Supervisory HR Specialist (Employee and Labor Relations)
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services
Washington, DCFull-time$107–140K/yrPosted today
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At a glance
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Job overview
The Supervisory HR Specialist oversees employees performing employee and labor relations work and provides technical guidance on related policies and operations. The role delivers HR services for disciplinary actions, leave, and performance matters; oversees conduct and performance management programs; and advises on strategic labor relations issues. It also directs research, studies, and assessments and works with division leadership on annual plans and priorities.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Summary
This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Administration, headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia. This announcement will close at 11:59 PM, on the day that 50 applications have been received or the closing date of the announcement, whichever comes first.
Duties
As a Supervisory HR Specialist (Employee and Labor Relations), you will: Provide oversight, guidance, and direction to subordinate employees performing Employee Relations (ER) and Labor Relations (LR) work and provide technical advice and guidance concerning ER/LR policies and operations Provide HR service delivery for disciplinary and adverse actions, leave-related issues, and performance-related matters. Oversee implementation and administration of conduct and performance management programs. Provide strategic labor relations advisory services on strategic plans and complex organizational issues, including the potential impact of negotiations and third-party decisions. Ensure subordinates research and recommend solutions to precedent-setting labor relations problems affecting operating policies, practices, and procedures. Conduct and oversee special studies of employee and labor relations policies, issues, and practices. Review reports and assessments on special issues and labor relations trends. Participate with Division leadership in establishing and implementing annual work plans and program priorities. Qualifications
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR Minimum Qualifications: You must have one year specialized experience to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service performing ALL of the following: Providing expert Employee and Labor Relations advisory services and applying Federal personnel laws, regulations, policies, and collective bargaining agreements to resolve complex workplace issues. Advising managers on performance management, conduct and disciplinary actions, adverse actions, grievances, complaints, leave administration, and employee misconduct matters. Providing labor relations guidance on contract interpretation, grievance resolution, unfair labor practice matters, bargaining obligations, and organizational changes affecting bargaining unit employees. Conducting research and analysis of statutes, regulations, case law, and agency policies to develop recommendations and resolve complex employee and labor relations issues. Collaborating with leadership, legal counsel, HR professionals, and union representatives to ensure compliance, mitigate organizational risk, and maintain effective employee and labor relations programs. Documenting experience: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational application questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above. 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; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited. OPM Qualification General Policies Website
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this announcement. Evaluation will be based on your application materials (such as your resume and supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and the results of all required assessments. Resume Requirement Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages in length. Minimum Qualification Question As part of the application process, you must answer a minimum qualification question addressing whether you meet the Specialized Experience required for this position, as described in this announcement. Your response must be supported by the experience documented in your resume. If your resume does not demonstrate the required Specialized Experience, you may be found not qualified. Assessment Process USA Hire Assessment You are required to complete a USA Hire assessment for this position. The USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. HR Resume Review Human Resource (HR) Specialists will review your resume to determine whether you meet the required Specialized Experience. Applicants who successfully pass all of the assessment(s) may be referred to the Hiring Manager for consideration. You must complete all required steps in the process, including submitting an application and resume and participating in the assessments, to be considered for this position. Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS. In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public. PHS Commissioned Corps (CC) Officers: PHS Commissioned Corps (CC) Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps may apply online to this announcement. Candidates will be referred as CC personnel and not as candidates for conversion to a permanent career or career-conditional appointment. For Competitive Merit Promotion and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Applicants: The highest rated candidates will be referred to the hiring agency. For Noncompetitive Applicants: All qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring agency. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Accountability Advising and Consulting (3) Collaboration Customer Service Decisiveness Flexibility Interpersonal Skills Labor Relations Partnering Problem Solving Resilience To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13082023 Other Information
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine. Incentives may be authorized; however, this is contingent upon multiple factors, including funds availability. If authorized, certain incentives may require you to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a period of up to 3 years. Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid. Incentives may include the following: moving expenses, recruitment or relocation incentive; student loan repayment, superior qualifications appointment, creditable service for annual leave for prior non-federal work experience or prior uniformed military service, etc. Bargaining Unit Position: No Research position: No Drug Screening Required: No Applicants selected for this position will be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans - https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/ Special Hiring Authorities for Military Spouses - https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/military-spouses/ People With Disabilities (Schedule A) - https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Individuals_with_Disabilities Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an CTAP/ICTAP eligible see http://opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position. Reemployment Priority List (RPL): To receive selection priority for this position, individuals on the RPL must meet the qualification requirements, complete all required assessments and be rated as qualified. RPL candidates are ranked using Category Rating procedures. Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. For Résumé Tips visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk For Application Tips visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqYkibnuiJU For additional information about USAJOBS visit the Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/
How this job compares
Set against the 5,294 open Human Resources jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 27, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$107–140K/yr
- Washington, D.C. median$122–164K/yr50 salary ranges
- US median$97–140K/yr2,464 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $124K, is 15% below the Washington, D.C. median midpoint ($145K) — in the middle half of Human Resources salary ranges in Washington, D.C..
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 69 open Human Resources jobs in Washington, D.C. and 5,294 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Washington, D.C.
- Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (this employer)4 open
- Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System3 open
- Oracle3 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Human Resources postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 3,689 postings).
- Education
- 1,526 of the 5,294 open Human Resources jobs (29%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 27, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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