Duties

Summary

You will serve as a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations) for the Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Disaster Assistance (ODA), Office Disaster Strategic Engagement Effectiveness in Herndon, Virginia. This position provides a wide range of human resource management services related to adverse and disciplinary actions, grievances, performance management, reasonable accommodation, and work life programs.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations) at the GS-0201-13, some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Provides guidance, consultation and assistance to managers, supervisors and employees on appropriateness of actions, which may involve progressive discipline such as letters of reprimand, demotion, suspension, termination, or removal.
• Reviews employee grievances for grievability and procedural sufficiency, and devises creative strategies and solutions to assist managers and supervisors with the processing of employee grievances.
• Assist in the development, interpretation and/or implementation of new and improved procedures and guidelines affecting employee recognition, reasonable accommodation, work life programs and leave administration.
• Provides expert advice to managers and ODA Center HR Specialists in the development and implementation of a strategically aligned and results oriented performance management program.
• Advises on issues related to employee relations, performance management, employee recognition, reasonable accommodation, and work life programs.
• Develops and/or reviews documentation to support findings and presents these findings and recommendations to concerned managers, orally and in writing.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• This is a Cadre position, which is a competitive service status position with a full-time seasonal work schedule.
• By applying for this position with SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance, you can enjoy challenging but satisfying work and join a highly motivated and diverse team that helps families and businesses rebuild their lives after a disaster.
• The Small Business Administration is located in the business area of Herndon, VA. It is conveniently located near various eateries and shops and is accessible via public transportation.
• Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 180 days from the closing date.
• This position is also being announced under Merit Promotion Procedures, announcement # MP-20-008-ODSEE-10641923.
  In order to receive consideration as a status candidate, you must apply to the Merit Promotion announcement.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - On occasion, especially during times of substantial disaster activity, you may be required to work overtime and/or travel with little or no advance notice.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a Government travel credit card.
• Favorable background investigation and credit check are required.
• Credit Score must be at least 500.
• You may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.

Qualifications

Generally, time in Non-Pay status is not creditable towards the specialized experience requirement listed below.
You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Experience:
To receive credit, you must indicate the month and year as well as the average hours worked per week for each employer. Average work hours must be stated on the resume to quantify each period of work experience or that experience will not be credited toward meeting the specialized experience requirement.
You must address the specific specialized experience required for each grade level of this position on your resume or application or you will be rated "Ineligible" for that grade level.

GS-13: To qualify you must have at least 1 full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-12 level in the Federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skill, and ability to perform successfully in this position. This experience may have been gained in a Non-Federal service position. In addition, this Specialized Experience must demonstrate the following:

*Advising and assisting managers/supervisors and employees on issues and problems related to employee conduct and employee performance;
*Advising and assisting managers/supervisors with Performance Management. i.e. establishing appropriate performance standards and preparing appraisals, ratings and rewarding employees;
*Communicating orally and in writing with managers/supervisors and employees on Employee Relation (ER) matters to explain regulations, policies, practices, rights and obligations related to conduct and performance matters; and
*Researching, analyzing, and interpreting Federal laws, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations, and case law related to conduct and performance problems.

Education

GS-13: There is no educational substitute for this grade level.

Qualification Standards: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards

Additional information

If selected for this position, you will be eligible for benefits. The above link is provided for your reference to explore the major benefits offered to most Federal employees.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The Small Business Administration is committed to building a high-performing, 21st century workforce that possesses the following core attributes: cultural astuteness, technological proficiency, articulate, strong writing capabilities, superior conflict resolution skills, and exceptional presentation skills. Candidates should be prepared as they may be further evaluated on these attributes throughout the application and selection process.

For this vacancy, the Office of Disaster Personnel will use a Category Rating system to refer qualified applicants for consideration. This is a three-step process. First, your resume or other application is evaluated to determine if you meet the Qualifications, including the Specialized Experience described above, for the grade level(s) that you are applying for. Secondly, if you meet the minimum qualifications requirements, your responses to the questionnaire, including narrative responses, if applicable, will be compared to your resume or other application. If your resume does not support the answers you gave on the questionnaire, you may be rated "Ineligible," or you may be placed in a lower category. Third, your name will be placed in one of the three following categories:

• Best-Qualified - highly proficient with an overall comprehensive level of knowledge, skills and abilities related to this position.
• Well-Qualified - competent in the position with an overall accomplished level of knowledge, skills and abilities related to this position.
• Qualified - an overall basic level of knowledge, skills and abilities related to this position.

Application of Veterans' Preference: The Category Rating process protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-veterans within each quality category. All the veterans must be selected before any non-veterans within each category.

For this position, disabled veterans who meet minimum qualifications for this position and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% (CPS & CP) are placed at the top of the Best-Qualified category regardless of which category they would otherwise be assigned to.

Preference eligibles who do not have a service-connected disability of 10% or more (XP or TP) are placed at the top of their quality category.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:
Employee Relations, Oral Communication, Performance Management, Technical Competence, and Written Communication

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume showing hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed.
2. Completed Questionnaire

• Preview at: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10641925

3. Other supporting documents, such as:

• Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 or other Member Copy showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
• 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.)

DO NOT SEND YOUR RESUME OR ANY APPLICATION DOCUMENTS TO THE AGENCY CONTACT.

Your latest resume submitted for this position will be used for qualification determinations and supersedes previous submissions.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
1. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP):
If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, provide a copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (which must show at least a "fully successful" rating or equivalent), and proof of eligibility, i.e., a RIF separation notice or Certification of Expected Separation, and SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.In addition to meeting all qualification requirements and selective placement factors (if applicable), CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the Well-Qualified criteria with a score of 85 or above based on the competencies listed above for the position in order to be given priority consideration. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is also on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at: CTAP/ICTAP. http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .
2. If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.
3. 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.

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.