Supervisory HR Specialist (Employee Relations/Labor Relations)

Summary

This position is located at the National Cemetery Administration in Washington, District of Columbia.

Duties

Incumbent of this position serves as the Chief of the Employee/Labor Relations Division and is the NCA labor and employee relations expert and advisor to all levels of management nationwide. Promotes the establishment and achievement of labor and employee relations program objectives throughout NCA and assists management in the implementation of higher headquarters' direction. Provides authoritative interpretation and instructions on laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures specific to employee and labor relations. Incumbent plans, implements, coordinates and reviews all major program activities conducted within the Division to ensure that these activities are in conformance with OPM, VA, and NCA objectives and regulations. The day-to-day activities of these program areas are carried out by the HR Specialists within the Division and are subject to the review and/or approval of the incumbent or his/her Service Director. Develops guidance on appropriate courses of action, and monitors, evaluates, and analyzes program execution within the Division. Recognizes problems/problem areas; originates solutions to complex or unusual issues; and provides on-site assistance as needed. Serves as a team leader or member on assistance visits or investigative panels. The labor relations program administered by the incumbent involves over 50 different bargaining units nationwide, represented by seven (7) different labor unions. Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Telework: Available Ad Hoc Remote/Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position. Position Description Title/PD#: Supervisory HR Specialist (Employee Relations/Labor Relations)/PD1746497 The full performance level of this position is GS - 14. Relocation Expenses: Not Available Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required If interested in applying for this position you may preview the online application: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13106552 Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 11/06/2026. 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 within 45 days of 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 your most recent non-award 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 non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. 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: 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: functioning as an expert/advisor in staffing policies in relation to the United States Code, Code of Federal Regulations, VA Handbooks and Directives, etc. Providing administrative guidance and technical direction for accomplishing the work of federal recruitment and placement. Ensuring all the work assignments of employees in a human resources section are carried out and in compliance with all federal and VA laws and regulations. Performing a variety of leadership functions to ensure the work of the organization is carried out. Articulates and communicates assignments, projects, problems to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or program issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion. OR, You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Labor Relations Employee Relations Communication Performance Management Leadership Technical Competence 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. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level. How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. Other Information

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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 (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.