HR Specialist (Policy Planning & Implementation)

Summary

This is a Detail Not to Exceed One Year, however, the detail may be made permanent without additional competition.

This position is located within the Human Resources Service Center (HRSC), Policy Planning and Implementation (PPI). HRSC provides human resources support to VA Central Office (VACO) staff offices. The incumbent serves as an HR Specialist responsible for researching, developing, reviewing, interpreting, coordinating, and implementing HR policies, procedures, and guidance.

Duties

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The incumbent serves as a technical advisor and subject matter expert on complex human resources policy matters, analyzing applicable laws, regulations, VA policies, directives, and other governing requirements to assess their impact on HRSC operations and serviced organizations. The position requires independent judgment in evaluating policy issues, developing recommendations, coordinating stakeholder input, and translating regulatory and policy requirements into clear, consistent, and actionable guidance for human resources professionals, managers, supervisors, and other stakeholders. The incumbent participates in policy development and revision initiatives, compliance reviews, process improvement efforts, and special projects involving multiple human resources functions and organizational stakeholders; develops implementation strategies, standard operating procedures, job aids, and other resources to promote consistent application of human resources requirements across HRSC; and coordinates complex or potentially precedent-setting issues with HRSC leadership, appropriate OCHCO policy offices, legal counsel, employee and labor relations representatives, and other stakeholders as necessary.

• Research, draft, review, and revise internal HRSC policies, procedures, and related guidance to ensure alignment with applicable statutes, regulations, executive directives, VA policies, and organizational requirements.
• Analyze existing policies and procedures to identify outdated provisions, inconsistencies, ambiguities, operational deficiencies, and opportunities for clarification or improvement.
• Monitor emerging legislative, regulatory, legal, and policy developments and evaluate their applicability to HRSC operations.
• Provide technical advice and interpretive guidance to HRSC human resources professionals, managers, supervisors, and other stakeholders concerning the application of established human resources policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop well-supported recommendations and clarify policy requirements to promote consistent application across HRSC-serviced VACO staff offices.
• Coordinate the development, review, and revision of internal policies and procedures with HRSC functional subject matter experts, OCHCO policy offices, legal counsel, employee and labor relations representatives, program offices, and other stakeholders, as appropriate.
• Develop implementation plans and supporting materials for new or revised policies, procedures, and human resources requirements affecting HRSC operations and serviced organizations.
• Coordinate assigned policy development and implementation activities with HRSC leadership, the Policy Planning and Implementation Associate Director, the Lead, and other team members.
• Prepare and disseminate clear, accurate, and timely communications concerning approved policy changes, procedural updates, implementation requirements, and related human resources initiatives.
• Develop presentations, informational materials, frequently asked questions, and other communication products tailored to the needs of affected audiences.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm

Compressed/Flexible: May be available

Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in person work unless they have an approved exemption.

Telework: May be authorized in accordance with agency policy.

Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work. Virtual Work eligibility is for current VA employees that are already subject to the return to in person work mandate in their current position.

Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA owned or leased space.

Position Description/PD#: PD00657A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 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, 11/16/2026.

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 GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

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.

The BASIC REQUIREMENT for the HR Specialist GS-0201 series is presumed met if found qualified at the GS-0201-7 level and above.

To qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, you must meet one of the following listed Criteria:

Criteria 1- Graduate Degree and Specialized Experience: Successful completion of a graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes:

• Researching, analyzing, and interpreting human resources policies, regulations, or program requirements;
• Making recommendations for updates to policy guidance, procedures, or other HR-related guidance documents, like job aids, guides, standard operating procedures, etc.;
• Evaluating HR-related issues, identifying potential solutions, and formulating recommendations to improve program effectiveness, consistency, or compliance;
• Providing technical advice, guidance, or recommendations to stakeholders on the interpretation or implementation of HR policies, requirements, or processes.

(TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED).

~OR~

Criteria 2- Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge, concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the HR specialty areas. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes:

• Independently researching, analyzing, and interpreting complex human resources policies, regulations, or program requirements;
• Developing, reviewing, or revising policy guidance, procedures, or other HR-related guidance documents, like job aids, guides, standard operating procedures, etc.;
• Evaluating HR-related issues, identifying potential solutions, and formulating recommendations to improve program effectiveness, consistency, or compliance; and
• Providing technical advice, guidance, or recommendations to stakeholders on the interpretation or implementation of HR policies, requirements, or processes.

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.

Note: Resume must include job title and employer name, number of hours worked per week, start and end dates (including month and year), list of duties and responsibilities for each position held. In addition, if the experience was a federal position, you must list the grade for each position held. Failure to include this information may result in an ineligible rating. A full year of work is considered to be 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 a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work Is sedentary and does not require any special physical effort.

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

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide 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, applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• Experience developing, drafting, and maintaining HR-related guides, standard operating procedures (SOPs), job aids, or other reference materials that translate policies, regulations, or directives into practical implementation guidance for HR professionals or management officials.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise across multiple HR functional areas and have been relied upon by peers, leadership, or other stakeholders to provide authoritative technical guidance and policy interpretation.
• Independently researching and resolving complex or unfamiliar HR issues requiring analysis of multiple policies, regulations, or program requirements and providing well-supported recommendations or solutions to stakeholders.

Information about ICTAP and 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/.

Local Commuting Area:The local commuting area for this position is defined as being within 50 miles of available VA office space.

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.

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 Resource