Human Resources Specialist (Labor/Employee Relations)

Full Job Description

About the Position: This position is with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) in the Labor Management & Employee Relations (LMER) Division, Europe Branch.

Federal employees in Sembach, Germany are currently entitled to receive a 42% Post Allowance (COLA) in addition to the base salary. This percentage amount is subject to change at any time.

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job.

You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected.

See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans Current Competitive Service Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Civilian Employee Current Permanent Department of Defense (DoD) Civilian Employee Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Excepted Service Overseas Family Member Appointment Family Member Preference (FMP) for Overseas Employment Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouse Preference (MSP) for Overseas Employment Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Interchange Agreement Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Reinstatement Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below.

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).

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.

GS-12 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes providing guidance to management officials in resolving employee relations/labor relations (LMER) issues (e.g., grievances, collective bargaining agreements, unfair labor practices, representation proceedings, negotiability appeals, etc.); applying laws, rules, and/or regulations to effectively deal with LMER matters; presenting facts in support of management's position on LMER situations; and applying and/or interpreting collective bargaining agreements.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).

GS-13 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes providing guidance to management officials in resolving employee relations/labor relations (LMER) issues (e.g., grievances, collective bargaining agreements, unfair labor practices, representation proceedings, negotiability appeals, etc.); developing operating guidance or conducting training related to LMER; conducting research into complex questions of program operations; and negotiating collective bargaining units or participating in third party proceedings.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12).

Time in Grade Requirement for GS-12: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-11).

Time in Grade Requirement for GS-13: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-12).

The selecting official has requested a competitive and noncompetitive candidate list for this vacancy.

If you are eligible for the noncompetitive list, you will be evaluated on basic and/or minimum qualifications, as applicable.

While required to answer the assessment questions, non-competitive candidates will not be evaluated against the competitive rating & ranking criteria.

The selecting official may select from any of the candidate lists.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.

Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire Status candidates subject to the 5 year overseas rotation, who are currently overseas, must have enough time to meet the initial tour stated in the job announcement.

Waivers may not be granted to meet the 5 year limitation requirement.

Status applicants in their fourth year of an overseas assignment cannot be selected unless a waiver of the 5 year overseas service limitation requirement is approved.

Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Be advised that effective Jan. 1 2018, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, most civilian employee relocation allowances became taxable.

The Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) reimburses eligible employees for the additional Federal, State, and local income taxes incurred as a result of receiving taxable travel income.

RITA does not apply to new government employees or employees returning from an overseas assignment for the purpose of separation from Government service.

For more information, visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction.html. Family member appointments will expire based on the sponsor's rotation date.

Family member appointments may not exceed two months after an employee is no longer considered a family member within the local commuting area due to PCS or divorce of sponsor or, in the case of a child, the age of 23.

Family members are defined according to the DODI 1400.25, Vol.1232 as: For a military member whose duty station is in a foreign area, the member's spouse or unmarried dependent child.

For a civilian US employee as defined by section 2105 of Title 5, United States Code, the employee's spouse, domestic partner, or unmarried dependent child, or unmarried child of the employee's spouse or domestic partner.

A family member must physically reside with his or her sponsor to receive family member preference. Major Duties:

• Perform work related to Employee Relations program, e.g., adverse actions, discipline, employee assistance, performance-based actions, performance management, awards, absence and leave, administrative grievances, and drug free workplace.
• Plan and implement employee relations programs.
• Interpret and adapt legislative history, regulations, policy determinations, and Federal and non-Federal sector case law and precedents.
• Participate in the development of management proposals and bargaining positions.
• Conduct independent, in-depth research into complex questions of program operations and produces reports and studies on performance.
• Counsel, advice, and assist on actions concerning employee-management communications, grievances and appeals, disciplinary actions, and performance-based actions for both management and employees.
• Serve as a representative or key witness in complex third-party proceedings before various third parties.
• Provide assistance to management at various level of negotiations involving collective bargaining unit orally or in written form.
• Present managements position in a wide variety of labor and management-employee relations situations through written correspondence.