Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations)

Summary

This position is located in the Human Resources Division of the Office of the Executive Director (NEA-SCA/EX) for the Bureaus of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) and South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) within the Department of State. *** Amended: This position is not eligible for relocation expenses.

Duties

• Advises managers and employees on ER, disciplinary, grievance, appeal, payroll, benefits, and HR matters.
• Analyzes workplace issues, counsels staff, mediates disputes, and prepares ER documentation.
• Reviews performance plans and ratings and provides performance management training.
• Conducts inquiries, prepares reports, and drafts disciplinary and adverse actions.
• Represents the bureau, advises on workforce issues, and serves as POC for workers' compensation and complex leave cases.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

The evaluation process consists of the ApplyGov Competency Based Assessments for which applicants will be assigned a score between 70 and 100. A resume review will be conducted for minimum qualification (MQ) requirements, per the “Qualifications” section of this announcement, of applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates based on assessment scores. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. All applications that meet the required qualifications and the cutoff score will be referred to the selecting official in the order in which the applications were received.

You will be assessed on the following job-related competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Non-Supervisory: Oral Communication, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management. Set aside at least 2 hours to take the external assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. There are timed sections that must be completed within the allotted timeframe. Your score from the external assessment (i.e., Non-supervisory) will remain on file for 180 days, allowing you to apply for multiple DOS-announced positions without needing to retake the assessments.

Top applicants may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. The assessment is used to measure the degree in which your background matches the competencies and KSAs required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: • Experience analyzing documents and advising supervisors and employees on a wide variety of employee relations cases. • Experience identifying employee relations functions. • Ability to gather facts related to a problem or issue, analyzing them, and making supportable recommendations for resolution of the problem or issue. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific.

We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application may result in your removal from consideration. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

• All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system by 11:59 p.m.
• Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. 1.
• Resume limited to two pages showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training.
• Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered.
• Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions.
• Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. 2.
• Most recent SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Actions), if you are a current eligible DOS employee (per 3 FAM 2313.4(a)(5)), including current employees applying under a non-competitive hiring authority.
• The SF-50s must show: effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency.
• Multiple SF-50s may be needed to show all required information (e.g., promotion, within-grade increase, and separation SF-50s).
• Award SF-50s often do not show the required information. 3.
• Performance appraisal, strongly encouraged for current eligible DOS employees.
• Submit a copy of your most recent (i.e., usually within the last 18 months) final (i.e., not a mid-year review) official (i.e., signed by the rating official and in original format) annual performance appraisal for the hiring manager's consideration.
• If a performance appraisal is not available, you may provide a statement and/or a statement from your supervisor explaining the reason one is not available and your servicing HR Office contact information (name, email address, phone number).
• Note: You may be requested to provide an appraisal to the hiring official if one was not provided with your application.
• To receive a promotion, the employee's most recent performance rating must be “fully successful” or an equivalent level or higher.
• Employees who are tentatively selected to receive a promotion will be required to provide performance documentation within two business days of request.
• Servicing HR Offices may be contacted to verify performance ratings. 4.
• Non-competitive hiring authority eligibility documentation, if applicable.
• If you are a current eligible DOS employee applying under a non-competitive hiring authority (e.g, FS tenured employees, USUN reinstatement eligibles, Schedule A), you must submit proof of non-competitive eligibility with your application.
• For information related to Schedule A hiring authority for individuals with disabilities visit OPM's hiring information site. 5.
• CTAP documentation, if applicable (e.g., reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, certification of expected separation, etc.).
• In addition submit a copy of your current (or last) performance rating of record which must be at least fully successful or equivalent and submit all required documents listed above that apply to you (e.g., resume, transcripts, SF-50, etc.).