Human Resources Specialist (Classification)
About This Position
This position is located in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Personnel and Training (PERT), Office of Talent Services (TS), Classification Branch (C). HR Classification is charged with providing the full range of position classification, position management, organizational design and program development and improvement services for the Department of State.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.
NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. GS-11 Applicants applying for the GS-11 grade level must meet one of the following requirements: A.
Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: β’ Experience assisting with developing federal position descriptions that accurately reflect the duties of the position, using the proper factor levels, and allocating grade levels. β’ Experience communicating and explaining grade distinctions to managers, providing supporting criteria and justification. β’ Experience utilizing automated systems for classification, coding, FLSA, and vacancy actions processed.
OR
B. Have a Ph.D.
OR
equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M. from an accredited college or university.
OR
C. Have a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience (as described above), which is equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal Service. This experience and education together meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
Combination of Experience and Education: When an applicant has less than one year of specialized experience as described in the announcement, he or she may combine successfully completed graduate-level education with experience to meet the total qualification requirements. Generally, 18 graduate semester hours is equivalent to 1 full-time year of graduate study (your school and department determine what constitutes 1 full time year of graduate study). The percentage of specialized work experience and the percentage of graduate study must total at least 100%.
Note: All applicants WILL BE required to submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you may lose consideration for this position. GS-12 Applicants applying for the GS-12 must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.
Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: β’ Experience analyzing and interpreting complex (difficult/unique) issues related to position management and classification. β’ Experience evaluating systemic classification problems, identifying classification inconsistencies, misallocations of series/grades and related classification issues to make correction recommendations to leadership. β’ Experience classifying a variety of federal occupations (e.g., professional, technical, administrative) and preparing detailed written evaluations and justifications for classification decisions. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position. GS-13 Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.
Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: β’ Experience assessing and advising management on the impact of proposed reorganizations and recommending alternate position management structures. β’ Experience providing consultative management advisory services, which includes researching, analyzing, and evaluating issues, determining applicable precedents, and recommending innovative methods and strategies to resolve complex (difficult/unique) human resources problems. β’ Experience independently classifying a wide variety of federal occupations (e.g., professional, technical, administrative) and preparing detailed written evaluations and justifications for classification decisions. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.
Major Duties
Serves as a technical expert and provides authoritative advisory services throughout the department pertaining to position classification and position management to Civil Service and Domestic Foreign Service managers, supervisors, and employees.
Provides position classification determinations and advisory services to client bureaus and offices where there are significant differences in guidance between the General Schedule series and Foreign Service skills and/or pay plan.
Determines adequacy of Personnel Documents, conducts employee or supervisory audits to determine accuracy of the documents; determines title, pay plan, series, grade level, Fair Labor Standards Act coverage, and prepares evaluation statements.
Provides advice and guidance to high-level managers, supervisors, and specialists concerning extensive reorganizational proposals and major changes to administrative systems, such as pay banding, restructuring, data administration and re-engineering.
At the GS-11 and GS-12 levels, the incumbent performs essentially the same duties as outlined above; however, the scope and complexity of assignments are of less responsibility and independence and receive closer supervision than at the GS-13 level.
Education
See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements.
How You Will Be Evaluated
A review of your resume will be conducted and compared against your responses to the crediting plan questions to determine if you are qualified for this job. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, as described in the βQualificationsβ section of this announcement, will be assigned a score between 70 and 100. The evaluation process consists of an online assessment and a subject matter expert resume review of applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates based on the crediting plan assessment.
Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. Responses to questions that are not fully supported by the information in your resume may result in adjustments to your rating.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: Knowledge of, and skill in providing, the full range of position classification, position management, organizational design, and program development/ improvement services. Knowledge of evaluative and analytical techniques and principles to conduct studies of employee/organizational efficiency and productivity and recommend changes or improvements in organization, staffing, work methods, and procedures. Ability to research, interpret and apply human resources laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
Ability to analyze classification and position management issues or problems. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing, modifying style based on audience. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific.
We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration. Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.
