Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations/Labor Relations)

Summary

This position is located at the National Cemetery Administration in Washington, District of Columbia.

Duties

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Functions as a principle and senior advisor to all levels of management officials within the NCA!(e.g. the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs; Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs; Deputy Under Secretary for Cemetery Operations; Deputy Under Secretary for Memorials and Support; Deputy Under Secretary for Management; Executive Directors; SES; Service Chiefs; Cemetery Directors; and other management officials in NCA Central Office and in the field) in HR functional areas of and related to Employee Relations and Labor Relations!(ER/LR). Serves as a subject matter expert in ER/LR and may act as a liaison when and where necessary, with VA, NCA, and other Federal Office to implement related HR programs and practices for the NCA. Provides expert guidance, advice, and assistance on a wide range of Employee Relations/Labor Relations and related programs to all levels of management officials within the NCA.

Resolves difficult and complex problems which could have a direct impact on the Department mission. Works closely with management officials to develop and explore employee/ labor relations alternatives to improve policies, techniques and procedures. Analyzes, evaluates, and develops major aspects of agency-wide ER/LR relations programs that require isolating and defining unknown conditions, resolving critical problems, and developing new concepts and methodologies; and resolving issues of sensitivity and potential controversy that may promote advances in principal human resources program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones. The work establishes precedents which may influence and persuade top management officials to change major human resources policies or procedures. The incumbent independently initiates and manages special projects, programs and studies for NCA senior staff as requested. The incumbent functions as a critical team member for the Division's development of studies, reports, and publications for presentation to senior managers within NCA and VA. These special projects and studies will relate to employee relations and labor relations.

The Human Resources Specialist (ER/LR) responds independently and effectively to a wide variety of request for assistance, clarification, or information from managers and employees across NCA. Provides policy interpretation, proposes and recommends the definition or clarification of policy statements, and directs the implementation of programs and policies.

Performs public outreach as needed.

Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available

Telework: Ad-Hoc

• Remote/Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position.

Position Description Title/PD#: Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations/Labor Relations)/PD141970

The full performance level of this position is GS - 13.

Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

If interested in applying for this position you ay preview the online application:



Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Subject to a background/security investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 11/24/2026.

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 within 45 days of 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 your most recent non-award 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 non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade.

Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

• Must possess and maintain a REAL ID compliant valid state driver's license.

You may qualify based on your experience, as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Extensive and comprehensive experience in all areas of Employee and labor relations. Experience in providing guidance and education on ER/LR laws. Skill in interpreting and clarifying policies, laws and regulations to managers and employees. Skill in providing training and education to managers and employees as it pertains to Human resources, employee and labor relations. Experience providing technical guidance on sensitive, serious, and controversial employee and labor related issues. Extensive experience and skill in researching and interpreting legal and regulatory program guidance, including case law, collective bargaining agreements, United states codes, codes of federal regulations and VA Handbooks and directives. Experience responding to inquiries, disciplinary actions, grievances and appeals. Experience representing management in arbitrations. Ability to perform a full range of supervisory duties such as but not limited to assigning work, performance, training, and disciplining employees. Extensive customer service experience. Extensive experience in computer-based applications such as but not limited to Microsoft office suite.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Customer Service
• Employee Relations
• Labor Relations
• Communication
• Analysis and Problem Solving

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.

Note: A full 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 a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work demands periods of intense concentration in planning, analyzing, coordination, and execution. It is primarily sedentary with some physical efforts required, walking, standing, and carrying light to moderate items, briefcases, luggage, in conjunction with work and travel away from the worksite. HR Specialist may drive a motor vehicle. Requires approximately 25% or more travel to offices of VA/NCA located throughout the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. 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

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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 (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. 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/.

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.

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

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/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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.

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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.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.