Federal

Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations)

Department of State - Agency Wide ยท Department of State
๐Ÿ“ Washington, District of Columbia GS-14 $143,913 - $187,093/yr
Posted: Mar 17, 2026 Deadline: Mar 23, 2026 (Closed days left)

About This Position

This position is located in the Bureau of Human Resources, Office of Employee Relations, Accountability and Discipline Division (HR/ER/AD) and is the subject matter expert and advisor on conduct, suitability, and discipline issues. Incumbent will be responsible for the development, implementation, and administration of policies and programs that affect employees, insuring consistency in policies, practices and procedures.

Qualifications

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

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.

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 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: Experience advising on advising on conduct and disciplinary actions. Experience analyzing employee relations programs and policies and providing recommendations for improvements. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position.

Major Duties

Researches, analyzes, and evaluates misconduct cases and issues, including complex and sensitive cases and/or those lacking precedent, to determine the appropriate disciplinary action based on reports of investigations or other referrals.

Ensures that disciplinary actions are properly supported so that charges and penalties are defendable before a third party, such as the Foreign Service Grievance Board or Merit Systems Protection Board.

Provides authoritative guidance to post and bureau management officials and supervisors on handling the full range of misconduct issues for Civil Service and Foreign Service employees, and on Civil Service performance related matters.

Incumbent drafts agency's response to Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Acknowledgment Orders; serves as technical representative on MSPB appeals and Foreign Service Grievance Board (FSGB) grievances.

Responsible for the development, implementation, and administration of policies and programs that affect employees in the Civil Service and the Foreign Service, insuring consistency in policies, practices, and procedures.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume limited to two pages will be conducted and evaluated by an HR specialist to determine if you are qualified for this job. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: Ability to apply new concepts to complex discipline cases. Knowledge of theories, principles, practices and techniques and case law governing employee relations. Ability to develop recommendations for program modifications and improvements.

Ability to administer programs. Ability to prioritize work. Agency Career and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be rated "Well Qualified" and submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job to receive consideration for selection priority.

To be considered well-qualified,

in addition to 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 and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information.

You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.

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 (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Resume limited to two 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 two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. Most recent SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Actions) that 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. Performance appraisal.

Submit your 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. CTAP eligibility documentation (e.g., reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, certification of expected separation, etc.).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations) position at Department of State - Agency Wide?
The salary range for this position is $143,913 - $187,093/yr. This is a GS-14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations) job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. 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 low...
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 Mar 23, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Top Secret clearance is required.
What does GS-14 mean?
GS-14 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
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.