Duties

Summary

If you are interested in a career as a Human Resources Specialist (Generalist), this job is for you! You will be a valued team member performing assignments related but not limited to employee benefits, employee/labor relations, payroll and awards compensation and time and attendance.

A candidate appointed at a lower grade level may be promoted up to the full performance level without further competition.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a Human Resources Specialist (Generalist), you will:

1. Research and analyze a wide range of HR practices, regulations, precedents to independently counsel employees on options for Federal Benefit Programs to include: Federal Employees Health Benefits, Federal Employee's Government Life Insurance, Thrift Savings Plan, Federal Employees Dental/Vision Insurance, Federal Flexible Spending Account Program, Civil Service Retirement System and Federal Employees Retirement System.
2. Utilize various automated databases and systems such as, the National Finance Center to input data, verifying that all data entered is accurate and flows to the National Finance Center in a timely manner.
3. Utilize the National Finance Center system to process a variety of payroll requests such as leave donations, delinquent educational loans, alimony and child support cases, retroactive adjustments, error in payment, commercial garnishments, tax levies and liens. Review and determine the legitimacy of such cases (seeking advice from supervisor and legal counsel as needed) and take necessary action to ensure proper disposition.
4. Research and analyze a wide range of HR practices, regulations, precedents in order to provide technical advice on payroll processing issues and recommend changes to the requirements.
5. Advise employees, supervisors, and managers on various leave options and coordinates and monitors discretionary leave of absence, including Military FMLA, Voluntary Transfer Leave Program for employees.
6. Provide assistance with employee relations, such as ensuring the submission and filing of appropriate paperwork/documentation.
7. Establish and maintains working relationship with groups and individuals outside of the Agency (i.e., National Finance Center (NFC), Department of Justice, Court Services and Offenders Supervision Agency, OPM, etc.) on various HR issues.
8. Establish and maintain work relationship with internal stakeholders.

These duties are described at the full performance level, GS-12, the GS-9 level is developmental leading to such performance.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period, if not already completed.
• All applicants are subject to a comprehensive criminal background investigation, and required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice
• Status applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade
• Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the close of this announcement

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic professional requirements and/or specialized experience requirement below.

To qualify at the GS-9 level, you must possess one year of specialized experience related to the duties of the position that was comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-7 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing operational work in one or more of the following HR functional areas: Employee/Labor Relations, Employee Benefits, Payroll and Awards Compensation; OR

Substitution of Education for Experience at the GS-9: Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D., if related.

Education

There is an education substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

1. If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other applicants for this position. Individuals who have special priority selection rights under the ICTAP must be well-qualified for the position. To be well qualified, applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and meet the well-qualified level (mid-level) of the crediting plan for all factors. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice, SF-50, Notice of Personnel Action, documenting separation, an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated, an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated, OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. Section 833(h) or Section 8456.

2. If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former Federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" and/or a copy of the SF-50 that reflects career or career-conditional tenure, or you will not be considered under the merit promotion process. Also, you should submit your most recent performance appraisal.

3. Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act of 1998: Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous active duty service may apply. If you are applying under this provision, please submit a copy of your DD-214 (unedited long version).

4. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.

5. You can apply for a non-competitive appointment if you meet the basic eligibility requirements and you are eligible for special appointment such as those authorized for the severely disabled; certain Vietnam era and disabled veterans; returned volunteers from the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps Vista , etc. Please indicate the type of special appointment you are seeking, if any, on your application and follow all other instructions for applying shown in this announcement.

6. Reasonable Accommodation, this agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation is made on a case-by-case basis.

7. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

8. Equal Opportunity Employer: The Pretrial Services Agency is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other non-merit based factors.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your rating will be based on your responses to the job specific information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly show how you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities will result in a rating of "Qualified" by the rating panel.

1. Knowledge of Federal human resources (HR) functions and processes in areas such as employee, labor/management relations; pay and compensation; information technology applied to human resources; benefits; awards; payroll; or time and attendance.

2. Skill in written and verbal communication including communication in the Federal human resources (HR) management area.

3. Ability to research, analyze and apply Federal HR laws, rules, regulations and policies in order to manage work and projects in delivery of HR services.

Once the application process is completed, your application will be reviewed to ensure you meet the job requirements. You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training, job- related awards and supervisory appraisal of performance. If you meet the basic qualification requirements, your resume will be forwarded to a panel for rating. Category Rating will be used to evaluate applicants using the following categories to further determine which applicants will be referred to the selecting official for final consideration.

Best Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level on all evaluation criteria.

Well Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level on evaluation criteria.

Qualified: Applicants possessing the specialized experience described above.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume listing hours worked per week, salary, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Transcripts must include the school name, student name, degree and date awarded, if applicable. (Note: If you are selected for the position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day) (May be required to satisfy the basic professional requirement).
• Most recent SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service). (Award Notification of Personnel Actions are not acceptable)
• Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
• DD-214 (member 4 copy), SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
• Non-competitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable
• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
• Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent 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.