Employee and Labor Relations Specialist

Summary

As an Employee and Labor Relations Specialist in the Workforce Relations Center, Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM), you will serve as a recognized expert performing complex work and providing guidance on employee and labor relations policies and programs. Location of position: Positions may be filled in Washington, DC; Kansas City, MO; Lakewood, CO; Raleigh, NC; Fort Worth, TX. We are currently filling two vacancies, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Duties

As an Employee and Labor Relations, you will perform the following duties: Provides leadership, expert assistance, and authoritative advice on interpretation of human resources policy in the employee relations program area. Researches sensitive, complex, or controversial issues; interprets legal sources; and develops policy recommendations based on extensive analysis. Provides technical expertise on extraordinary, unique, or contentious employee relations matters and develops innovative solutions. Identifies, designs, and delivers training on key employee relations concepts. Serves as a coordinator and representative for major employee relations issues and meetings involving internal and external organizations. Reviews program activities to identify problems and recommend corrective measures or alternative approaches. Leads or participates in studies of national significance and leads employee relations initiatives. Develops, updates, and analyzes program measures and metrics to monitor and assess program success and effectiveness. Develops policies, operating procedures, and directives implementing enterprise-wide labor relations policy and manages related programs. Prepares high-level strategy briefings and represents the organization in formal dealings with national-level and regional union representatives. Researches and assesses policy and practice changes for labor relations obligations. When designated, serves as Chief Negotiator or other team member in national-level negotiations, mediation, and impasse proceedings and prepares, presents, documents, and advocates for proposals, counterproposals, responses, and offers. Provides expert-level advice to Human Resource Directors, Labor Relations Specialists, managers, and supervisors in developing solutions to broad and complex problems. Serves as a point of contact on complex labor relations issues and best practices. Provides expert advice on highly complex, unusual, or far-reaching issues. Develops, updates, analyzes, and reports on labor relations measures and performs trend analysis to improve program effectiveness. Serves as a Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator and facilitates agency RA cases. Develops and implements RA policies, procedures, and directives; provides expert technical assistance on the interactive process, essential job functions, and reasonable accommodations; and oversees centralized accommodation case files. Analyzes program data and performance metrics and coordinates with legal counsel, medical professionals, and external agencies to resolve complex or contentious accommodation cases.

Requirements

If selected, you must meet the following conditions: Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Serve a one year probationary period, if required. Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level). Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security's e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.

Qualifications and evaluation

A panel of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review the application of qualified candidates and assign a score for each of the five required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) based on the experience documented in the resume and narrative responses. Knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations and case law that establish and define Federal employee relations policies, programs and related procedures to provide authoritative employee relations advice and guidance. Skill in providing employee relations advice and guidance and serving as a point of contact on developing, interpreting, and applying regulations and procedures governing employee relations programs and cases. Skill in applying high-level conflict resolution, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), mediation, and impasse-resolution techniques to resolve complex labor relations issues and support national-level negotiations. Knowledge of Federal employee and labor relations laws, directives and new developments to address employee and labor relations problems and to make decisions or recommendations involving the interpretation or development of important employee and labor relations policies and programs. Knowledge of Federal disability laws, the interactive process, and evaluation of medical documentation against essential job functions to serve as a Reasonable Accommodations Coordinator. Demonstration of these KSAs must be supported by your application. Applicants should also make note of each KSA, as you will be asked to address them later in the application process. Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume so that information will be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation. If you are eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or GSA's Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), your resume must clearly demonstrate experience in at least 3 of the 5 required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) to receive priority consideration. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Benefits

You will have access to many benefits including: Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans) Life insurance coverage with several options Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan) Transit and child care subsidies Flexible spending accounts Long-term care insurance Training and development

How to apply

Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application. For more detailed instructions on how to apply, click here: Apply for a GSA Job. If you are having issues applying to this announcement, you should switch to a different browser, network or device. Note: Your firewall may block your transfer from USAJOBS to your GSA application. To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement. Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application. Resumes exceeding two pages will not be accepted by USAJOBS and will prevent your application from moving forward in the hiring process. Please see Required Documents for additional details. Once you have clicked Apply for this position now, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process. Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete. If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job. Note: Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process). Need Assistance? Questions or issues completing an application and/or submitting documentation - contact fedhirehelp@applygovernment.com or 1-866-656-6831 Monday-Friday 7AM - 7PM EST, except for Federal holidays Specific questions on the position - contact the HR representative (Monday-Friday during normal business hours) listed on the announcement, prior to the application deadline You must receive HR approval before deviating from these instructions. Be sure to APPLY EARLY as most assessments must be completed fully and submitted before the announcement closing.

Required documents

ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit. Resume: Must not exceed two pages. Refer to the Qualifications section for resume requirements. Federal employee (includes current GSA employees): You must submit a legible copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, AND a SF-50 reflecting the highest grade held if different from your recent SF-50. The SF-50, block 24 must contain "1" or "2" AND block 34 must be a "1". Employees eligible under an OPM approved interchange agreement, block 34 may contain a "1" or "2". Note: If required to submit an SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action), an equivalent agency Notice of Personnel Action form is acceptable. The SF-50 or equivalent agency Notice of Personnel Action form must show all of the following: effective date, position, title, series, grade, and rate of basic pay, tenure group 1 (career) or 2 (career-conditional), position occupied group, and name of agency. Promotion Consideration: If your most recent SF-50 became effective within the past year, it may not demonstrate that you meet the one-year time-in-grade requirement. In that case, submit additional SF-50(s) (such as promotion, within-grade increase, grade/range increase, or an SF-50 with an effective date more than one year old) that clearly document you meet the time-in-grade requirement. Reinstatement Eligible: Submit your separation SF-50 If you are claiming veterans preference: (a) DD-214 that shows your type of discharge, character of service and the dates of your active duty service. (b) If you are claiming 10-point preference or derived preference (spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a deceased or disabled veteran), you must submit documentation that establishes your entitlement in addition to the DD-214: VA disability rating letter or other official documentation (refer to SF-15 for complete list). SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference Note: If sufficient documentation is provided to establish 10-point preference, preference may be granted based on the supporting documentation even if the SF-15 is not submitted. If selected, a completed SF-15 will be required prior to appointment. IF YOU ARE: Active duty military- Certification on a letterhead from your military branch that includes your rank, character of service (must be under honorable conditions) & military service dates including discharge/release date (must be no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted). Former Peace Corp or VISTA volunteer: Submit your Description of Service. Current or former Land Management Agency Employee - Submit a and b: (a) one or more SF-50s, including your most recent one that shows you were on a competitive time-limited appointment(s) with a Land Management Agency and served on the appointment for a period(s) totaling more than 24 months without a break of 2 or more years. (b) Copy of your agency's annual performance appraisal(s) or written reference(s) from a supervisor at the agency verifying satisfactory performance during your appointment(s). ICTAP/CTAP eligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal. Current or former political appointee: Submit your SF-50. Applying under another special appointment authority: Submit proof of your eligibility under the appropriate appointment authority. See USAJOBS for more information. If you have a disability: Submit proof of eligibility. For information on eligibility and required documentation, refer to USAJOBS page for more information.

Additional information

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches. If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage. Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility. On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved: · Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.