The Program Specialist serves as a Human Resources Liaison at the San Diego Regional Benefits Office. The incumbent provide managers and employees with accurate and timely information and interpretation on internal and external recruitment and placement duties, employee benefits, employee and labor relations matters, and leave administration. They are also key advisors to the Director and the Division Chiefs on all human resources issues, and coordinates directly with the HR Center.

Duties

The Major Duties of the Program Specialist (HR Liaison) are, but are not limited to: Assist the staff and managers to develop and implement policies, procedures, and guidelines which institute processes for work to run as effectively and efficiently as possible. Assists in the development of initiatives to improve management processes and systems using the most efficient utilization of human resources. Assist with data reviews and analyzes data results, identifying any data trends and making recommendations for updating or creating new processes and procedures to help increase workflow. Prepares and presents reports and briefings on assignment status and/or recommended actions to appropriate individuals. Performs timekeeper duties for assigned personnel. Tracks any lag time with recruitment or classification actions. Provides technical advice and assistance and disseminates human resource information to organization. Reviews and provides solutions to issues and topics where local factors contradict established policy or procedures. In a developmental capacity, the employee assists in the duties for the following programs: Employee Engagement and Recognition Programs, and Performance Management. Work entails providing guidance and advice on assigned programs to improve employee satisfaction, provide meaningful employee recognition, and assist supervisor with Performance Management assistance. The incumbent is responsible for internal programs assigned such as Employee Enhancement Program. The incumbent is responsible for all aspects of the program (speakers, program content, checking equipment, snacks, drinks, and answering questions) from start to finish. Provides advice and assistance to managers and supervisors who are responsible for compliance with EEO, affirmative action, and other special emphasis programs. Provides advice and assistance on grievance procedures and options for resolution of conflicts or problems. Perform other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: This is a career ladder position up to the GS-12 level. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full Time | Monday-Friday | 7:00 am - 3:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Remote: This is not a remote position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist | PD: 39565A, 39564A, 39563A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

All applicants must meet the Time-In-Grade and Minimum Qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/02/2023 to qualify for this position. 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. All applicants must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" showing that you are in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess (1) year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates (1) year time-in-grade. General Adjustment and Award SF-50's cannot be used for time-in-grade verification purposes. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current/former Department of Veterans Affairs employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT: In addition to the Time-In-Grade Requirement, you may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: For GS-9: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing employee and management advisory services for specific requests requiring research of human resources policies and practices relating to staffing, employee relations, or benefits. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Guide employees in resolving primarily common work-related or personal problems; Provide leaders and employees with information and interpretations of the organization's policies, procedures, and guidelines; Provide advice regarding appropriate levels of personnel actions. For GS-11: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at least the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience applying and providing guidance on multiple fields of Human Resources rules, regulations, and procedures including Personnel Management, Recruitment and Staffing, Classification, Employee Benefits (OWCP, retirements, and insurance programs), and/or Labor Relations. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provide advisory services to leaders and employees on a range of human resources concepts, laws, and policies; Assist leadership in solving a range of complex problems and issues; Participate in policy development groups or projects based on broad organizational requirements. For GS-12: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience which was at the GS-11 level and must have been held in the Federal Government. Specialized experience is defined as experience providing advisory services, quality review services, or experience drafting and approving standard operating procedures and/or other forms of regulatory guidance covering multiple fields of Human Resources rules, regulations, and procedures including Personnel Management, Recruitment and Staffing, Classification, Employee Benefits (OWCP, retirements, and insurance programs), and/or Employee and Labor Relations. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provide advice and guidance in the areas of classification and staffing and recruitment; Defending agency actions in front of a 3rd party hearing (FLRA, MSPB); Experience as the chief negotiator in labor negotiations. OR, EDUCATION: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: For GS-09: A master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years (36 SH) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related. For GS-11: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years (54 SH) of progressively higher (post-graduate) level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related. For GS-12: There is no education substitute for this grade level. OR, COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AN EXPERIENCE: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at these grade levels. You must still meet the Time-In-Grade Requirement to qualify for this position at the grade level you are applying. For GS-09: You must have a combination of at least 6 months of specialized experience related to the position equivalent to the next lower grade, and at least 1 year (18 semester hours) of progressively higher graduate-level education leading to a master's degree. For GS-11: You must have a combination of at least 6 months of specialized experience related to the position, equivalent to the next lower grade, and at least 1 1/2 years (27 semester hours) of progressively higher graduate-level education leading to a master's degree. For GS-12: There is no education substitute for this grade level. 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. Note: 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. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require walking in offices and similar areas for meetings and to conduct HR work. Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite. The work does not require any special physical effort. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address San Diego VA Regional Benefit Office 8810 Rio San Diego Drive San Diego, CA 92108 US
• Name: Tammy McLemore
• Phone: 515-323-7575
• Email: [email protected]