HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST (EMPLOYEE RELATIONS & PERFORMANCE)

This position is located in the Office of Inspector General, Office of Mission Support - Human Resources Directorate. The Office of Inspector General is an independent office within EPA that helps the agency protect the environment in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. We consist of auditors, program analysts, investigators, and others with extensive expertise. Although we are a part of EPA, Congress provides us with our funding separate from the agency, to ensure our independence. All applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. You may qualify for the GS-13 grade level, if you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal sector, or the equivalent in the private sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position your specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1.) Independently provides advice, guidance, and assistance to varying levels of management officials on a full range of GS performance management and conduct issues to include, but not limited to reviewing, fully drafting, and advising management on performance management plans, providing interpretations and guidance on highly complex issues, addressing informal performance and conduct counseling, and drafting performance improvement plans (PIPs) and preparation of disciplinary and adverse action, grievance, and appeal letters; 2.) Delivering virtual, on-site, and off-site trainings; 3.) Advises managers on appropriate performance and disciplinary corrective action techniques that were responsive to a range of conduct and performance problems; 4.) Draft and revise policy as it relates to performance and conduct; and 5.) Serve as a subject matter expert on all matters surrounding GS program and policy as it relates to performance and conduct. Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). 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; religious; 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. Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position within thirty (30) days of the closing date of this announcement. As a HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST (EMPLOYEE RELATIONS & PERFORMANCE) GS-0201-13 your typical work assignments may include the following under supervision: Serves as technical expert on performance and conduct-based actions and related employee relations program policies and practices. Responds to program issues where there is the potential for serious impact on the OIG's mission. Assesses the impact of new practices and/or the pursuit of certain actions that could have a perceived impact on the OIG or the Federal government. Develops solutions to extremely complicated, complex or non-standard problems that may have the potential to impact numerous employees and/or major OIG programs; Prepares reports and makes recommendations and decisions that involve precedent-setting cases that may affect the policies and programs of outside organizations. Conciliates remedies in cases that are likely to result in precedent decisions. Prepares comprehensive investigation reports that summarize investigative activities; Serves as advisor and consultant on performance management issues. Provides managers with interpretation of the agency's performance management procedures, practices, policies, and guidelines. Counsels managers on performance situations, including cases with the potential to generate administrative or negotiated agreement grievances, EEO complaints, performance-based adverse actions, etc.; Plans, coordinates and conducts special studies of employee relations policies, issues, and practices, including performance evaluation ratings, awards and adverse actions; Researches case law to ensure that actions are appropriate and legally defensible. Devises organizational case strategies, prepares and/or reviews documentation of adverse action cases and presents and defends the agency's technical position before third parties; Provides expert level advice in the area of performance management. Serves as a trouble-shooter, providing authoritative advice and guidance on problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted methods; recommendations and decisions are characterized by breadth and importance; Provides key consultative performance management advice and services to managers, supervisors, senior level officials, and employees involving the full spectrum of human resources policies, programs, processes, and procedures; Reviews and advises management on performance plans and provides technical information on performance management systems. Interprets agency policies and provides advice on other human resources issues that align with performance management; and Provides expert advice on policy, directives, and guidelines on a full range of matters pertinent to performance management and/or performance management. Recognizes recurrence of similar unprecedented and highly controversial problems. Develops or proposes new or revised agency approach. Anticipates problems that management may encounter, and accomplishes preventive human resources management projects to best serve management's goals. Security clearance required: Confidential

Education ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-andpolicy/college-accreditation.