Assistant Human Resources Officer (Senior Strategic Business Partner)

Summary

VA New England Healthcare System is a regional network (known as a Veterans Integrated Service Network, or VISN) of VA medical centers and outpatient clinics. This a temporary, not to exceed 1 year position that may be extended and the incumbent may be considered for permanent placement without competition. This position is open to current, permanent employees of Legacy VISN 1 Human Resources Management Services (HRMS) employees only.

Duties

The Senior Strategic Business Partner (SSBP) reports to the VISN 1 Chief Human Resources Officer and contributes to overall VISN performance by providing tactical and strategic consulting on people and organization development strategies in support of business objectives. As the local labor market expert, SSBP serves VABHS executive leadership and key management officials in all HR matters in the following functional areas: employee relations consultation; strategic talent acquisition and management (staffing); policy interpretation, application, and implementation; and performance and compensation management consultation. Examines the forecasting data to project managerial strategies, organizational processes, competencies, and human resources interventions necessary to create the required cultures to support new and establish VHA initiatives. Advises leadership and provides responses to proposed legislation, policies, and standards of higher authority regarding human resources issues, including requests from members of Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Personnel Management. Interprets the national human capital workforce plan and leads the development and implementation of the healthcare system workforce plan. Performs talent acquisition and actively participates in recruitment campaigns, job fairs, college relations programs, general networking, etc. Collaboratively drives complex employee relations issues for field-based employees such as employee complaints, harassment allegations, and work performance issues, while ensuring legal compliance, leveraging employee abilities, and managing risks. Facilitates the annual review process, career development planning, and mentoring. Coaches employees and managers on the process of resolving and/or addressing performance gaps, and actively undertakes coaching conversations to challenge leaders' current thinking to reach optimal outcomes. Advises leadership in the resolution of administrative grievances, post separation reviews, and Congressional, Office of Inspector General, Office of Special Counsel, Equal Opportunity Employment, Merit System Protection Board, or department level complaints. Presents management's position through written correspondence and appearances before various third parties, including arbitrators and agents of the Merit Systems Protection Board, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and Federal Service Impasses Panel. Works collaboratively with all levels of leadership and the Compensation Center of Excellence by establishing strategy for the utilization of Special Salary Rates, Nurse Pay Schedules, Physician, Dentist, and Podiatrist Pay, Student Loan Repayment Program, Education Debt Reduction Program, and Recruitment, Relocation, and Retention incentives. 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, Monday - Friday; Tour of duty will be set between 7:00am - 5:00pm EST Compressed/Flexible: May be available Telework:This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Assistant Human Resources Officer (Senior Strategic Business Partner)/PD99991S and PD99579S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. This position is not a Bargaining Unit position. Current Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is in the Competitive Service. Time-in-Grade Restriction: 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. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment. Veterans' preference does not apply to internal announcements. 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, 09/11/2026. 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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: To qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, you must meet one of the following listed Criteria: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Providing staff service, advice and guidance on HR management principles, techniques and acceptable practices, as well as technical advice on regulatory and procedural requirements on pay administration, employee and labor relations, employee training, performance management, employee recognition programs; Advising on the development of local policies, HR management tools, and implementation of HR standard operating procedures; Recommending, planning, and implementing programs, program updates, and changes in strategic HR planning; Using skill, judgment and experience in resolving complex and/or vague policy or personnel issues and advising on the most appropriate actions to take within a wide range of alternatives. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of successful completion of a graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 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: knowledge of experience in recruitment and placement policies and regulations; training subordinate staff in recruitment and placement policies and procedures; plans and directs subordinate staff providing guidance and decisions in complex HR Situations. To qualify for this position at the GS-14 level, you must meet one of the following listed Criteria: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Directing and reviewing Human Resources functional programs (position management, compensation, staffing, employee & labor relations, processing & records, personnel security); Serving as an expert advisor to top management on personnel laws, regulations, functions, policies, and procedures; Reviewing newly issued regulations/directives and interpreting for incorporation into local policy; Representing the facility at various hearings/arbitrations. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of the 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: Serves as an authoritative advisor on staffing policies in accordance with the United States Code, Code of Federal Regulations, VA Handbooks and Directives, and related guidance. Instructs and oversees subordinate staff in the effective use of VA HRIS systems and applications (such as HR Smart and USA Staffing). Provides comprehensive administrative guidance and technical direction for federal recruitment and placement activities. Conducts audits and appraises performance of Human Resources staff to ensure compliance with all federal and VA laws and regulations. Oversees and ensures that all work assignments within the human resources section are executed accurately and in accordance with established standards. Performs a wide range of leadership functions to guarantee that organizational objectives are met efficiently. 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/. 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 Customer Service Decisiveness Flexibility Interpersonal Skills Problem Solving Resilience 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/.