Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations/Labor Relations)

Summary

The Federal government is looking to fill Human Resources (HR) Specialist (Employee Relations/Labor Relations) positions across many different agencies through this shared job announcement. HR Specialists serve in critical roles across government to assist with labor and/or employee relations activities, performing operational HR assignments, and providing advisory services.

Duties

For a Human Resources (HR) Specialist in Employee Relations and/or Labor Relations, specific duties vary by hiring agency. Examples may include: Provides advice to managers and employees on workplace issues such as performance, conduct, and disciplinary actions, helping ensure fair and consistent handling of cases. Reviews employee relations cases, gathers facts, and helps develop solutions that follow laws, policies, and agency procedures. Supports labor relations activities by assisting with grievances, contract interpretation, and communication between management and union representatives. Delivers HR guidance, training, and informational materials to managers and employees to improve understanding of HR programs and workplace responsibilities. Assists leadership by analyzing HR issues, recommending solutions, and helping ensure compliance with Federal regulations and agency policies.

Requiremennts

This is a shared cross-government announcement open to agencies throughout Federal government. If you are invited to interview or offered a job, be sure to get clarification from the particular hiring agency about the duty location and other conditions of employment. Specific requirements vary by hiring agency and include: Current civil service employees selected will be given new appointments to the civil service and subject to a new probationary period; however, benefits, time served, and other Federal entitlements may remain the same. May be covered by a bargaining unit. May qualify for bonuses, incentives, and/or reimbursement of relocation expenses, in accordance with hiring agency policy. May require financial disclosure filing upon appointment and annually. May require a pre-employment drug test and/or random drug testing during the period of employment. Must be a U.S. citizen or national. Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov. Per Public Law 104-134, all Federal employees are required to have Federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Promotion potential varies by hiring agency. Some positions may have promotion potential to higher grade levels. Security clearance varies by hiring agency. Must be able to pass a background investigation and/or obtain and hold a security clearance, as determined by the hiring agency. Selective service registration is required, as applicable. Travel varies by hiring agency.

Qualifications

THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This announcement will close at 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/19/2026. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement open period, based on the schedule below. Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the cut-off dates listed below. Eligibility and qualification claims are subject to verification. First Cut-Off on May 4, 2026: To be considered in the first review, applicants must submit their application package and complete the USA Hire assessments by May 4, 2026. Final Cut-Off on May 19, 2026: Applicants who submit their application package and complete the USA Hire assessments after May 4, 2026 will be considered in the final review. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you possess the specialized experience and/or education for the grade level to which you are applying. GS-07 Specialized Experience: Must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (or comparable level of experience from outside the Federal service) performing at least 3 of the 4 following duties: Providing information on human resources (HR) policies or procedures. Assisting with employee relations matters such as conduct, performance, or leave. Gathering information to support employee or labor relations activities. Researching HR laws, regulations, or policies to support management decisions. Your resume must include how you meet at least 3 of the 4 specialized experience statements. OR Education: One full academic year (18 semester hours or the equivalent) of graduate education. The field of study must be in one or a combination of the following fields: human resources, business administration, public administration, organizational development, psychology, sociology, labor relations, industrial relations, or other directly related field that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Must submit transcripts.) OR Combination of Experience and Education: Have less than the amount of specialized experience and less than the full amount of graduate education described above, but have a combination such that they total 100 percent when combined. To determine the combination, first compute the experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then compute the graduate education as a percentage of the graduate education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate-level education may be combined with specialized experience. (Must be reflected in your resume, and must submit transcripts.) OR Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successfully completed a bachelor's degree AND meet one of the following: 1) Grade point average of "B" (GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study; 2) Grade point average of "B " (GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study; 3) Rank in the upper one-third of your class in your college, university, or major subdivision; or 4) Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. (Must submit transcripts.) GS-09 Specialized Experience: Must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (or comparable level of experience from outside the Federal service) performing at least 3 of the 4 following duties: Providing guidance on human resources (HR) policies or workplace issues. Analyzing employee relations matters such as conduct, performance, or leave. Responding to employee or labor relations matters such as grievances. Applying HR laws, regulations, or policies to resolve workplace issues. Your resume must include how you meet at least 3 of the 4 specialized experience statements. OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or LL.B. or J.D. The field of study was in one or a combination of the following fields: human resources, business administration, public administration, organizational development, psychology, sociology, labor relations, industrial relations, or other directly related field that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Must submit transcripts.) OR Combination of Experience and Education: Have less than the amount of specialized experience and less than the full amount of graduate education described above, but have a combination such that they total 100 percent when combined. To determine the combination, first compute the experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then compute the graduate education as a percentage of the graduate education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate-level education in excess of one year (18 semester hours) may be combined with specialized experience. (Must be reflected in your resume, and must submit transcripts.) IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. If your resume does not support your application questionnaire response(s), we will not allow credit for your response(s). A full-time year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours per week spent in such employment. 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). 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.

Join a governmentwide community of human resources (HR) professionals shaping fair, effective, and accountable workplaces. Agencies across the Federal government are hiring HR Specialists in Employee Relations and Labor Relations to advise leaders, resolve workforce issues, and strengthen organizational culture and performance. This is your opportunity to shape the future of public service by applying your analytical knowledge, HR skills, and strategic vision to improve how government works for the American people. Be part of a network that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and measurable impact. Grow your skills. Strengthen the workforce. Deliver solutions across government.