Administrative Specialist

Summary

This is a Detail Not to Exceed One Year, however, the detail may be made permanent without additional competition. In this role, you will help VA Human Resources and Administration (HR&A) deliver human capital services to VA staff offices by supporting daily office operations. You will use timekeeping, procurement, travel, and data analysis skills to produce accurate records and reports for leadership and staff. You will work in the Human Resources Service Center (HRSC).

Duties

This is a Detail Not to Exceed One Year, however, the detail may be made permanent without additional competition. This announcement will be used to fill six vacancies, one in each of the following areas: Recruitment and Placement; Employee Relations, Labor Relations, and Performance; Employee Services; Mission Support; Center of Excellence; and Business Operations. As the Administrative Specialist, the incumbent serves as a generalist responsible for the operational and administrative functions of an office, bridging the gap between technical program work and administrative services, including budget, travel, timekeeping, and space management. Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Administering time and attendance as the office's principal timekeeper, including reviewing and certifying timecards, auditing and reconciling leave balances, and providing training and technical assistance to supervisors and staff. Coordinating travel, procurement, property, and space management for the office, including entering travel requests, tracking purchases and equipment, and maintaining space inventories. Developing, implementing, and maintaining standard operating procedures to standardize administrative workflows, and recommending and leading process improvements. Analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of administrative programs and operations, and preparing reports and briefings for leadership. Serving as the office's principal point of contact for coordination with VA Staff Offices, program offices, and external stakeholders on administrative matters. Promotion Potential: This is a developmental position. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level of GS-12 without further competition upon meeting all regulatory requirements, demonstrating fully acceptable performance, completing orientation and any applicable training plans, and demonstrating the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Note on Pay: This detail does not include a pay increase or temporary promotion. The selectee will remain in their position of record and continue to be paid at their current grade, step, and salary. For example, a GS-9 employee selected for this GS-11 or a GS-11 selected for the GS-12 detail, will continue to be paid as a GS-9 or GS-11 for the duration of the detail. If the detail is made permanent, pay for the new grade will begin once the permanent action is approved. Supervisory Support and Approval: Your current supervisor must support your participation in this detail. If you are selected, you must provide documented local approval of your placement into the detail before the detail can begin. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their interest with their supervisor before applying. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized with supervisor approval. Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in person work unless they have an approved exemption. Telework: May be authorized in accordance with agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: PD00624A and PD00625A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/13/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to some former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: For the GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: performing administrative support functions such as timekeeping, travel, procurement, property, or records management; maintaining reports, databases, and documentation; gathering and analyzing data to prepare reports; and coordinating administrative matters, all of which require judgment in applying administrative policies. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or at least 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M if related. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. To do so, you must have a combination of specialized experience and graduate education that goes beyond the education required for the GS-9 level. The GS-9 level requires a master's degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education. Only graduate education beyond that amount can be counted toward this combination. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. For the GS-12: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:independently performing administrative management functions such as timekeeping and payroll administration, travel, procurement, property, or space management, with limited supervision or guidance; independently developing and maintaining standard operating procedures and recommending process improvements; independently analyzing administrative programs or operations and preparing reports for leadership; and coordinating directly with program offices, HR, and other stakeholders on administrative matters. . 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; religions; spiritual; community;