Recent Graduate (Human Resources Specialist)

Summary

This is an excepted service appointment under the NIH Pathways Recent Graduate Program. NIH Recent Graduates receive on-the-job training for one year and complete at least 40 hours of formal interactive training while in the program. Assignments are aimed at developing the employee’s skills and knowledge to progressively perform more difficult duties.

Duties

• Serves as an entry-level professional within the agency's Human Resources Division.
• Under general supervision, the incumbent provides HR support across one or more functional areas, applying federal laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to support agency workforce needs.
• Recent Graduates may be placed in any one of the functional areas listed below based on agency need.
• Classification Assists in evaluating and classifying federal positions using the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Classification Standards and the Factor Evaluation System (FES).
• Reviews and drafts position descriptions (PDs) to ensure accuracy, completeness, and alignment with organizational mission and function.
• Maintains an up-to-date repository of approved position descriptions in the HR information system.
• Recruitment & Staffing Assists with the full lifecycle of federal recruitment activities under Title 5, Title 38, or excepted service authorities, as applicable.
• Drafts and posts vacancy announcements in USAJOBS in compliance with OPM and agency policy, ensuring accurate qualification standards, assessment criteria, and job opportunity content.
• Reviews applications for minimum qualifications, applies appropriate rating and ranking criteria, and prepares certificates of eligible candidates for selecting officials.
• Compensation & Policy Provides advice and guidance relative to application of HR rules and regulations for complex technical problems and issues.
• Disseminates new or emerging guidance explaining rationale for new policy or interpretation.
• Training & Employee Development Supports the development and maintenance of Individual Development Plans (IDPs) in coordination with supervisors and employees.
• Assists in the coordination, scheduling, and tracking of agency-wide training programs and mandatory learning requirements.
• Employee Relations Provides advice and guidance to managers and supervisors on employee conduct, performance management, and disciplinary procedures in accordance with agency policy and applicable law.
• Assists in preparing proposed disciplinary and adverse action documents (e.g., letters of warning, proposals to suspend, removal actions) for review by senior HR staff or legal counsel.
• Researches applicable case law, Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) decisions, and agency precedents to inform recommendations.
• Benefits Administration Processes benefits enrollments, changes, and terminations in a timely and accurate manner within HR systems.
• Responds to employee inquiries regarding eligibility, open season, qualifying life events, and retirement estimates.
• HR Information Systems Assists in system testing, training end users, and documenting standard operating procedures related to HR information systems.
• Validates data integrity by cross-referencing system records against source documents and identifying and correcting discrepancies.

Education

You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to receiving an official offer. Please note that unofficial transcripts attached to the application must reflect that the degree or certificate has been awarded or conferred. The date that the degree was awarded or conferred must meet the program criteria at the time of application.

Applicants must have graduated with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. We do not round the GPA. All documents must be received at the time of application. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization’s interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Click here for information on Foreign Education

Required Documents

Prepare the documents below before applying. Always confirm the exact requirements on the official announcement, since they vary by position:

• Prepare the documents below before applying.
• Always confirm the exact requirements on the official announcement, since they vary by position: Required for All Applicants RESUME: Your resume must clearly demonstrate, in two pages or less, how your skills and experiences align with the "Qualifications" section and support your questionnaire responses.
• While cover letters provided with your application will be shared with hiring officials, they will not be used for initial qualification determinations.
• We cannot assume required experience based on your work or academic history.
• If your resume exceeds two pages, only the first two will be reviewed.
• Use a legible font such as Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial, with 0.5-inch margins.
• Suggested formatting: 14-point for titles and 10-point for body text.
• You may use the USAJOBS Resume Builder or upload your own resume.
• If uploading, ensure it includes all required information and is organized so we can match the following to each position: Job title Employer name Employment dates (MM/DD/YYYY) Hours worked per week (full-time assumed; part-time prorated) Detailed duties, accomplishments, skills, responsibilities, and supervisory details (if applicable) Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions) If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study.
• If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume.