Human Resources Specialist (ER)

These positions are located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Central Office (VACO) Human Resources Service Center (HRSC). The primary purpose of these positions are to provide support to hiring managers and executives on various employee relations programs.To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/08/2026.
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 a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. AND 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 a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade.

The BASIC REQUIREMENT for the HR Specialist GS-0201 series is presumed met if found qualified at the GS-0201-7 level and above. To qualify for this position at the GS-12/13 level, you must meet one of the following listed Criteria:

Criteria 1- In order to qualify for the GS-12 , Graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level or One year of full-time specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge, concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the HR specialty areas. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical, or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: advising managers about appropriate disciplinary or other corrective techniques that are responsive to a range of conduct and performance problems; conducting research on complex legal or regulatory issues involving ER/LR issues; providing labor relations consultative service on reorganizations, realignments, relocations, reduction in force, transfer of function and outsourcing to educate management on potential impact of these decisions on bargaining unit employees.
~OR~
Criteria 1- In order to qualify for the GS-13 , Graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. One year of full-time specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge, concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the HR specialty areas. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical, or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: experience providing management consultative service involving ER/LR to render expert advisory service and/or authoritative policy interpretations on highly complex agencywide issues; serving as a recognized ER/LR senior advisor by other senior HR staff and program managers; reviewing ER/LR policy to ensure consistency in their application and recommend modifications; resolving unfair labor practice charges and complaints, arbitration of grievances, resolution of negotiability issues, and conformance of labor agreements with applicable laws.

Note : Resume must include job title and employer name, number of hours worked per week, start and end dates (including month and year), list of duties and responsibilities for each position held. In addition, if the experience was a federal position, you must list series and grade for each position held. Failure to include this information may result in an ineligible rating. A full year of work is considered to be 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.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix F1; Human Resources Specialist Qualification Standards GS-0201. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office .

Qualifications: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be found well qualified for the GS12: applicants must meet the following qualifications Knowledge of a wide range of HR case laws, programs, principles, policies and practice. Must be able to perform detailed analyses and draw conclusions on complex legal matters. Must possess conflict resolution techniques to interact with occasionally highly charged emotional situations. Must be knowledgeable in negotiation, mediation, advocacy and legal research techniques.

To be found well qualified for the GS13:Applicants must meet the following qualifications: Must possess the ability to advise management and executive of various employee relation programs. Must have knowledge of the complaint process and be able to advise management on complex employee relations issues. Knowledge of conduct, performance and attendance issues and disciplinary methods for corrective actions. Experience reviewing complaints and grievance actions. Able to educate management of the complaint process. Able to participate in staffing determination and establish training needs, SOPs, training and development for HR staff. Must be able to develop Memorandums of Understanding and Service Level Agreements. Knowledge of laws, policies and procedures pertaining to employee relations matters.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at .