Human Resources Specialist

Full Job Description

Protect your homeland and defend your culture. Join USCIS, America's frontline defense against illegal foreign infiltration and fraud.

As a Human Resources Specialist, you will process a wide range of personnel actions and provide authoritative advice to management and employees on polices and procedures surrounding such actions.

The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 03/26/2026.

Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the lower grade or equivalent grade band in the Federal service.

The Time-in-Grade requirement must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 03/26/2026 Application Limit: This vacancy is limited to the first 100 applications received.

All applications received prior to midnight 11:59 PM (ET) of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered.

If the application limit is not reached by the closing date of the announcement, all applications received during the open period will be considered.

Any required documents must be submitted at the time that you apply as documents will not be accepted past the day the application limit is reached, if applicable.

If you choose to edit your application after it has been submitted, it will be removed from consideration until you re-submit your application.

The date your application is last submitted will be used to determine whether you meet the cut-off criteria.

GS-09: You qualify at the GS-09 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have experience performing the majority of the following duties: Preparing a wide array of personnel actions for employees across an organization, ensuring required items are included and the appropriate nature of action, legal authority, and remarks are used.

Using automated personnel data systems to ensure accuracy and timeliness of personnel actions generating automated documents.

Making minimum qualification and eligibility determinations to support requirements of specific personnel actions (e.g., promotions, reassignments, etc.).

OR You may substitute a Master's degree of 2 full years of graduate education in a qualifying field or a J.D. or L.L.B. degree for the experience required at the GS-09 grade level.

This education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work of the position.

(A course of study in human resources management, or related fields, is qualifying.) Check with your school or university to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education.

If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours.

GS-11: You qualify at the GS-11 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have experience performing the majority of the following duties: Performing research, gathering facts, and using analytical and evaluative methods to accurately assess information and make sound decisions involving complex personnel processing issues.

Applying interrelated human resources principles, practices, laws, and regulations to provide advisory services on personnel actions and processing procedures.

Applying personnel concepts, policies, practices, analytical, and diagnostic methods and techniques to solve a wide range of personnel issues.

OR You may substitute a doctoral degree (PhD) or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or L.L.M., if related to the qualifying experience at the GS-11 grade level.

This education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work of the position.

(A course of study in human resources management, or related fields, is qualifying.) Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise the three years of graduate study.

If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours.

GS-12: You qualify at the GS-12 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have experience performing the majority of the following duties: Advising lower graded colleagues in the selection and application of appropriate techniques, methods, practices, and procedures.

Analyzing legal, regulatory, and policy issuances concerning personnel actions and pay setting activities and distributing guidance to personnel.

Providing comprehensive management advisory and technical services on personnel functions and processes.

Please read the following important information to ensure you submit everything we need to consider your application: It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your responses and appropriate documentation prior to 03/26/2026.

Your resume will be used to determine your qualifications for the position advertised in this announcement.

Therefore, your resume must highlight your most relevant, significant experience related to the requirements found in the qualification section of this announcement, as well as any applicable education.

Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.

To help ensure your resume remains clear and easy to read, we recommend using margins of at least 0.8 inches and a font size of at least 11 point.

Be clear and specific when describing your work history since Human Resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience.

Your application will be rated and ranked based on your responses to the online questions.

Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information: Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job) Duties (be specific in describing your duties) Employer's name and address Supervisor name and phone number Start and end dates including month, day and year (e.g.

June 18 2007 to April 05 2008) Start and end dates for each grade/pay level if you've held a federal position.

Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) Salary Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide the above information may result in a finding of ineligible.

Note: Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Federal Experience: If you are using current or prior federal experience as a basis for qualifying for this position, the grade levels and length of employment (mm/dd/year) at each grade level must be listed in your work history.

This information will be further validated if selected for this position.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build criteria 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 service. Major Duties:

• The responsibilities described are for the full performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope performed with less independence, and limited complexity.
• Prepare a full range of personnel actions within a variety of automated systems, verify relevant information is included, and all supporting documents are received prior to processing.
• Provide guidance regarding all facets of personnel and pay action processing functions, reporting, and record keeping requirements.
• Apply laws, regulations, policies, and practices to appropriately set pay, and to provide advice and guidance on a wide variety of pay actions (e.g., promotions, change to lower grade, etc.).
• Conduct research using federal regulations and the Guide to Processing Personnel Actions (GPPA) to determine Nature of Action Code (NOAC), Legal Authority, and required remarks.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex problems associated with the processing of personnel actions.
• Determine applicable precedents, laws, or regulations to identify the most effective approach, and correctness of action taken.