The Assistant Human Resources Officer (AHRO) reports directly to the VISN Chief of Human Resources Officer. The role of the AHRO contributes to the overall VISN20 performance by providing tactical and strategic consultations on local labor market employee relations, talent acquisition, policy interpretation, application and implementation and performance and compensation management.

Duties

Major duties include but not limited to: Technical Consultation, Advisory Program Management. The incumbent will serve as a key member in various VISN committees and activities working directly with leadership to develop an HR strategy that closely supports and facilitates meeting local organizational goals. As a member of the facility-level Strategic Planning Committee, examines the forecasting data to project managerial strategies, organizational processes, competencies, and human resources interventions necessary to create the required cultures to support new and establish VHA initiatives. This position will be embedded in the local governance structure further supporting leadership and organizational goals, which includes, but is not limited to: Resource Management Committee; Succession Planning; Emergency Management; Diversity and Inclusion; Activations Planning; Quality Management; Joint Commission Planning; Workforce Planning; and any others as applicable. Advises leadership and provides responses to proposed legislation, policies and standards of higher authority regarding human resources issues. These include requests from members of Congress, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Ensure that the impacts of proposals are thoroughly considered by management officials and that VA views and needs are adequately represented. Talent Acquisition and Management. The incumbent produces comprehensive workforce analyses and strategies that drive a cohesive and focused HR organization. This position directly advises, communicates, and supports the execution of Human Capital Management (HCM) programs, products, and services into the organization. The incumbent recommends and implements workforces analytics for the facility and VISN. Succession Planning. Leads the succession planning process and coordinates expert services in performing analyses of the workforce to identify succession plan priorities. Employee Relations and Performance Management. The incumbent will lead and manage the HR Employee Relations sections of the HR Strategic Business unit. Establishes trusts and credibility with leaders and acts as a valuable sounding board on organizational and talent issues. Actively undertakes coaching conversations to challenge leaders' current thinking to get to optimal outcomes. Labor Relations. Addresses and resolves difficult and complex problems that have a direct impact on the Department mission. Works with leadership, staff and operational officials, employee groups, et., to develop and explore labor relations alternatives to improve policies, techniques, and procedures. Analyzes, evaluates, and develops major aspects of agency-wide labor relations programs that require isolating and defining unknown conditions, resolving critical problems, and developing new concepts and methodologies; and resolving issues of sensitivity and potential controversy that may promote advances in principal human resources program plans, goals, objectives and milestones. Compensation. Works collaboratively with all levels of leadership and the Compensation Center of Excellence (CCoE), by establishing strategy for the utilization of Special Salary Rates, Nurse Pay Schedules, Physician, Dentist, and Podiatrist Pay, Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), Recruitment, Relocation and Retention (3Rs) incentives, and any associated facility-wide advisory boards. Reviews and consults with the CCoE on valid wage evaluations, ensuring the integrity of comparable data from reliable sources are utilized as evidentiary support of establishment/update/continuance of compensation considerations. Expert Management Consultation. Provides expert management consultative service involving the full spectrum of HR functions on highly complex VISN-wide or equivalent issues. Works in collaboration with VHA-wide stakeholders to align HCM strategies and objectives. People and Culture. Provides consultation and advice on ways to address process, structure, culture and people challenges or opportunities with initiatives that are aligned with the HCM policies and strategies. Communication. Fosters understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Compressed/Flexible: Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Assistant Human Resources Officer/PD99991S and PD99579-S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 11/24/2023. 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 with in 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12, For the GS-14 you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13. 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. 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 includes: Applying a wide range of advanced HR principles concepts and practices as well as seasoned consultative skills sufficient to provide management consultative services involving full spectrum of HR functions open. Advising leadership and providing responses to proposed legislation policies and standards of higher authority regarding human resources issues developing and coordinating HR strategies policies and initiatives guides managers in realizing each ECM tools and products to develop strategic solutions to challenges and issues; develop and deliver briefings reports and correspondence to facility program managers. ~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 includes: Providing formal guidance, assistance and interpretation on special assignments related to all HR program areas, Using extensive knowledge and experience with Federal and VA HR regulatory and legal requirements to audit all HR program areas, Analyzing personnel procedures, guidelines, regulations and policy reference materials and developing recommendations and solutions based on research and providing guidance and training to peers, Composing quantitative and narrative reports from audit findings, Identifying technical discrepancies in all HR program areas to identify the need for training, interventions and strategies that improve the accuracy with processing personnel actions, performance and ability to meet HR business requirements, and Reviewing data reports to assist in determining goals and recommendations to improve the technical function of HR staff. . To qualify for this position at the GS-14 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-12 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 includes: Providing formal guidance, assistance and interpretation on special assignments related to all HR program areas, Using extensive knowledge and experience with Federal and VA HR regulatory and legal requirements to audit all HR program areas, Analyzing personnel procedures, guidelines, regulations and policy reference materials and developing recommendations and solutions based on research and providing guidance and training to peers, Composing quantitative and narrative reports from audit findings, Identifying technical discrepancies in all HR program areas to identify the need for training, interventions and strategies that improve the accuracy with processing personnel actions, performance and ability to meet HR business requirements, and Reviewing data reports to assist in determining goals and recommendations to improve the technical function of HR staff. (Transcripts Required). ~OR~ Criteria 2- Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 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 includes: Experience in a leadership role in Human Resources within VHA with duties requiring mastery of the concepts, principles, practices, laws and regulations which apply to Human Resources in VHA and for substantive regional or national programs and services including expert knowledge of the full spectrum of applicable HR functions (e.g., recruitment and placement, position classification, compensation, HR information systems, manpower, etc.), Experience and skills in developing interventions for management on significant HR issues and concerns, Ability to lead in employing change management process concepts and techniques such as strategic planning and workforce development, Skills and ability on leading special projects or studies of considerable scope and depth critical to the resolution of operating issues and problems, Ability to tailor HR programs and services to support the organization, while improving the efficiencies and effectiveness of various process, Skills in developing and delivering briefings, project papers, status/staff reports and correspondence in order to foster understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations, and Ability to apply consensus building, negotiating, coalition building and conflict resolution techniques. Promotion Potential: 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.

Education

Qualifying education for the GS-0201 series includes: courses and programs in HR, HR development, HR management, business, business management/administration, industrial relations, labor relations, industrial psychology, organizational psychology, organizational development, management, organizational behavior, pre-law/law, legal studies, health care management/administration, public administration, public policy, human services, leadership and/or humanities.

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

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix F1; Human Resources Specialist Qualification Standards GS-0201. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Contacts

• Address VHA VISN 20 Human Resources 1601 E. 4TH PLAIN BLVD VANCOUVER, WA 98661-3713 US
• Name: Shannon Newton
• Phone: 360-759-1690
• Email: [email protected]