Summary Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. GS-09 The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Human Resources (HR) Specialist (Employee Relations) in a developmental capacity, performing assignments designed to further develop applicable analytical and evaluative skills and techniques. All training must be completed and regulatory requirements met prior to promotion. CONTINUED Responsibilities SUMMARY CONTINUED: GS-11 The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Human Resources (HR) Specialist in Employee Relations with responsibility for planning, developing, and carrying out the full range of employee relations advisory services for assigned organizations. DUTIES: GS-09 Provides consultation, guidance, and assistance to management and employees on employee relations subjects. Provides consultation and assistance on conduct-related issues. Participates in special assignments and projects. Prepares written correspondence and other documentation. GS-11 Provides Employee Relations assistance to managers for assigned organizations. Provides consultation and assistance on conduct-related issues. Manages assignments and/or projects. Prepares written correspondence and other documentation. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions, GS 0201 Series. GS-09 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-07, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge of the fundamental principles, practices, and techniques of employee relations; standardized research techniques; and analytical and problem-solving methods required to advise on and resolve moderately complex, non-controversial, well-precedented factual, procedural, and/or recurring issues; make informed judgments on problems and issues; and perform advisory services for problems of limited scope. Knowledge of a wide range of evaluative techniques, standardized research techniques, and analytical and problem-solving methods in resolving common issues or problems. Knowledge of the analytical techniques involved in moderately complex, non-controversial, well-precedented, factual, procedural, or recurring situations/problems/cases and making clear explanations of the facts. OR EDUCATION: Successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D., if related, in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application. GS-11 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-09, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge of a wide range of employee relations case law, principles, practices, legal and regulatory requirements sufficient to perform detailed analyses and draw defensible conclusions on complex legal issues, problems, and situations; and advise managers regarding appropriate corrective techniques in response to a wide range of conduct and performance issues. Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of performance appraisal and awards programs within a complex and/or large multi-mission organization sufficient to provide advisory services regarding performance issues, administer, and evaluate a comprehensive appraisal program, and ensure all regulatory requirements are met. Knowledge of a wide range of employee relations principles, practices, and legal and regulatory requirements sufficient to advise on disciplinary and other corrective techniques that are responsive to a range of conduct and performance problems; explain rules and procedures which ensure employees understand their rights and obligations; and conduct in-depth analyses to determine underlying causes of conduct or performance problems. OR EDUCATION: Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related, in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-07 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-09 level. One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. GS-09 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 1. Knowledge of the fundamental principles, practices, and techniques of employee relations; standardized research techniques; and analytical and problem-solving methods required to advise on and resolve moderately complex, noncontroversial, well-precedented factual, procedural, and/or recurring issues; make informed judgments on problems and issues; and perform advisory services for problems of limited scope. 2. Skill in gathering, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from information, and communicating information clearly, both orally and in writing. 3. Ability to analyze specific phases of common, well-precedented, and/or recurring cases or situations and to develop and prepare clear explanations of facts. 4. Ability to select the appropriate basic, legal, and regulatory provisions applicable to each situation and locate appropriate and applicable precedents and legal documentation. 5. Ability to interpret and analyze basic issues of fact and law. 6. Ability to identify and analyze numerous facts and allegations to determine accuracy and applicability to the cases. GS-11 1. Knowledge of the full range of employee relations concepts, case law, principles, practices, legal and regulatory requirements sufficient to perform analyses and draw conclusions on complex legal issues, problems, and situations, and advise managers regarding appropriate corrective techniques in response to a range of conduct and performance issues. 2. Knowledge of Federal HR management functions, theories, and techniques and the basic relationships of various HR disciplines sufficient to advise management and employees regarding rules and procedures and their obligations and entitlements. 3. Knowledge of legal research methods, information-gathering techniques, and analytical capabilities sufficient to locate, interpret, and analyze for applicability and appropriateness, precedent and substantive decisions, and/or legal opinions that various courts and administrative bodies have rendered. 4. Knowledge of conflict resolution techniques sufficient to interact in highly charged, emotional situations which may arise due to delicate or highly contested case matters and determinations. 5. Skill in gathering facts and using effective, analytical, and evaluative methods to accurately assess information and make sound decisions. 6. Ability to communicate with others, both orally and in writing, sufficient to formulate and present arguments and advisory opinions and prepare case documents. Education QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED: PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Additional Information Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location. Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information. Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service may be required prior to appointment to the position. Temporary and Term Appointments: If you are selected for a temporary or term position in the competitive service, your appointment may be extended to the maximum period allowed by law without further competition. 120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist. Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement. Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit. Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here. Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for additional information.