Human Resources Specialist (Classification)

Full Job Description

This position is located in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Personnel and Training (PERT), Office of Talent Services (TS), Classification Branch (C).

HR Classification is charged with providing the full range of position classification, position management, organizational design and program development and improvement services for the Department of State.

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

GS-11 Applicants applying for the GS-11 grade level must meet one of the following requirements: A.

Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: • Experience assisting with developing federal position descriptions that accurately reflect the duties of the position, using the proper factor levels, and allocating grade levels.

• Experience communicating and explaining grade distinctions to managers, providing supporting criteria and justification.

• Experience utilizing automated systems for classification, coding, FLSA, and vacancy actions processed. OR B. Have 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. from an accredited college or university. OR C.

Have a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience (as described above), which is equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal Service.

This experience and education together meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

Combination of Experience and Education: When an applicant has less than one year of specialized experience as described in the announcement, he or she may combine successfully completed graduate-level education with experience to meet the total qualification requirements.

Generally, 18 graduate semester hours is equivalent to 1 full-time year of graduate study (your school and department determine what constitutes 1 full time year of graduate study).

The percentage of specialized work experience and the percentage of graduate study must total at least 100%.

Note: All applicants WILL BE required to submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement.

If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you may lose consideration for this position.

GS-12 Applicants applying for the GS-12 must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: • Experience analyzing and interpreting complex (difficult/unique) issues related to position management and classification.

• Experience evaluating systemic classification problems, identifying classification inconsistencies, misallocations of series/grades and related classification issues to make correction recommendations to leadership.

• Experience classifying a variety of federal occupations (e.g., professional, technical, administrative) and preparing detailed written evaluations and justifications for classification decisions.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position.

GS-13 Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: • Experience assessing and advising management on the impact of proposed reorganizations and recommending alternate position management structures.

• Experience providing consultative management advisory services, which includes researching, analyzing, and evaluating issues, determining applicable precedents, and recommending innovative methods and strategies to resolve complex (difficult/unique) human resources problems.

• Experience independently classifying a wide variety of federal occupations (e.g., professional, technical, administrative) and preparing detailed written evaluations and justifications for classification decisions.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position. Major Duties:

• Serves as a technical expert and provides authoritative advisory services throughout the department pertaining to position classification and position management to Civil Service and Domestic Foreign Service managers, supervisors, and employees.
• Provides position classification determinations and advisory services to client bureaus and offices where there are significant differences in guidance between the General Schedule series and Foreign Service skills and/or pay plan.
• Determines adequacy of Personnel Documents, conducts employee or supervisory audits to determine accuracy of the documents; determines title, pay plan, series, grade level, Fair Labor Standards Act coverage, and prepares evaluation statements.
• Provides advice and guidance to high-level managers, supervisors, and specialists concerning extensive reorganizational proposals and major changes to administrative systems, such as pay banding, restructuring, data administration and re-engineering.
• At the GS-11 and GS-12 levels, the incumbent performs essentially the same duties as outlined above; however, the scope and complexity of assignments are of less responsibility and independence and receive closer supervision than at the GS-13 level.