Human Resources Specialist
: Job Details :

SummaryFor more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.Please Note: Employees will be required to report to the office location at least 3 days per week with the option of 2 days of telework per week.Learn more about this agencyHelpOverview* Accepting applications* Open & closing dates12/06/2024 to 12/12/2024This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more* Salary$68,405 - $107,590 per year* Pay scale & gradeGS 9 - 11* HelpLocationMany vacancies in the following location:* Alexandria, VA* Remote jobNo* Telework eligibleYes-as determined by the agency policy.* Travel RequiredOccasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.* Relocation expenses reimbursedNo* Appointment typePermanent* Work scheduleFull-time* ServiceCompetitive* Promotion potential12* Job family (Series)* 0201 Human Resources Management* Supervisory statusNo* Security clearanceOther* Drug testYes* Position sensitivity and riskCritical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk* Trust determination process* Suitability/Fitness* Financial disclosureNo* Bargaining unit statusNo* Announcement number25-VAE-12632403-MS* Control number822378400HelpThis job is open to* Federal employees - Competitive serviceCurrent or former competitive service federal employees.* Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)Federal employees who meet the definition of a surplus or displaced employee.* Veterans* Individuals with disabilities* Military spouses* Special authoritiesIndividuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.* Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista* Family of overseas employeesFamily members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.* Land and base managementCertain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.Clarification from the agencyWell-qualified surplus/displaced Federal employees (CTAP/ICTAP) in the local area and current/former Federal employees in permanent competitive service positions (status candidates). VEOA eligibles and those eligible for non-competitive appointment under special hiring authority, e.g., Individuals with Disabilities, Military Spouses, former Overseas employees, VISTA/Peace Corps, some Land Management employees, and certain veterans, e.g., VRA, 30% Disabled. see link in How to Apply .HelpDutiesAt the full performance level, the incumbent will provide a variety of human resources management services in two or more of the following functional areas: recruitment and placement, position classification, employee relations and performance management, employee benefits, and human resources development.If selected, the incumbent will receive formal and/or on-the-job training as needed. Duties include:* Performing position analysis to determine organizational requirements* Determining recruitment strategies and posting job announcements* Reviewing applications and applying qualification standards* Providing advice and assistance on performance management* Providing assistance in the administration of benefits programs* Administering guidance on pay and leave* Identifying training and development needs* Conducting evaluations of human resource program operationsResponsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.HelpRequirementsConditions of Employment* You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.* Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.* You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.* If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.* Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.* You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.* Ability to obtain and maintain a DE Certification within 6 months Post-Entry of Duty.QualificationsGS-9: To be eligible at the GS 9 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience.Specialized experience: one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 7 level. Specialized experience is defined as: providing technical assistance to managers and employees on federal civilian Human Resources laws and regulations related to one of the following functional areas: recruitment and placement, position classification, employee relations and performance management, employee benefits, and pay/compensation. Examples of specialized experience include: providing technical assistance to employees and management in a variety of staffing and recruitment services; reviewing position descriptions; assisting in administering guidance on pay and leave; employee benefits; retirement and other human resources functional areas.OREducation: One of the following types of education in a closely related field (e.g., Human Resources) a Master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as an LL.B.); OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.ORCombining Education and Experience: I have a combination of specialized experience as described in A and graduate education as described in B which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. (Only graduate education in excess of 1 full year is creditable. To calculate your percentage of education, first determine the total number of hours that exceed 36 semester hours or your school's definition of two full years of study. Then divide the total number of your excess semester hours by 18 or your school's definition of one year of study. To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now, add the two percentages together. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100%. For example, if you had if you had 9 months of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09, then you would have 75% of the required experience. If you also had 45 semester hours of creditable graduate level education, then 45-36=9 semester hours. 9 divided by 18 is 50% of the required education, and therefore, 75% + 50% = 125%. You would qualify for this position).GS-11: To be eligible at the GS 11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience.Specialized experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level. Specialized Experience is defined as: advising managers on federal civilian Human Resources laws and regulations related to one or more of the following functional areas: recruitment and placement, position classification, employee relations and performance management, employee benefits, compensation and human resources development. Examples of specialized experience include: advising management on recruitment methods and strategies; generating vacancy announcements; issuing certificates of qualified candidates; coding and processing personnel actions; applying basic classification principles to review position descriptions; administering guidance on pay and leave; providing advice regarding employee benefits and retirement and conducting research to solve complex human resources situations.OREducation: One of the following types of education in a closely related field (e.g., Human Resources) a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.ORCombining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 2 full years.Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) -VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.Special Employment Consideration - Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments. For further information, click on the links provided below . You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility.Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links: academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.Additional informationPayment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.EEO Statement: The Department of Justice is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment for all employees and applicants. See U.S. Department of Justice Equal Employment Opportunity Policy for complete details.Diversity Statement: As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. 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 this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.Read more* BenefitsHelpA career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Review our benefitsEligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.Your complete application package (resume/supporting documentation, online questionnaire, and USA Hire Competency Based Assessment) will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.You will be rated on the following Competencies (see The OPM Website for definitions):Accountability, Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and TeamworkTo be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.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.* BenefitsHelpA career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Review our benefitsEligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.* Required DocumentsAs a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:* Required: Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).* Required: Your resume showing relevant experience and dates (month/day/year) of employment and work schedule for each (e.g., part-time XX hours per week or full-time). 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). 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. (cover letter optional)* Required if you meet qualifications based on education: An unofficial college transcript (Note: If you are selected for this position, an official transcript will be required prior to your first day.) and foreign education evaluation documentation, if applicable, as described under the Qualifications section of this vacancy announcement.* Required if you are a current or former Federal employee: a recent copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing title, series, grade, and full performance level (FPL); AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal. Please note your SF-50 must include your FPL in the remark section (e.g., appointment, reassignment, promotion actions), pay adjustments and awards do not include this information so they are not acceptable.* Required, if applicable: CTAP/ICTAP documentation (a copy of a separation notice or other proof of eligibility for priority selection; a copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing current position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location; AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.* Required, if applicable: VEOA documentation (your DD-214, Member Copy 4).* If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you must submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found at: or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office by providing a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:* Position title;* Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);* Agency; and* Beginning and ending dates of appointment.If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.* How to ApplyPlease read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/12/2024 the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration of by 11:59pm on the date that 75 applications have been received. The application process is as follows:1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on 12/12/2024.4. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification.5. If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments.Click here for Computer System Requirements( Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, please click the following link: update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account ( There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: 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: contact informationUS Attorney Office Eastern District of VirginiaEmail ...@usdoj.govAddress Eastern District of Virginia2100 Jamieson AvenueAlexandria, VA 22314USLearn more about this agencyNext stepsBased on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.* Fair and TransparentThe Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.* Criminal history inquiries* Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy* Financial suitability* New employee probationary period* Privacy Act* Reasonable accommodation policy* Selective Service* Signature and false statements* Social security number requestHelpRequired DocumentsTo apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:* Required: Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).* Required: Your resume showing relevant experience and dates (month/day/year) of employment and work schedule for each (e.g., part-time XX hours per week or full-time). 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). 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. (cover letter optional)* Required if you meet qualifications based on education: An unofficial college transcript (Note: If you are selected for this position, an official transcript will be required prior to your first day.) and foreign education evaluation documentation, if applicable, as described under the Qualifications section of this vacancy announcement.* Required if you are a current or former Federal employee: a recent copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing title, series, grade, and full performance level (FPL); AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal. Please note your SF-50 must include your FPL in the remark section (e.g., appointment, reassignment, promotion actions), pay adjustments and awards do not include this information so they are not acceptable.* Required, if applicable: CTAP/ICTAP documentation (a copy of a separation notice or other proof of eligibility for priority selection; a copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing current position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location; AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.* Required, if applicable: VEOA documentation (your DD-214, Member Copy 4).* If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you must submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found at: or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office by providing a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:* Position title;* Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);* Agency; and* Beginning and ending dates of appointment.If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.HelpHow to ApplyPlease read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/12/2024 the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration of by 11:59pm on the date that 75 applications have been received. The application process is as follows:1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on 12/12/2024.4. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification.5. If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments.Click here for Computer System Requirements( Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, please click the following link: update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account ( There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: 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 a