Program Specialist (Human Resources Liaison)

Summary

This position is in the Salt Lake City VA Regional Office. The incumbent is assigned to the Office of the Director and reports to the Assistant Director, who serves as the immediate supervisor. The incumbent serves as a Program Specialist responsible for providing performance management and technical support for the regional office HR program. The incumbent is the key advisor to the Director and the Division Chiefs on all human resources issues and coordinates directly with the HR Center.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

04/25/2024 to 05/03/2024

This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more

• Salary

$59,966 - $113,047 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 9 - 12

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Salt Lake City, UT 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

Occasional travel

• You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

12

• Job family (Series)

0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

341-24-DL-12375689-NBU

• Control number

788338900

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• Federal employees

• Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Federal employees

• Excepted service

Current excepted service federal employees.

• Individuals with disabilities

Clarification from the agency

"This vacancy announcement is open ONLY to current, permanent Salt Lake City VBA Regional Office employees and current/former VA employees who are CTAP eligible. For the purpose of this job announcement, Fiduciary Hub bargaining unit employees in the commuting area are considered Facility employees."

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Duties

Specific duties include:

• Provides guidance on merit system principles, prohibited personnel practices, the development and use of valid selection criteria, and other approaches that may help in staffing the organization and in improving employee productivity, morale, and retention.

• Develops multiple recruitment strategies utilizing various hiring flexibilities and authorities. Prepare recruitment packages to include crediting plans, job analysis on a variety of complex positions using research, interview, observation, and analytical techniques.

• 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 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). Performs a technical review and certifies and processes all benefits forms submitted to the Human Resources office.

• Provide guidance to employees and supervisors in the submission of workers' compensation claims due to an occupational injury and/or disease.

• Maintains automated databases in order to track information and extract data used to generate documents, records, and reports. Utilizes HR systems to create reports for promotions, within grade increases, performance management, awards and all Human Resources related programs; creates requests for recurring and non-recurring personnel actions and ensures timely execution of all personnel related functions.

• Uses word processing and/or other office automation equipment and various software programs to create, copy, edit, store, retrieve and print a variety of documents; produce correspondence, memoranda, directives, forms reports; create or maintain spreadsheets or databases, etc.

• Reviews and processes performance appraisals, performance awards and special contribution awards. Reviews and tracks telework agreement expiration dates and prepares monthly/quarterly telework utilization reports. Ensures all types of employee awards including service awards, special contribution awards, quarterly awards etc. are processed accurately and timely.

• Provides advice and assistance in the areas of performance management, recognition, and related functions.

• Assists management officials in meeting their labor management obligations by appropriately interpreting contract provisions in specific situations.

• In-process new employees, including fingerprinting, and processing of security clearances.

• Perform coordination of separating employees in order to ensure they attend an exit interview and complete required forms. Provides employees with documentation of eligibility involving continuing health/life insurance benefits summary, copy of Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50), information on future retrieval of federal records, etc.

• Train management officials on human resource policies and procedures.

• Draft recurring and non-recurring documents such as informational inquiries from the Director's Office, circulars, manuals, directives and correspondence.

• Work Schedule: Standard 5-day, 8 hours, full time (40 hours a week) 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (MST Time) schedule.

• Compressed/Flexible: Available

• Telework: Available

• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

• Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist, 39563A, 39564A, 39565A

• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

• Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

• You may be required to serve a probationary period

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/03/2024.

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. 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.

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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience:

GS-9 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience in three of the following areas:

• Work collaboratively on a variety of leave programs (Family Medical Leave Act, Voluntary Leave Transfer, annual leave, sick leave, etc.)

• Providing advice and counseling on benefits and entitlements to new and existing employees.

• Administer and advise on awards programs.

• Experience processing personnel actions.

• Provide leaders and employees with information and interpretations of the organization's policies, procedures, and guidelines.

• Maintain and utilize automated databases in order to track information and extract data used to generate documents, records, and reports.

Education Requirements for GS-9:

master's or equivalent graduate degree or2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree orLL.B. or J.D., if related

GS-11 Level: In addition to the required GS-9 specialized experience above, applicants must also have 1 year at the specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience in at least two of the following:

• Experience performing HR management advisory services for specific requests requiring research and applying human resources policies and practices.

• Experience in Federal staffing and recruitment using a variety of Federal hiring authorities.

• Experience performing performance management.

• Experience providing guidance on labor issues regarding unfair labor practices, grievances, information requests and negotiations.

• Advising on and drafting disciplinary and adverse actions and performance-based actions.

Education Requirements for GS-11:

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree orLL.M., if related

GS-12 Level: In addition to the required GS-11 specialized experience above, applicants must also have 1 year at the specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience in at least three of the following:

• Experience providing authoritative management advisory services, which includes researching, analyzing and evaluating issues, determining applicable precedents, and identifying the most effective approach to resolve complex human resources problems.

• Experience meeting and dealing with managers and employees at all levels in situations of a highly sensitive nature.

• Experience providing expert advice and guidance in the areas of employee relations and staffing and recruitment.

• Experience in recruitment using various Federal hiring authorities.

• Resolving complex leave administration issues.

• Preparing the Agency response for 3rd party hearings (FLRA, MSPB, etc.).

• Experience in labor negotiations.

• Experience interpreting labor agreements.

There is no education substitution at this level.

Education

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

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 Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and 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 http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

• 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.

• Problem Solving: 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.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job-related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.