Duties

Summary

This vacancy is for a Human Resources Specialist position in the Human Resources Division, (Labor Relations Branch) located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Prepare labor management strategy related to the development and implement of Bureau initiatives having major impacts on mission.
• Resolve workplace disputes at the lowest organizational levels.
• Represent management in the negotiated or administrative grievance procedures, where bilateral resolution is not possible.
• Analyze changes in legislation, court decisions, FLRA case law, OPM regulations and Departmental policies.
• Nurtures and sustains a cooperative, productive labor management relationship based on mutual trust.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. citizen.
• Suitable for Federal employment.
• Registered for Selective Service, if applicable. (www.sss.gov)
• You may be required to complete a financial disclosure (OGE-450).
• Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the announcement closing date.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

This vacancy is advertised under 2 different announcements. Please read the 'Who May Apply' section carefully to determine your eligibility. If you are not eligible under this announcement, please see HRD-2021-0020, Human Resources Specialist, GS-0201-14, CENSUS-DE-SMD.

This position may be filled as a competitive temporary promotion not to exceed (NTE) 1 year by a current career or career-conditional Department of Commerce employee. This temporary promotion may be extended, terminated earlier, or made permanent at management's discretion. At the conclusion of the temporary promotion, the employee will return to their position of record.

A trial period may be required.

This position is ELIGIBLE for telework; additional criteria will be required (e.g., supervisory approval).

This is a NON-BARGAINING unit position.

Relocation expenses will NOT be paid.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and individual states being in different phases of reopening, once the selectee becomes an employee, the report date to the official duty station/facility may be delayed until such time that management notifies the employee of their requirement to report. Until it is safe to relocate, the employee may be approved to telework to the maximum extent possible, up to and including full-time.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: For the GS-14, you must have one year of experience at a level difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: Advising supervisors and senior management officials on labor management strategies, assisting the Office of General Counsel at arbitration hearings, collaborating with the union to promote productive labor management relationships, ensuring that the agency is in compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, and related Departmental and agency policies; experience researching and preparing bargaining proposals to support collective bargaining; and experience researching evolving case law and changes in statutes and regulations, and applying that research to existing programs, and making changes, as necessary, to ensure compliance.

Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level.

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; religious; 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.

Education

Additional information

The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

• 30% or more disabled
• Persons with Disabilities
• CTAP
• ICTAP

The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job opportunity announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

Due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR § 335.103(b)(3).

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

• Skill in applying interest-based bargaining techniques to achieve consensus support from both management and the union for change management initiatives.
• Knowledge of FLRA dispute resolution procedure and rules governing grievance arbitration in the Federal sector.
• Ability to fashion solutions that address the underlying interests of both parties to dispute.
• Knowledge of FLRA dispute resolution procedures and rules governing grievance arbitration in the federal sector.
• Skill in forming and sustaining collaborative partnerships between parties with diverging interests.

We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.

Do NOT include the following types of information in your application:

• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Date of Birth (DOB)
• Photos of yourself (if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position)
• Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

A complete application consists of the following:

• Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume must list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. For work in the Federal service, please include the grade level for the position(s). Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59.
• SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action," supporting your eligibility, with the exception of current Census Bureau employees.
• Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) documentation, if applicable. For more information, please go to https://www.fedshirevets.gov/hire/hrp/vetguide/index.aspx .
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation, if applicable (see other information).
• Documentation supporting eligibility for non-competitive appointment, (Schedule A disability, 30 percent disabled veteran, certain military spouses, etc).

You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.

CTAP and ICTAP candidates:
CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf .

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).

A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location;

A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and

Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a work-related compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement.

A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade/band level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.;

A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and

Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.

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.