Duties

NOTE: All qualified and eligible applicants who have applied will be considered weekly for referral to the selection official, prior to the closing date of this announcement. Additional qualified and eligible applicants who have applied will be referred to the selection official within 5 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Duties include but are not limited to:
Recruitment & Placement

• Responsible for drafting and preparing announcement(s); evaluating, rating and ranking applications; adjudicates veteran's preference; updating and maintaining files, etc.; issues Notice of Ratings; issues and audits certificate of eligible.
• Prepares vacancy announcements based on Position Description (PD) and/or functional statements (FS) and Subject Matter Expert (SME) analysis of the position, qualifies/disqualifies applicants, and maintains all documentation for the job announcement. Reviews and consults, in conjunction with the hiring manager, on job analysis and/or rating and ranking panels when needed. Processes a variety of requests for personnel action to fill a variety of positions.
• Identifies management problems and analyzes them from the management viewpoint. Coordinates with local and regional supervisors, managers, and other HR specialists on possible regulatory changes. Supports the employment program by advising supervisors and managers on the fundamental legal and regulatory provisions of employment programs.
• Receives and reviews local and regional recruitment requests and contacts the Selecting Official to finalize the recruitment action. Provides technical advice and assistance to the human resources staff and management officials in all areas of staffing and recruitment, including priority placement, direct hiring, special hiring authorities, etc.
• Ensures that all placement actions meet regulatory requirements. Consults on and ensures all pre-employment requirements are met, such as: position management and organizational design, pay administration such as physician market pay; setting pay for Title 5, Title 38 and Hybrid employees, using multiple pay scales and various information sources; VetPro Credentialing; position descriptions, functional statements, scopes of practice, crediting plans, and job analysis.

Consultation

• Coordinates with leadership stakeholders, to include local, regional and national leadership throughout the entire recruitment process. Advises on the selection of SMEs and the rating panel process.
• Prepares written correspondence and other documents. Writes a variety of documents to include items for newsletters, information needed on congressional inquiries, responses to reconsiderations, letters responding to inquiries from employees and other customers, and provides guidance on regulations, policies, directives and applicable supplements.
• Advises and consults on targeted recruitment strategies and non-traditional recruitment opportunities specific to the local and regional market area, such as targeted job fairs-including both local and virtual fairs-social media recruitment campaigns, targeting new talent through universities and their future graduates, and private sector targeting that develops and enhances a robust pipeline of specialty talent.
• Provide staffing advice including career and career conditional competitive service appointments, temporary appointments, term appointments, excepted service appointments and special appointment authorities (Veteran Recruitment Act, Schedule A, Reinstatement, Direct Hire Authority, etc.).
• Skill in written and oral communication techniques related to developing and delivering various forms of correspondence to managers, such as briefings and status/staff reports to cultivate understanding and acceptance of findings and/or recommendations.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00am CST - 4:30pm CST
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. These positions are authorized for up to 100% telework. If you are highly qualified and authorized to work 100% telework will be expected to travel to your position's assigned facility, as needed. Telework eligibility and expectations will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Remote: Available to highly qualified candidates.
Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Specialist (R&P) Open and Continuous announcement/PD99989A and PD99989A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

NOTE: All qualified and eligible applicants who have applied will be considered weekly for referral to the selection official, prior to the closing date of this announcement. Additional qualified and eligible applicants who have applied will be referred to the selection official within 5 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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.

• For a GS11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS9
• For a GS12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS11

GS11

• Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples include, but are not limited to: Conducting recruitment and placement activities from cradle to grave for a variety of professional, administrative and technical positions; Interpreting and applying qualification standards/requirements to determine applicant qualifications; Providing technical guidance and consultation regarding rules and regulations laws, policies and procedures pertaining to recruitment and staffing and personnel actions; Explaining recruitment and placement policies, processes, and rules to managers in developing recruitment packages including job analysis, crediting plans, and performance-based interview questions; Utilizing USA Staffing (or other automated staffing programs) to prepare vacancy announcements, issue referrals to managers, and onboard selectees.
• . OR,
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree Or a LL.M, in related field. OR, Combination: You may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

GS12

• Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of 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 include but are not limited to: Conducting recruitment and placement activities from cradle to grave for a variety of professional, administrative and technical positions; Interpreting and applying qualification standards/requirements to determine applicant qualifications; Providing technical guidance and consultation regarding rules and regulations laws, policies and procedures pertaining to recruitment and staffing and personnel actions; Explaining recruitment and placement policies, processes, and rules to managers in developing recruitment packages including job analysis, crediting plans, and performance-based interview questions; Troubleshooting and resolving difficult and controversial internal and external staffing and placement issues; Analyzing recruitment and staffing issues or problems and developing and recommending possible approaches, alternatives, and solutions; and, Utilizing USA Staffing (or other automated staffing programs) to prepare vacancy announcements, issue referrals to managers, and onboard selectees. There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Analysis and Problem Solving
• Communications
• Customer Service
• Recruitment/Placement
• Technical Competence

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.

Physical Requirements: No special physical exertion is required. The work is primarily performed while sitting at a desk, conferences, meetings, etc., and occasional visits to activity work sites. Though some work may require periods of standing. These positions are authorized for up to 100% remote.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ .

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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 well-qualified : applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ .

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a VA job announcement includes language requiring applicants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply to this Job Announcement. VA may request information regarding your vaccination status, if selected, for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Due to COVID-19, VA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. Management officials will provide information about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when applicable. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework depending upon the terms of your organization's telework policy and the duties of the position.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .