Summary

This position is located in the Human Capital Management Office within the Office of the Executive Director. The Specialist supports the Executive Resources Division, which manages senior executives, senior-level positions, administrative law judges, and certain political appointees across the agency. The work helps ensure the Federal Trade Commission can recruit, hire, develop, and retain its executive workforce.

Duties

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As a Human Resources Specialist in the Executive Resources Division, you will:

• Support and administer human capital programs for Senior Executive Service (SES) members, Senior Level (SL) employees, Administrative Law Judges (ALJs), Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility Program detailees, and political appointees, including Presidential appointees, non-career SES, and Schedule C positions.
• Provide expert guidance on recruitment, staffing, hiring, onboarding, position management, classification, and pay administration for career and non-career executive positions.
• Prepare tentatively selected executive candidates for OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB) Structured Interviews, including coordinating with OPM, reviewing materials, and advising candidates on expectations and interview readiness.
• Assist selectees in assembling qualification materials and transitioning effectively into the agency.
• Coordinate and prepare documentation, analysis, recommendations, and decision-ready materials for the Executive Resources Board (ERB), Performance Review Board (PRB), and senior leadership.
• Support executive compensation activities, including salary-setting packages, pay adjustments, incentives, compensation modeling, and coordination with legal, budget, or OPM partners as required.
• Maintain and update Executive Resources information systems, including the Executive and Schedule C System (ESCS), ensuring accurate tracking of executive hiring actions, personnel movements, and government-wide compliance.
• Manage or support executive performance management processes using USA Performance, including plan initiation, mid-year reviews, close-out activities, awards submissions, data calls, and compliance with OPM and OMB requirements.
• Conduct studies, evaluations, and special projects related to executive personnel programs; develop or revise internal guidance, policies, procedures, and operational processes.
• Collaborate across FTC bureaus and offices; coordinate intergovernmental assignments, executive details, and executive onboarding activities; and support agency-wide initiatives impacting senior leadership.
• Represent the Executive Resources Division in meetings, working groups, and negotiations; present recommendations; resolve issues; and provide advisory services on complex, sensitive, or precedent-setting executive human capital matters.
• Contribute to the improvement of executive resources policies, systems, and operations to ensure effective, compliant, and strategic management of the agency's senior workforce.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
• This position is subject to a background investigation.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
• The position may be subject to completion of a one-year probationary period. Probationary periods are an extension of the hiring process.
• If selected for this position, the agency will evaluate your fitness and whether continuation of employment advances the public interest before extending your appointment beyond the one-year probationary period.
• You must meet time-in-grade requirement by the closing date of this vacancy.
• You must submit a copy of your performance appraisal with your application.
• This position is not in the bargaining unit.

Qualifications

To qualify for the Human Resources Specialist (Executive Resources) position at the GS-13 level, you must meet the following requirements:

You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: applying Office of Personnel Management (OPM) policies and principles for SES, SL, ALJ, political appointee, and Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility Program detailee staffing; assisting in policies and operations covering executive recruitment, staffing, position management, classification, performance management, executive compensation, and executive development; providing advisory support to managers and supervisors; assisting tentatively selected candidates preparing for OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB) Structured Interviews; maintaining executive resource systems such as the Executive Schedule C System (ESCS) and USA Performance; and researching and applying laws, regulations, and policies governing executive personnel programs.

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.

Education

There is no education substitution for specialized experience at this grade level.

Additional information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 87 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.

For more information visit: ICTAP/CTAP

Non-competitive Appointment Authorities:

For more information on non-competitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:

- Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A

- Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans

- Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses

- Other Special Appointment Authorities

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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.