Qualified non-competitive candidates must be deemed best qualified based on the applicant assessment in order to be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. Resume review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience.
Your resume should demonstrate how you meet all aspects of the specialized experience statement. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened.). If meeting basic qualifications through education only or a combination of education and experience, applicants will not be referred to the SME panel but will be reviewed by the HR Specialist for referral.
Agency Career and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be considered well-qualified for the position and submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement to receive consideration for selection priority. To be considered well-qualified,
in addition to earning a score of 85 or above and meeting minimum qualifications, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all of the major aspects of the position.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Additional Information
For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or [email protected]. If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
How to Apply
Prepare your application in USAJOBS To start your application, click Apply and we'll walk you through the process to attach a resume and any required documents. During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes.
You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. STEP 1: Select the "Apply" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.
STEP 2: Submit your resume. Please see the Required Documents section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume. STEP 3: Complete the online assessment questions. STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section.
To learn how to view the status of your submitted supporting documentation and application, visit the Application Instructions section of our agency's Civil Service selection process site. Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at [email protected] or by calling (866) 656-6830 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET Alternate Application Procedures If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package.
Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET at least 2 working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m.
ET on the closing date of this announcement. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted.
Required Documents
All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement.
- Resume limited to 2 pages showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered.
Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions. Resumes longer than 2 pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.
- Other Qualification Documentation (e.g., transcripts, certificates, certifications, etc.), if applicable.
- Performance appraisal, if applicable. Most recent (i.e., usually within the last 18 months) final (not a mid-year review) official (i.e., signed by the rating official and in original format) annual performance appraisal must be submitted by reinstatement eligible applicants applying to a position with a higher grade or more promotion potential than previously held and current or former Land Management employees.
All other current and former Federal employees are strongly encouraged to submit their performance appraisal for the hiring manager's consideration. If not available, you may provide a statement from you and/or your supervisor with an explanation along with your servicing HR Office contact information.
You may be requested to provide an appraisal to the hiring official if one was not provided with your application. To receive a promotion, the current Federal employee's most recent performance rating must be βfully successfulβ or an equivalent level or higher. Employees who are tentatively selected to receive a promotion will be required to provide performance documentation within 2 business days of request. Servicing HR Offices may be contacted to verify performance ratings.
- Most recent SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Actions), if you are a current or former Federal employee (including those applying under a non-competitive, special hiring authority, or ICTAP/CTAP eligibles). The SF-50s must show: effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency. Multiple SF-50s may be needed to show all required information (e.g., promotion, within-grade increase, and separation SF-50s). Award SF-50s often do not show the required information.
- Veteran Documentation, if applicable. Veterans who are preference eligible OR who have been separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions (honorable or general discharge) after 3 or more years of continuous active service may apply under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA).
You must submit a DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 preferred) showing the dates you served as well as your type of discharge and qualifying service campaign medals OR if you are still on active duty, you MUST submit a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service dates, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted for consideration for this job announcement. Current Federal employees applying under the VEOA must submit a qualifying SF-50 to show time-in-grade requirements.
If you are applying as a preference eligible with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, you must submit the documentation required by the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) to support your claim (e.g., DD-214, official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs). For applicants claiming 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e., spouses, widows/widowers or mothers of veterans), a completed SF-15 must be submitted with the application with all required supporting documents listed on the form. For more veterans' preference information, visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
- Non-competitive or special hiring authority eligibility documentation, if applicable. (e.g., Schedule A individuals with disabilities, RPCV or AmeriCorp VISTA volunteer, Fulbright/Gilman/CLS alumni, etc.) 7. ICTAP/CTAP documentation, if applicable (e.g., reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, RIF separation SF-50 personnel action (ICTAP only, if available), most recent SF-50 (CTAP/ICTAP), certification of expected separation, etc.) In addition, submit a copy of your current/last performance rating of record which must be at least fully successful or equivalent and submit all required documents listed above that apply to you.
- Current or Former Land Management Employee documentation, if applicable. Visit the Forest Service's site for required documentation.