Program Specialist (Human Resources Liaison)

Summary This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Regional Office, reporting to Regional Office Senior Leadership in the locations listed above. The incumbent serves as a Program Specialist responsible for providing performance management and technical support for the regional office HR program. Responsibilities Specific duties are as follows: Serve as technical specialist in leave administration to include Family Medical Leave Act, Leave Without Pay, leave sharing, military leave, annual and sick leave, and time off for special circumstances. Provide technical support and advice in benefits programs such programs as: Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB); Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI); Thrift Savings Plan (TSP); Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP). Provide advice and technical expertise to employees and supervisors in the submission of workers' compensation claims due to an occupational injury and/or disease. Advise supervisors on various recruitment options to include Merit promotions procedures, Non-Competitive hiring authorities as well as internal and external hiring regulations. Assist with Position Descriptions, Crediting plans and Job Analysis for various internal positions. Provide advice and assistance on management employee relations issues. Advise on actions concerning employee management communications, grievances and appeals, disciplinary actions and performance. Research laws and regulations and data in order to recommend solutions to problems. In-process all new employees, including processing of security clearances. Prepare personnel action items such as: promotions, separations, retirements, etc. Train management officials on human resource policies and procedures. Draft recurring and non-recurring documents such as white papers, technical reports, manuals, directives and correspondence. Work with customers, both internal and external in such a way to enhance customer satisfaction; designs work processes and practices. 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, Monday through Friday Telework: Yes, per Agency guidelines. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#:39565A, 39564A, 39563A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/24/2024. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07, For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 and For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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. 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. NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), 'Notice of Personnel Action' that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification requirements as noted below. To qualify for this Program Specialist, GS-0301-09 position: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service applying or providing guidance on a field of Human Resources to assist employees with advice on a rule, regulation, or practice pertaining to human resources. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-09 level: A Master's or equivalent graduate degree, 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related fields of study. (You must provide transcripts);OR You have some specialized experience as described, but less than one year; and you have more than one year but less than two years of directly related graduate education. You have computed the percentage of the requirements, and the total is at least 100%. (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (You must provide supporting transcripts.) To qualify for this Program Specialist, GS-0301-11 position: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service applying or providing guidance to assist employees and leaders with advice on rules, regulations, or practices pertaining at least one of the following areas related to human resources, such as personnel management, recruitment, classification, employee benefits, or labor relations. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-11 level: 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. (You must submit transcripts.);OR You have some specialized experience as described, but less than one year; and you have more than two years but less than three years of directly related graduate education. You have computed the percentage of the requirements, and the total is at least 100%. (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two years by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (You must provide supporting transcripts.) Note for GS-09 and GS-11: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used in combination with experience to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. To qualify for this Program Specialist, GS-0301-12 position: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service applying and providing guidance to assist employees and leaders with advice on rules, regulations, or practices pertaining at least two of following areas related to human resources, (HR) such as personnel management, recruitment, classification, employee benefits, or labor relations and providing quality review services to ensure HR actions follow standard operating policies and procedures. There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Technical Competence: Understands and appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to Human Resources programs in Federal service functional areas; maintains credibility with others on technical matters. Analysis: Researches, interprets, and analyzes legal rules and principles from multiple sources of binding authority and provide counsel with analysis and recommendations that resolve the issues presented by factual circumstances that may differ from guidance and precedent. Oral Communication: Effectively expresses information to multiple audiences through clear, convincing oral communications; demonstrates logical thinking when describing facts and concepts and shapes communications to meet the needs of a specific audience. Written Communication: Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. Produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience. Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile or distressed. 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; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Education There is no educational substitution for GS-12 grade level. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the 'Who may apply' eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Created: 2024-11-02