placement, position classification, employee relations and performance management, employee benefits, pay and compensation, and human resources development. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex position analysis to determine position requirements and area of consideration; utilize the most efficient techniques to fill vacancies and meet personnel goals of organizations serviced.
• Prepare and review position and/or job descriptions; conduct desk audits; write reports of findings; prepare evaluations as required for internal activity use or in response to external requirements.
• Provide advice and assistance on the processes and procedures of performance management systems, the incentive awards and beneficial suggestion programs, and/or other productivity measurement and improvement programs.
• Review actions such as performance elements and standards, awards, and suggestions for regulatory propriety and support of organizational work goals.
• Provide assistance to employees, managers, and beneficiaries in the administration of Federal employee retirement, group life insurance, health benefits, and Thrift Savings Plan programs; counsel on program coverage, options, and advantages and disadvantages of benefits.
• Provide advice on basic pay, premium pay, and leave administration laws and regulations; research, interpret, and apply such laws and regulations to individual situations and questions raised by employees and supervisors.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing.
• Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (male applicants born after December 31, 1959).
• If selected, may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• Must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Qualifications

To be eligible at the GS-12 level, you must meet the Specialized Experience requirement below.

Specialized Experience

One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in federal service. Examples of specialized experience include experience performing at least three (3) of the following four (4) duties:

• Providing technical advice and guidance to management and employees in at least three (3) or more human resources functional areas, including recruitment and placement, position classification, employee relations, performance management, employee benefits, human resources development, pay and compensation, processing personnel and payroll actions, resolving issues within the Payroll/Personnel System (PPS), and records management and administration.
• Serving as a senior human resources consultant to management, providing expert guidance and recommendations on complex personnel management matters, policies, procedures, and workforce-related issues.
• Coordinating and/or preparing responses to external program reviews, audits, and assessments, including addressing findings and recommendations involving sensitive or complex human resources issues.
• Reviewing and interpreting human resources laws, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines to assess their impact on organizational operations and recommend or implement updates to internal procedures and practices.

Special Hiring Authorities

The following programs provide selection priority for eligible candidates. Applicants must specify the authority under which they wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation.

• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) – Provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority. Must be within ICTAP eligibility, apply under the announcement instructions, be found well-qualified (score of 85 or better on ranking criteria), and provide proof of eligibility (e.g., written notification or separation personnel action form).
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) – Provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority. Must be within CTAP eligibility, apply under the announcement instructions, be found well-qualified (score of 85 or better), and provide a copy of written CTAP eligibility notification.
• Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) – Allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures. Veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three or more years of continuous active military service. Must submit Member Copy 4 of DD-214.
• Special Employment Consideration (Non-competitive Appointment Authorities) – Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers may be eligible for non-competitive appointments. Must specify authority in the online questionnaire and submit documentation to verify eligibility.

Benefits

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Paid vacation
• Sick leave
• Holidays
• Telework
• Life insurance
• Health benefits
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position held and whether the position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.

Additional Information

• Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. A recruitment or relocation incentive may be considered as appropriate based on qualifications.
• Reasonable Accommodation: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations are made on a case-by-case basis.
• Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
• 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.