Human Resources Specialist (Generalist)

Summary As a Human Resources Specialist (Generalist), you will perform the full range of recruitment and placement and labor and employee relations services for GSA organizations. Location of position: GSA, Office of Human Resources, and may be filled in Washington, DC, Kansas City, MO, Lakewood, CO, Tacoma, WA, Raleigh, NC, Atlanta, GA, New York, NY, Boston, MA, San Francisco, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Chicago, IL We are currently filling ten vacancies, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed. Responsibilities As a Human Resources Specialist (Generalist), you will perform the following duties: GS-7 Duties Assists higher-graded specialists with recruitment and placement assignments by reviewing position and vacancy information; assisting with vacancy announcements, correspondence, reports, recruitment documentation, and case files; responding to routine inquiries; assisting with orientation and onboarding; processing background investigation requests; and referring unusual or technical matters for higher-level review. Assists higher-graded specialists with employee relations and performance management assignments by applying established guidance to limited-scope issues; gathering and analyzing facts; assisting with disciplinary actions, grievances, appeals, and related case files; preparing analytical work products; and communicating factual and procedural information while referring matters requiring higher-level interpretation. Assists higher-graded specialists with labor relations assignments by researching applicable laws, regulations, negotiated agreements, and precedents; applying established guidance to limited-scope issues; providing procedural assistance concerning employee rights; and assisting with grievances, unfair labor practice matters, pre-negotiation activities, FOIA requests, and other assigned matters. Conducts basic research and analysis supporting recruitment and placement, employee relations, and/or labor relations by locating authoritative information; gathering, evaluating, organizing, and summarizing facts; identifying routine HR issues or discrepancies; preparing analytical work products; and providing information to support higher-graded specialists in evaluating options and courses of action. Communicates factual and procedural information orally and in writing to managers, supervisors, employees, applicants, and other customers; responds to routine inquiries; prepares HR correspondence and reports; assists with briefings, presentations, training, orientation, and onboarding; and maintains effective working relationships while supporting assigned HR activities. GS-9 Duties Assists higher-graded specialists with recruitment and placement assignments by providing limited advisory support to program officials; participating in recruitment discussions; developing job analyses and vacancy announcements for less-complex positions; determining applicant qualifications and referrals; applying hiring authorities and placement procedures; reviewing personnel actions for compliance; responding to inquiries; and researching less-complex recruitment issues and recommending appropriate action. Assists higher-graded specialists with employee relations assignments by advising managers and employees on routine issues involving leave, attendance, disputes, discipline, grievances, appeals, and performance; researching applicable laws, policies, precedents, and case information; analyzing recurring cases; assisting with disciplinary and performance actions; maintaining case files; and advising on performance improvement and appraisal matters. Assists higher-graded specialists with labor relations assignments by preparing labor-management proposals; researching and evaluating applicable laws, regulations, negotiated agreements, and precedents; providing guidance concerning employee rights; assisting with negotiations, grievances, unfair labor practice matters, arbitration, negotiability, impasses, and pre-negotiation planning; and researching assigned labor relations matters. Conducts research and analysis supporting recruitment and placement, employee relations, and/or labor relations by evaluating information from multiple sources; researching laws, regulations, policies, precedents, and case law; identifying HR issues; preparing reports, correspondence, briefings, and other work products; developing supportable courses of action; and identifying matters requiring additional guidance or higher-level review. Develops and delivers briefings, training presentations, reports, correspondence, and other written and oral communications; presents recommendations to managers concerning routine to moderately difficult HR matters; provides advice and assistance on assigned HR matters; and establishes and maintains effective working relationships with managers, supervisors, employees, and other stakeholders. Requirements Conditions of Employment US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959 If selected, you must meet the following conditions: Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Serve a one year probationary period, if required. Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level). Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security's e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment. Qualifications To evaluate your qualifications, your resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet the specialized experience described below. Your resume must not exceed two pages. To ensure your qualifications can be fully evaluated, we recommend including the following information: Name, address, telephone number, email address; Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade); Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement. Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts. Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet experience requirements for each grade level you are applying to. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible. If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume. The GS-7 salary range starts at $51,283 per year. The GS-9 salary range starts at $62,729 per year. Locality will be determined upon selection. If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected. GS-07 Grade Level To qualify at the GS-7 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience applying fundamental human resources (HR) concepts, laws, regulations and principles in order to analyze routine HR issues and problems in two or more of the following HR specialties: compensation, recruitment/ placement, benefits, employee relations, labor relations, employee development, performance management, and records retention. OR Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) at the baccalaureate level is fully qualifying at the GS-7 level. To claim SAA, submit documentation of one of the following: 1. Class standing -- You must be in the upper third of your graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. 2. Grade-point average (rounded to one decimal point) of: a. 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of your curriculum; or b. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in your major field or the required courses in your major field completed during your final 2 years of the curriculum. 3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. OR Successfully completed at least one fully year of graduate level education (18 semester hours or the equivalent). OR Possess a combination of graduate level education and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position. GS-09 Grade Level To qualify at the GS-09 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience applying HR concepts, laws, regulations, principles, practices, policies, precedents, and systems in order to identify, evaluate, and recommend solutions to HR problems/issues in two or more of the following specialties: compensation, recruitment/placement, benefits, employee relations, labor relations, employee development, performance management, and records retention. OR Possess a master's or equivalent level degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.B. or JD. OR Possess a combination of graduate level education and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position. Education Note: 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/ Additional Information Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches. If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage. If you are selected at a grade lower than the full performance level, you may be promoted up to that grade level without having to re-apply or compete against other applicants. Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility. On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved: · Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.