This position serves as Lead HR Specialist (Employee/Labor Relations) for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Central Office (VACO) Human Resources Service Center (HRSC) and is responsible for providing team lead support to the ER/LR HR Specialists, and for supporting and advising hiring managers and executives on various employee relations programs. This vacancy will close on the posted closing date OR at 11:59 p.m. EST on the day in which 50 applications are received, whichever comes first.

Duties

The incumbent leads a team of 5 or more Human Resources Specialists (Employee/Labor/Performance Management) at the full performance level of GS-13, as well as a support staff of Human Resources Assistants at the full performance level of GS-7. Ensures HRSC's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values are communicated to the team and integrated into the team's strategies, goals, objectives, work plans, and work products and services. Incumbent articulates and communicates to the team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or program issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion. Incumbent is responsible to estimate and report to the team on progress in meeting established milestones and deadlines for completion of assignments, projects and tasks, and ensure that all team members are aware of and participate in planning for achievement of team goals and objectives. Lead duties include, but are not limited to: Assures the work of the team is carried out through coordination of work assignments. Ensures the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision and values are communicated to the team and integrated into team strategies, goals, objectives, work plans and work products and/or services provided. Communicates assignments, projects, problems to solve, action items, milestones, program issues, deadlines and timeframes for completion to members of the team. Coaches team members in selection and application of appropriate problem solving methods and techniques; Provides advice on work methods, practices and procedures. Assists team and/or individual team members in identifying the parameters of viable solutions Leads team in identifying, distributing and balancing workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established work flow, skill level and/or occupational specialization. Adjusts to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities to ensure timely accomplishment of assigned team tasks. Ensuring each employee has an integral role in developing final team products. Training or arranging for training of team members in methods and techniques of team building and working in teams to accomplish tasks or projects. Provides or arranges for specific administrative or technical training necessary for accomplishment of individual and team tasks. Monitors and reports on the status and progress of work; checking on work in progress and reviewing completed work to see that the supervisor's instructions on work priorities, methods, deadlines and quality have been met Serves as coach, facilitator and/or negotiator in coordinating team initiatives and in consensus building activities among team members Functions as a principle and senior advisor to all levels of management officials within the VACO Staff Offices and other management officials in HR functional areas of and related to Employee Relations and Labor Relations (ER/LR). Serves as a subject matter expert in ER/LR and may act as a liaison when and where necessary, with VA and other Federal Offices to implement related HR programs and practices for the HRSC. Provides expert guidance, advice, and assistance on a wide range of Employee Relations/Labor Relations and related programs to all levels of management officials within the VACO Staff Offices. Conducts research of complex legal or regulatory issues raised by Staff Office managers, supervisors, and employees. Provides interpretation and guidance on basic issues of fact and law. Identifies complex contributing factors in sensitive employee relations (conduct, performance, and attendance) cases and develops solutions to resolve the issue. Provides direction on appropriate procedures. Reviews complaint or grievance actions. Performs fact finding as necessary to advise management. Provides advice on the preparation of disciplinary and adverse actions, grievance, and appeal letters. Provides managers and employees with information and interpretations of employee relations policies, procedures, and guidelines. Suggests constructive methods to supervisors and managers for dealing with problems arising from indifference, personality conflicts, poor work habits, behavior problems, etc. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Specialist Total Rewards Special Salary Rate: HR Specialists in the VA are on a Special Salary Rate Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Location: Washington DC area or negotiable after selection (space at a federal facility must be obtained prior to a firm job offer). Compressed: Available after 90 days Telework: 5 days per pay period, more details will be discussed during the interview process Virtual: Maybe be available Position Description/PD#: 090630 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• 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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/10/2024. 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-14 position 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. 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. 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-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: experience providing management consultative service involving employee relations & labor relations to render expert advisory service and/or authoritative policy interpretations on highly complex agency-wide issues; serving as a recognized labor relations senior advisor by other senior HR staff and program managers; reviewing labor relations policy to ensure consistency in their application and recommend modifications; resolving unfair labor practice charges and complaints, arbitration of grievances, resolution of negotiability issues, and conformance of labor agreements with applicable laws. (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: functioning as a principal and senior advisor to all levels of management officials for all Employee Relations matters and serving as an expert consultant on issues related to conduct, performance, attendance, and dispute resolution; conducting research of complex legal or regulatory issues raised by Staff Office managers, supervisors, and employees and provides interpretation and guidance on issues of fact and law; analyzing, evaluating, and developing major aspects of agency-wide labor relations programs; providing advice to management on questions raised by unions in complying with terms of contracts, requirements of the statute, means of settling disputes, etc. and investigates disputes, unfair labor charges, and formal/informal complaints; analyzing negotiated agreements and conducting special studies to develop improvements in management's positions and/or to respond to union's demands. Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Decision MakingLabor RelationsManages Human ResourcesOral Communication 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 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. 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

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.

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.

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 VA Human Resources Service Center 810 Vermont Ave NW Washington, DC 20420 US
• Name: Dorian Bruce
• Phone: 909-602-4590
• Email: [email protected]