Human Resource Specialist (Employee Relations/Labor Relations)

Summary About the Position: The Civilian Human Resources Agency exercises world-wide command and control over the Army's civilian personnel operational structure to include CONUS/OCONUS Regional Processing Centers, Civilian Personnel Advisory Centers, and Non-Appropriated Fund Human Resources Offices. This is a developmental position to the GS-12. Responsibilities Serves as a senior HR Specialist performing labor management and employee relations matters in the Civilian Human Resources Agency. Advises managers about appropriate disciplinary or other corrective techniques responsive to a range of conduct and performance problems. Conduct studies to develop management interests and responds to union interests. Serves as principal point of contact on labor-management matters of overall concern to established bargaining units at the local level. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army) Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Interchange Agreement Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI) Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Reinstatement Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Specialized Experience GS-07: One year of specialized experience which includes providing answers to recurring questions and explanations of Civilian Human Resources (HR) policy, researching basic HR policies and/or gathering and compiling basic HR information and facts. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). OR Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies ( OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages. Specialized Experience GS-09: One year of specialized experience which includes applying Civilian HR rules and procedures to advise employee on questions, researching civilian personnel rules and regulations on issues or problems such as routine leave or attendance, or hours of work; and/or explaining employee and management rights. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. Specialized Experience GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes applying labor and employee relations principles, concepts, practices, and techniques to advise managers and employees; researching Civilian HR laws, policy, and agency precedents and/or gathering evidence specific to the cases and/or preparing labor agreements on labor-management proposals and reviewing unit and employee representation or unfair labor practices. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR Education: Ph. D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. [remove LL.M., if unrelated] in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. See Education Section for the Specialized Experience. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Employee Relations Interpersonal Skills Labor Relations Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Personnel and Human Resources Planning and Evaluating Written Communication Education Specialized Experience GS-12: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) providing advice and guidance to managers on complex labor management and employee relations issues within serviced organizations; 2) interpreting federal and local laws/policies to provide advice and guidance to management officials on a variety of Human Resources labor management and employee relations issues; 3) recommending appropriate resolutions to complex interrelated Human Resources issues and labor management and employee relations; and/or 4) interpreting negotiated collective bargaining agreements to advise management on union-related matters. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11). Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. Time in Grade Requirement for GS-09: To meet the Time-In-Grade requirement, applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the GS-07 or equivalent. Time in Grade Requirement for GS-11: To meet the Time-in-Grade requirement, applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the GS-09 or equivalent. Time in Grade Requirement for GS-12: To meet the Time-in-Grade requirement, applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the GS-11 or equivalent. NOTE: All applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade and specialized experience requirements within thirty (30) days after the closing date of the announcements. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct deposit of pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a(n) Civilian Human Resources Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest. You may be selected at the GS-07, GS-09, GS-11, or GS-12 level. Promotion to the full performance level is not guaranteed. You may be eligible for non-competitive promotion to the target position upon meeting time-in-grade restrictions and the following requirements: (1) Incumbent demonstrates ability to perform at target grade level; (2) Higher level work exists at target grade level; (3) Increased responsibilities are assigned; (4) Supervisor recommends promotion; (5) Incumbent completes all required training and conditions of employment, and; (6) Incumbent completes all regulatory requirements for career ladder promotions.