This position is established within VHA Workforce Management and Consulting's Human Resources Operations Office in the Employee and Labor Relations Shared Service Unit ELRSSU). The incumbent provides expert level guidance concerning complex advisory services essential to leadership, managers and HR Specialists in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to properly plan, develop, organize, manage, and evaluate employee relations and performance management concerns.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Specialist Total Rewards Duties include, but are not limited to: Advises top management officials of the agency on issues related to conduct and performance, and related issues such as employee standards of conduct and suitability Devises ways to improve supervisory support for and understanding of policies and approaches to promote acceptable conduct and performance Devises agency case strategy, and prepares, presents, and defends the agency's technical position before third parties Resolves the most difficult, complex and controversial employee relations cases within WMC which could have a direct impact on the Department mission Works closely with staff and operational officials, employee groups, etc., to develop and explore employee relations alternatives to improve policies, techniques and procedures Prepare reports that include innovative employee relations change Analyzes and evaluates a broad range of conduct and performance that typically include serious evidence problems, addressing critical organizational issues, and developing new concepts regarding case resolution Checks on work in progress or spot check work not requiring review, and reviews completed work to ensure that supervisor's instructions on work sequence, procedures, methods and deadlines have been met Functions as a Consultant to the Director, this includes the requirement to routinely explore and develop innovative and creative approaches to human resource concerns and issues and the development of long and short-term plans Consults and participates with all members of the ER/LR SSU offices in interpreting and analyzing the impact of laws, regulations and policies throughout the VHA Recommends and initiates special studies, pilot programs or other actions; and follows-up to assure that the VA maintains a progressive employee relations program which embodies the latest professional developments in Government or the private sector Maintains a current knowledge and answers questions of other employees on procedures, policies, directives, etc. Checks on work in progress or spot check work not requiring review, and reviews completed work to ensure that supervisor's instructions on work sequence, procedures, methods and deadlines have been met. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: This position may be authorized for a compressed/flexible work schedule. Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This position may be filled virtually. However, the selectee will be required to report to either a VA Facility, Agency/VA approved leased space, or any Federal building designated by VA. Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations)/PD65931A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized 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 by the closing date of this announcement, 12/26/2024. 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. 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. 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: skill in applying employee relations principles, practices, laws, and regulations, as well as a wide range of analytical and evaluative techniques sufficient to: serving as a point of contact on employee relations issues; experience interpreting laws, regulations, executive orders, HR policies and procedures as they pertain to employee relations/labor relations issues; providing employee and labor relations advice and to management officials and employees. ~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: evaluating, publicizing and establishing operating procedures for employee relations programs that are typically complex or controversial, and/or potentially impact large numbers of employees; informing management of regulatory and other requirements to be considered in effecting disciplinary actions, removals, suspensions and in resolving grievances and appeals related to formal disciplinary actions taken and assisting in the development of required correspondence/documents; supplementing management's efforts to analyze and resolve conduct or performance inadequacies in the overall HR management programs; completing qualitative/quantitative reviews of employee conduct, performance management system, recognition program, attrition rates, grievances, complaints or other underlying matters potentially leading to the existing climate; providing interpretations, advice, and guidance on Federal laws, executive orders, OPM directives/decisions, as well as policies and procedures as they relate to employee and labor relations issues. 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. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VHA Central Office - Human Capital Management 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]