Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment & Placement)

Summary

This position is located in VHA Workforce Management and Consulting's Human Resources Operations Office (HROO). HROO is the exclusive operational HR service provider for VHA's Central Office (VHACO). The HR Specialist (Recruitment & Placement) serves in the Recruitment & Staffing Shared Service Unit (RSSSU) and is responsible for rendering recruitment and staffing services to fill all levels of General Schedule Title 5, Title 38, Hybrid 38 and Wage Grade positions throughout VHA.

Duties

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-12. At the lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied. Duties Include: Developing and publishing job opportunity announcements for vacant positions in the excepted and competitive service (Title 5, Title 38, and Hybrid Title 38). Reviewing past postings, hiring trends, and position specific information to determine the most appropriate area of consideration in coordination with the hiring manager's expertise. Auditing the certificate and reviewing the selection documentation to ensure all selections are in line with appropriate Merit System Principles and no Prohibited Personnel Practices have been committed. Providing consultation on wide variety of staffing concepts, principles, laws, regulations, practices, and procedures directly to managers and employees on all phases of the recruitment and placement process. Advising management officials regarding merit principles, advantages and disadvantages of various staffing methods in employee selection and ensures compliance with union agreements. Processing a variety of personnel actions to fill positions, such as career promotions, reassignments, or placements. Working with the managers and subject matter experts to gather and prepare job assessments. Consulting with management on the utilization of non-competitive recruitment alternatives such as VRA, 30%, and Schedule A candidates. Responding to inquires or resolving complaints from customers. Researching regulations, laws, HRMLS, and similar sources to produce researched, accurate, and timely responses to staffing inquiries and reports. Determining appropriate rating and ranking selective factors and develop crediting plans to assess varying degrees of job qualifications and explain the methodology to management. Reviewing candidates for minimum qualifications and eligibility requirements. Creating and issuing certificates of eligible candidates based on the candidates specific area of consideration and legal authority to be considered and appointed to the position. Making pay-setting determinations for unusual cases, such as superior qualifications, highest previous rate, and movements between pay systems, utilizing recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives when appropriate. 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. Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday. Compressed/Flexible: Available, eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Telework: This position may be authorized for ad hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Ad hoc is defined as occasional, non-recurring telework. Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work. Virtual Work eligibility is for current VA employees that are already subject to the return to in person work mandate in their current position. Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA owned or leased space. Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in person work unless they have an approved exception or an exemption. Any approval for an RTO exception, exemption, or extension will happen after a tentative job offer, but before a final job offer. Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment & Placement)/PD99221S, PD99220S, and PD99219S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/13/2026. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 Minimum Qualifications Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Assisting in performing recruitment and placement services; Assisting in processing a variety of requests for personnel action to fill positions and/or to career promote, reassign, or otherwise place employees; Completing new hire onboarding requirements; Assisting higher grade specialist in recommending strategies for overcoming employment and promotion barriers. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or JD, if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelor's degree. GS-11 Minimum Qualifications Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Utilizing an automated system to develop job opportunity announcements, make applicants qualifications determinations, and create applicant lists, and issue certificates; Processing a variety of requests for personnel action to fill positions and/or to career promote, reassign, or otherwise place employees; Setting pay and advising managers on possible pay flexibility; Determining new hire onboarding requirements; Utilizing a variety of recruitment strategies to aid in recruiting for a variety of positions. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR, have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR, I have a LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a master's degree. GS-12 Minimum Qualifications For the GS-12 grade levels, candidates must possess either Criteria 1 - graduate degree and specialized experience or Criteria 2 - specialized experience to qualify for the specific grade level. At this grade level, candidates must fully meet or exceed either Criteria 1 or Criteria 2 meaning it is not appropriate to combine Criteria 1 and Criteria 2 to qualify candidates. At this grade level, applicants cannot qualify on the basis of education alone. Criteria 1 - Graduate Education and Specialized Experience: You must have a graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level, which includes Utilizing an automated system to develop job opportunity announcements, make applicants qualifications determinations, and create applicant lists, and issue certificates; Processing a variety of requests for personnel action to fill positions and/or to career promote, reassign, or otherwise place employees; Setting pay and advising managers on possible pay flexibility; Determining new hire onboarding requirements; Utilizing a variety of recruitment strategies to aid in recruiting for a variety of positions. OR, Criteria 2 - Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, which includes: Interpreting and applying human resources laws, regulations and policies pertaining to recruitment and placement; Providing guidance and consultation to management on HR laws and regulations for all positions; Reviewing and processing personnel action coding in the VA personnel system and taking corrective action on personnel history errors. Advising on the procedural and regulatory requirements governing the recruitment process; Utilizing an automated recruitment system to develop job opportunity announcements, make qualification determinations, create applicant lists, issue certificates and complete new hire onboarding requirements. 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

Educational Courses and Programs. Successfully completed courses and programs (bachelors level or higher) 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 are qualifying programs. 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/. How You Will Be Evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position: Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Recruitment/Placement Critical Thinking Technical Credibility Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. Other Information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.