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Contractor Industrial Relations Specialist

Department of Energy Headquarters

Washington, DCFull-time$106–158K/yrPosted today

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At a glance

Compensation
$106–158K/yr
Location
Washington, DC
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

The Contractor Industrial Relations Specialist supports the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management by planning, organizing, and directing contractor human resource management activities. The role formulates programs and policies and evaluates contractor proposals, labor relations, compensation, benefits, and compliance across Department sites. It also advises agency and contractor leaders and investigates program vulnerabilities, preparing reports and briefings to address audit findings and congressional inquiries.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Analytical Methods, requiredFact-Finding, requiredContractor Proposal Evaluation, requiredProject Data Evaluation, requiredContractor Performance Evaluation, requiredBusiness Management Systems, requiredLabor Law Analysis, requiredProcurement Regulations, requiredIndustrial Relations Policies, requiredAttention to Detail, nice to haveCustomer Service, nice to haveFlexibility, nice to haveIntegrity, nice to haveInterpersonal Skills, nice to haveLearning, nice to haveReading Comprehension, nice to haveReasoning, nice to haveSelf-Management, nice to haveStress Tolerance, nice to haveTeamwork, nice to have

Qualifications

GS-12 Specialized Experience, required

Full job description

Summary

This position is part of the Office of Management, Department of Energy, with dedicated support for the Office of Environmental Management. As a Contractor Industrial Relations Specialist, you will be planning, organizing, and directing Contractor Human Resource Management (CHRM) activities, formulating programs, and determining policies and procedures related to the accomplishment of CHRM functions.

Duties

The Department of Energy's mission is to ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. The Office of Management office works to deliver corporate support, leadership, and oversight at the Department of Energy for a wide range of management, procurement, and administrative functions. We are truly honored that DOE has been named America's #1 Best Employer for Veterans in 2023 by Forbes-not only among Government agencies, but among employers across the U.S. We are so proud of this ranking which reflects our commitment to the employment of veterans. As so many veterans at DOE renew their service to our Nation, we are deeply committed to their success and advancement. Veterans shape the future of energy As a Contractor Industrial Relations Specialist, you will: Analyzes contractor human resource and industrial relations proposals including economic bargaining parameters, workforce restructuring plans, and pension and benefit packages across Department sites to ensure cost reasonableness and mission alignment. Assesses contractor labor relations, wage determinations, and benefit programs to ensure strict adherence to federal and state labor laws, statutory requirements, and Department regulations. Drafts, reviews, and implement complex contract clauses governing contractor human resource management, wages, employee benefits, and workforce transition requirements throughout the contracting lifecycle. Advises agency leadership, legal counsel, and contractor management on interpreting procurement regulations, collective bargaining trends, and resolving complex contractor labor-management issues. Research and analyzes contractor compensation, staffing patterns, affirmative action programs, and labor standards across multiple facilities to identify program risks and evaluate industry trends. Investigates contractor program vulnerabilities and prepares official reports and briefings to resolve findings from audits and respond to congressional inquiries. Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT: GS-13 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting 2 of the 3 of the following: Applying analytical, evaluative, and fact-finding methods to assess contractor proposals or operational programs and provide actionable recommendations to management to support mission objectives. Selecting and applying established analytical methods and review techniques to evaluate project data, contractor performance, or business management systems to ensure reliable outcomes. Analyzing federal and state labor laws, procurement regulations, or industrial relations policies to evaluate contractor compliance and resolve labor-management, wage, or employee benefit issues. Education cannot be substituted for experience at the GS-13 level. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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. CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position. How You Will Be Evaluated

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for Contractor Industrial Relations Specialist positions in the 1101 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Education and Qualification requirements listed in this announcement will be referred for consideration. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply under the DHA process. Appointments made under the DHA are processed as "new" appointments. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b). USA Hire: Your application will be assessed based on your responses to an online assessment that measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes 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 fail to meet the established proficiency threshold or fail to complete the assessment. Reasonable Accommodation 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 reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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. 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 Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Successful candidates will possess the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork CTAP/ICTAP Eligible Applicants: To receive selection priority, you must submit the following documentation with your application: Proof of Eligibility: A copy of your agency-issued Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice, a copy of your separation SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) noting transition/displaced status, or other official agency documentation confirming your eligible status. Proof of Performance Rating: A copy of your most recent performance appraisal/rating of record, which must include: Your final rating (must be at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent); and The rating scale/guide (explaining what each level/numeric score means), unless the rating scale is clearly defined on the appraisal document itself. Other Information

Shared Certificates: The Department of Energy shares lists of applicants among its internal Departmental Elements and organizations. You may be referred for consideration to other DOE Hiring Managers throughout the Department for more than one position based on this application. By applying to this announcement, you understand your application materials may be shared with multiple Hiring Mangers throughout DOE. If additional positions are filled from this announcement conditions of employment may differ. You will be notified if you are referred for additional positions. The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE. For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available. EEO Policy: https://www.energy.gov/justice/eeo-complaint-process Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://www.energy.gov/hc/articles/reasonable-accommodation-and-personal-assistance-service-procedure Veterans Information: https://www.energy.gov/careers/veterans-military-spouses Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at [email protected]. CTAP/ICTAP Note: While a formal performance appraisal is highly recommended and requested to expedite your evaluation, if your agency-issued RIF separation notice or other official separation documentation explicitly states that your performance was at least "Fully Successful" (or equivalent) and notes your rating of record, it may be accepted in lieu of a formal performance appraisal. Failure to provide any documentation proving a rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent will result in the loss of your priority consideration.

How this job compares

Set against the 5,817 open Human Resources jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 12, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$106–158K/yr
  • Washington, D.C. median$115–158K/yr39 salary ranges
  • US median$95–138K/yr2,886 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $132K, is 5% below the Washington, D.C. median midpoint ($140K) — in the middle half of Human Resources salary ranges in Washington, D.C..

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 56 open Human Resources jobs in Washington, D.C. and 5,817 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Washington, D.C.
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 4,292 postings).
Education
1,527 of the 5,817 open Human Resources jobs (26%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 12, 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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