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Posted: February 25, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Human Resources Specialist - Employee Relations (Employee Relations Specialist)

Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Fresh

Salary

$74,678 - $116,362

per year

Closes

March 18, 2026More DOJ jobs →

GS-11 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $62,107 - $80,737

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-10. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years graduate study.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves advising prison staff managers on handling employee disputes, performance issues, and disciplinary matters to keep the workplace running smoothly in a federal prison setting.

It also includes training on policies and helping resolve grievances or complaints.

A good fit would be someone with HR experience in employee relations, especially in government or union environments, who enjoys problem-solving and communicating clearly.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience in employee relations equivalent to GS-10 level (for GS-11), including applying principles, interpreting statutes, and explaining policies to unions and managers
  • For GS-11: Ph.D., 3 years of graduate education, or LL.M. in a related field demonstrating relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities; or a combination of education and experience
  • For GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11, focusing on researching case law, resolving complex issues, providing technical advice, handling grievances, and making arbitration presentations
  • Knowledge of federal employment statutes, regulations, labor contracts, and Office of Personnel Management directives
  • Experience in providing training on disciplinary actions, grievance processes, labor law, and employee performance/conduct
  • Ability to collect/analyze information, recommend solutions for employee relations issues, and communicate effectively with management and unions
  • U.S. citizenship and ability to pass a background check suitable for federal prison employment

Full Job Description

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements: EDUCATION: GS-11: 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.

Graduate education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

GS-12 There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at this grade level.

OR Experience: GS-11 and GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level.

Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position, and this is typically in or related to the work of the position.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are: GS-11: Experience that demonstrates knowledge of and the ability to apply employee relations principles, practices, and regulatory requirements.

Experience assisting with the interpretation of federal employment statutes, implementing regulations, and applicable labor contract provisions.

Experience in explaining personnel policies and procedures to labor unions and managers related to employee relations issues.

Experience in providing training and orientation regarding disciplinary actions, the grievance process, and Office of Personnel Management directives.

GS-12: Experience in researching case law, collecting and analyzing information to provide recommendations/resolve complex/technical employee relations issues.

Experience in providing technical advice to management and supervisors on employee relations issues and grievance issues, disciplinary actions and other related situations.

Experience responding to grievances, unfair labor practice complaints, disciplinary decision appeals and making presentations in third-party arbitration hearings.

Experience in providing training in labor law issues, disciplinary and adverse actions, the grievance process, employee performance and conduct, Office of Personnel directives and the Master Agreement.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: GS-11 only: Have a combination of education and experience.

This experience must have equipped you with the qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above. If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience.

To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.** Major Duties:

Provides technical advice to management, and supervisors on employee relations issues.

Maintains regular communication with Human Resource Managers to monitor and coordinate the activities of disciplinary actions.

He/she assists in developing, designing, modifying, and/or overseeing the training materials for presentations and conducts training and orientation regarding disciplinary actions.

Provide management officials with advice in the area of correcting employees' poor performance.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/25/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/26/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CO-2026-0159