Federal

Human Resources Specialist (Classification)

National Nuclear Security Administration ยท Department of Energy
๐Ÿ“ Washington, District of Columbia NQ-2 $52,727 - $99,404/yr
Posted: Jul 16, 2026 Deadline: Jul 23, 2026 (Closes in 7 days)

About This Position

This position is within the Office of Human Resources. As a Human Resources Specialist, you will be responsible for providing position management and position classification services for the National Nuclear Security Administration. This announcement will close on July 23, 2026 or once 75 applications are received, whichever occurs first.

Qualifications

You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. To qualify for the NQ-2 level, you must possess: A Master's or equivalent graduate degree; Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B or J.D., if related.

NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

OR

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service (i.e. NQ-1 or GS-7). Specialized experience is experience interpreting and applying position classification standards to positions and determining the correct pay category, occupational series, title, and grade level; preparing evaluation reports; and discussing findings with management officials and employees.

OR

A combination of education and experience that when combined meet 100% of the requirements.

Note: You must submit a copy of your transcripts. Time-in-Grade/Band: Current Federal employees must have completed 52 weeks in a position equivalent to the next lower band (NQ-1) or GS-7. CTAP/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 "well qualified" 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: OPM CTAP/ICTAP. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the 'Required Documents' section of this announcement.

Major Duties

As a Human Resources Specialist, you will: Classify a variety of positions in accordance with the standards and guidelines established by the Office of Personnel Management. Conduct analyses of organizational structures and reporting relationships, adhering to policies, standards, and guidelines. Provides recommendations regarding potential impacts of proposed actions and offers solutions to facilitate organizational improvement.

Develop and maintain standardized position descriptions and corresponding evaluation reports to ensure uniformity and accuracy across the agency. Offer technical guidance to managers, supervisors, and HR Specialists on matters related to classification, Fair Labor Standards Act coverage, position sensitivity, competitive levels, and position management.

Conditions of Employment

You must be a United States Citizen.

This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) subject to applicant testing and random drug testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

See www.sss.gov. If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.

This position has been designated as Non-Critical Sensitive and requires a security clearance at L Access. The selectee is required to obtain and maintain this clearance; failure to do so may result in separation from federal service.

You may be required to successfully complete a one (1) year probationary period.

Education

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; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.

You must submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution listing the college/university, degree confirmation date(s) and applicable courses for the position you are applying to. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. If you are selected, official transcripts will be required.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.

You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.

You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click the link below. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13008074

Additional Information

More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified applicant in accordance with agency policy and applicable regulations. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at [email protected].

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents sections. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.

Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. This notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email.

The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link.

Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessment.

You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning your assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can reuse your unique assessment link.

Your responses to the USA Hire assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/.

If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots; if possible, to aid technical support.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes: Your two (2) page resume showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date). Transcripts, if qualifying based on education or combination of education and experience. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable.

It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements. Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement: Current and former Federal employees: SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action": To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. Full position title; appointment type; occupational series; pay plan, grade, and step; tenure code; and service computation date (SCD).

If your current position SF50 does not indicate you have competitive service status or does not reflect the pay plan and grade of the highest position you have held in the competitive service,

in addition to your current SF50, you must provide your previous SF-50s that provide the proof of competitive status and highest grade held on a permanent basis. Veterans: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.

Individuals with Disabilities: Schedule A letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u). For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center. Certain Military Spouses: Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders authorizing you to accompany the Military member to the new duty permanent station; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).

For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center. Other non-competitive or special appointing authorities: Provide documentation which supports your eligibility. 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.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.

Performance Appraisals: Submit your two (2) most recent performance appraisals.

Your performance appraisals and incentive awards will be given due consideration in the selection process based on their relation to the duties of the position and the consistency with which they may be considered in evaluating you against other applicants. If the performance appraisals are not available, please provide a written statement of explanation and upload as a separate document. Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.

It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Human Resources Specialist (Classification) position at National Nuclear Security Administration?
The salary range for this position is $52,727 - $99,404/yr. This is a NQ-2 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Human Resources Specialist (Classification) job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
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; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. You must submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution listing the college/university, degree confirmation date(s) and applicable courses for the position you are applying to. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. **If you are selected, official transcripts will be required.**
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Jul 23, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a L Access Authorization clearance is required.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.