Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment & Placement)

Summary

This position is located in VHA Workforce Management and Consulting's Human Resources Operations Office (HROO). HROO is the exclusive operational HR service provider for VHA's Central Office (VHACO). The HR Specialist (Recruitment & Placement) serves in the Recruitment & Staffing Shared Service Unit (RSSSU) and is responsible for rendering recruitment and staffing services to fill all levels of General Schedule Title 5, Title 38, Hybrid 38 and Wage Grade positions throughout VHA.

Duties

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-12. At the lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied. Duties Include: Developing and publishing job opportunity announcements for vacant positions in the excepted and competitive service (Title 5, Title 38, and Hybrid Title 38). Reviewing past postings, hiring trends, and position specific information to determine the most appropriate area of consideration in coordination with the hiring manager's expertise. Auditing the certificate and reviewing the selection documentation to ensure all selections are in line with appropriate Merit System Principles and no Prohibited Personnel Practices have been committed. Providing consultation on wide variety of staffing concepts, principles, laws, regulations, practices, and procedures directly to managers and employees on all phases of the recruitment and placement process. Advising management officials regarding merit principles, advantages and disadvantages of various staffing methods in employee selection and ensures compliance with union agreements. Processing a variety of personnel actions to fill positions, such as career promotions, reassignments, or placements. Working with the managers and subject matter experts to gather and prepare job assessments. Consulting with management on the utilization of non-competitive recruitment alternatives such as VRA, 30%, and Schedule A candidates. Responding to inquires or resolving complaints from customers. Researching regulations, laws, HRMLS, and similar sources to produce researched, accurate, and timely responses to staffing inquiries and reports. Determining appropriate rating and ranking selective factors and develop crediting plans to assess varying degrees of job qualifications and explain the methodology to management. Reviewing candidates for minimum qualifications and eligibility requirements. Creating and issuing certificates of eligible candidates based on the candidates specific area of consideration and legal authority to be considered and appointed to the position. Making pay-setting determinations for unusual cases, such as superior qualifications, highest previous rate, and movements between pay systems, utilizing recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives when appropriate. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday Compressed/Flexible: Available, eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Telework: This position may be authorized for ad hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Ad hoc is defined as occasional, non-recurring telework. Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work. Virtual Work eligibility is for current VA employees that are already subject to the return to in person work mandate in their current position. Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA owned or leased space 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 exception or an exemption. Any approval for an RTO exception, exemption, or extension will happen after a tentative job offer, but before a final job offer. Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment & Placement)/PD99221S, PD99220S, and PD99219S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved 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, 10/14/2026. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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 former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. The BASIC REQUIREMENT for the HR Specialist GS-0201 series is presumed met if found qualified at the GS-0201-7 level and above. To qualify for this position at the GS-9 level, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge, concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the HR specialty areas. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Assisting in performing recruitment and placement services; Assisting in processing a variety of requests for personnel action to fill positions and/or to career promote, reassign, or otherwise place employees; Completing new hire onboarding requirements; Assisting higher grade specialist in recommending strategies for overcoming employment and promotion barriers. ~OR~ Education: Successful completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher- level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. ~OR~ Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above, to meet the total requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. To qualify for this position at the GS-11 level, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge, concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of t