HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST (EMPL REL/LABOR REL)

Summary

Serves as a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations & Labor Relations) in the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Employee Relations Division. Read the entire announcement before starting the application process.

Duties

As a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations & Labor Relations), you will be responsible for the following duties: (If selected at the GS-09 level, duties will be performed in a developmental capacity) Provide guidance and support on management-employee relations, including discipline, adverse actions, grievances, performance management, recognition, and employee counseling. Advise managers on interpreting Agency policies and address a wide range of HR issues such as substance abuse, sexual harassment, work hours, working-condition changes, job stress, leave administration, and pay entitlements. Assist the Office of General Counsel in preparing and presenting cases before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and in arbitration proceedings. Research background information, prepare formal responses for disciplinary actions, and maintain complete, accurate case files to support proposed or final actions. Develop or support the development of management-employee relations programs, and create or revise Agency-wide policies, program guidance, and procedures. This position offers promotion potential to a higher grade. To prepare you for the higher grade, work assignments will be progressively more complex. After meeting all qualifications and requirements for the next grade level and with your supervisor's recommendation, you may be promoted without further competition. However, promotion is neither guaranteed nor automatic. Read the entire job announcement. Focus on the following sections to understand whether or not you qualify for the position. This critical information is found under: Duties and Qualifications How to Apply (including a preview of the assessment questionnaire, if applicable) How You Will be Evaluated Your resume must thoroughly describe how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the Qualifications section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. We do not assume you have the necessary experience to successfully perform in this job regardless of your employment history or academic career.

Qualifications

To Qualify for a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations & Labor Relations), your resume and supporting documentation must support: A. Creditable specialized experience includes: GS-09 Assisting senior specialists by gathering facts, organizing case files and compiling background information for routine conduct, performance, and attendance matters. Researching federal HR laws, regulations, FLRA/MSPB decisions, and Agency policies to support ER/LR case development, preparing summaries for review. Drafting initial counseling memos, routine correspondence, and documentation to support disciplinary or grievance processes under close supervision. Supporting labor-relations activities by tracking union inquiries, preparing draft responses, and identifying potential bargaining considerations with guidance. GS-11 Provide advisory support on routine conduct, performance, attendance, grievance, and basic labor-relations issues under guidance. Research federal HR laws, regulations, FLRA/MSPB decisions, and Agency policies to support ER/LR actions and recommendations. Draft disciplinary and grievance documentation, case summaries, and labor-relations correspondence for review by senior specialists. Assist with labor-management activities by identifying bargaining obligations, supporting I&I discussions, and responding to routine union inquiries. GS-12 Provide expert guidance on complex ER/LR matters, including adverse actions, performance-based actions, grievances, and bargaining obligations. Conduct fact-finding and analysis, including interviews and credibility assessments, to recommend legally defensible ER/LR strategies. Represent management in MSPB appeals, arbitration, ULP investigations, and other third-party proceedings, preparing complete case files. Develop Agency-wide ER/LR policies, performance tools, and bargaining strategies aligned with OPM regulations, FLRA precedent, and federal requirements. B. Education Substitution: Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Education must be from a college or university accredited by an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education. See http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx. If using education to meet basic qualifications, YOU MUST SUBMIT A TRANSCRIPT as supplemental documentation. To qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience, you must possess: GS-9: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. GS-11: Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. GS-12: There is no education substitution at this level. C. Combination: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for grade levels GS-09 and GS-11 and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-11. Time-in-grade applies to the promotion of current and former federal employees who hold or have held a permanent GS position in either the competitive or excepted service in the previous 52 weeks, Your application package must contain proof you meet this requirement. See Required Documents for more information For GS-09: You must have 52 weeks of Federal service at or equivalent to GS-07.. For GS-11: You must have 52 weeks of Federal service at or equivalent to GS-09. For GS-12: You must have 52 weeks of Federal Service at or equivalent to GS-11 Time after competitive appointment. Current federal civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since being selected for a non-temporary appointment from a competitive examination register of eligibles (an announcement opened to the public) or under a direct hire authority. As part of the online application process, you will respond to a series of questions designed to evaluate your level of experience in these competencies: Employee Relations Labor Relations Overtime: Occasional Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): GS-12 Exempt & GS-11 Nonexempt Bargaining Unit Status: Not Covered Those retired under CSRS or FERS considered: No. DoD criteria not met. Telework eligible: Yes, Telework is at discretion of supervisor/Agency Remote work eligible: No PCS: No HR does not select or change your eligibility/eligibilities for you, regardless of the supporting documents you submit. You are considered ONLY for the eligibility or eligibilities you select and for which you provide all required supporting documents. You will not be considered if you do not select an eligibility. If you have questions about which eligibility/eligibilities apply to you, contact the HR POC listed on this announcement.

Education

USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY. You MUST provide transcripts and/or other documentation to support your educational claims. Transcripts. REQUIRED when using education to meet qualifications or when education is required. Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign ed