Human Resources Assistant (Employee Relations & Labor Relations)

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Central Office (VACO) Human Resources Service Center (HRSC). The primary purpose of this positions is to provide support to hiring managers and executives on various employee relations programs.

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Duties

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Major Duties Include:

• Controls and responds to incoming and outgoing correspondence: determining priority, establishing suspense dates as required, referring to a supervisor or appropriate co-worker, and following-up to ensure suspense dates are met.
• Assembles evidence files and obtains information from relevant sources necessary to determine appropriate guidance/advice to management. Maintains, monitors and follows up on suspense items and reports.
• Provides information and assistance to employees and supervisors based on interpretation of regulations and rules.
• Advise leadership of conflict resolution.
• Maintains and updates a variety of computerized databases, maintains statistical data necessary to comply with the reporting requirements.
• Conducts regulatory research to provide a thorough response. Assists on special projects by gathering and organizing data, identifying issues and discrepancies, formatting material, and recommending improvements and solutions. Develops presentations, reports and analyses.
• Assists with the preparation of agency files for third-party appeals, including Merit Systems Protection Board appeals and Equal Employment Opportunity document requests and hearing files. Performs the same tasks for Disciplinary Appeals Board hearings, Administrative Investigative Boards, fact- findings, etc.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Compressed/Flexible: May be available

Telework: Available - Ad Hoc telework (situational telework) as determined by the agency policy.

Virtual: This is not a remote position. You will be expected to report to a VA office space at one of the listed locations.

Position Description/PD#: PD09052A, PD09051A, and PD09050A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period or two year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period one year probationary period or two year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/10/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS04.

For a GS06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS05.

For a GS07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS06.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to some former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

GS05 Level

• Specialized Experience Applicants must have one year of full-time experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-04) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of qualifying experience at the GS-4 grade level include: providing administrative support in completing program assignments to include preparation of documents and reports; providing customer support services to various customers; ensuring compliance with organizational policies; managing internal recordkeeping of office files and processes.

OR,

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed four full years of education above high school which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

OR,

• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education experience which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

GS06 Level

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of full-time specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-05) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience include: experience responding to inquiries and answering routine questions related to employee and labor relations; experience maintaining a HR database to track and extract data; experience in gathering data and basic analyses to maintain data and track employee and labor relation inquiries.

GS-07 Level

Specialized Experience : Applicants must have one year of full-time specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-06) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience include: experience applying standardized HR policies, procedures, and operations pertaining to employee and labor relations; experience providing accurate responses to employee and labor relations inquiries; interviewing supervisors to gather pertinent information to address rumors and incidents; skill in conflict resolution.

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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be found well qualified, in addition to meeting the qualifications listed above, applicants must meet the following qualification: responds to customer inquiries on various employee relations law, regulations and policies.

Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration (HRA) at The Fair Chance Act.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

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://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information

Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from Atlanta GA, Austin TX, Little Rock AK, and Washington DC. This includes all locations that fall within a 50-mile driving distance from 810 Vermont AVE NW Washington, DC .

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telew

Salary : $40,736 - $65,559