Human Resources Specialist (Employee & Labor Relations)

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 by the closing date of this announcement. For the GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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 the most recent 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 SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: 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. To qualify for this position, all qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement-06/04/2026. EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: advising management and human resources on a broad range of employee and labor relations issues, such as disciplinary actions, performance management, and EEO-related matters under Title 5 and agency-specific authorities. This role requires interpreting collective bargaining agreements, grievance procedures, and federal labor relations statutes, as well as analyzing fact-finding inquiries and management investigations. The work also involves independently researching relevant laws, regulations, and precedents and providing clear, legally defensible written recommendations and decision documents. 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.

Major Duties: Serves as an Employee Relations (ER) Specialist on ER programs including policy guidance and advice to senior leadership, program managers, other management officials and supervisors. Provides assistance, interpretation, information, and guidance on employee relations problems and issues which affect organizational goal performance, individual performance, performance appraisal systems, and employee relations training programs. Serves as a technical advisor for disciplinary and adverse action procedures. Provides advice and assistance to supervisors, employees and HR in a wide variety of employee relations matters such as performance issues, conduct actions (disciplinary and adverse actions), grievances, appeals, etc. Trains supervisors and management officials on ER problems, performance and conduct issues, merit systems principles, and investigative techniques. Act as management's representative for labor contract negotiations and administration that include multiple contracts and multiple bargaining units. Serves as management's representative on negotiating team(s) providing advice on developing management proposals, negotiating strategies, and when union's proposals may be nonnegotiable under federal law and regulations. Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Specialist (Employee & Labor Relations)/PD70049A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Travel Required: Occasional travel may be required as needed for this position. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: As determined by the Agency Policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Physical Demands: No special physical exertion is required. The work is primarily performed while sitting, though some work may require periods of standing. The regular and recurring work of the position involves sitting at a desk, conferences, meeting and training rooms, or commercial vehicles. Working Conditions: The work environment includes everyday risks and discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of an office environment.