Summary

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

This position serves as the Director of Employee Services for the VA Central Office (VACO), Human resources Service Center (HRSC). The incumbent functions as the technical authority for HRSC in all matters related to the Employee Benefits, Reasonable Accommodations, and Workers Compensation programs.

Duties

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Major Duties Include:

• Provide executive level supervision and oversight of the HRSC Employee Services program.
• Direct a variety of HR project management and administrative activities, serving as the primary driver of strategic HR initiatives.
• Serve as an authoritative source for decision-making and guidance dealing with changes in HR project objectives. Implements overall HR programs and project management guidance and policy.
• Serve as a senior advisor and consultant to VACO executive leadership regarding HR functional areas that include Employee Benefits, Reasonable Accommodations and Workers Compensation.
• Develop and apply processes, rules, regulations, and laws to suggest changes and new methodologies to executive management.
• Provide Staff Office managers and HR staff with guidance and interpretation of HR policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Conduct formal and informal presentations to internal and external stakeholders, senior leaders and executives on HR related matters.
• Plan work to be accomplished by subordinates; set and adjust priorities; evaluate work performance; resolve employee complaints; effect disciplinary measures, and identify staff developmental and training needs.

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

Compressed/Flexible: May be available at Manager's discretion.

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.

Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandate requires selectee to report in person unless an approved exemption is already in place.

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, 08/20/2026.

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-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14. 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-15 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-13 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: independently performing advanced technical and advisory benefits/Reasonable Accommodations (RA), or Workers Compensation (WC) consultations; interpreting and applying federal benefits regulations; leading or coordinating team assignments to resolve high-priority benefits/RA/WC actions, providing guidance on benefits/RA/WC regulatory requirements; mentoring junior benefits specialists, and/or providing benefits/RA/WC training to enhance team capability. (you must submit relevant transcripts at the time of application).

~OR~

Criteria 2- Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 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: demonstrated expert-level experience directing a comprehensive Employee Benefits, Reasonable Accommodations (RA), or Workers Compensation (WC) program; leading Benefits/RA/WC teams in the development, implementation, and evaluation of HR policies and programs, ensuring compliance with federal benefits/RA/WC regulations; providing authoritative guidance on issues pertaining to benefits/RA/WC; establishing performance metrics, conducting benefits/RA/WC reviews, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives with regards to benefits/RA/WC; collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to drive HR innovation and foster partnerships.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005/156, Part II, Appendix F1; Human Resources Specialist Qualification Standards GS-0201.

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: 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 series and 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: Work is primarily sedentary.

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/.

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, applicants must meet the following qualifications: Functioning as an expert advisor to all levels of management officials within the agency and to subordinate staff and other management officials in issues pertaining to Employee Benefits. 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/.

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.

Qualifying education for the GS-0201 series includes courses and programs in Human Resources, Human Resources Development, Human Resources Management, Business, Business Management, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, Labor Relations, Industrial Psychology, Organizational Psychology, Organizational Development, Management, Organizational Behavior, Pre-Law/Law, Legal Studies, Health Care Management/Administration, Public Administration, Public Policy, Human Services, Leadership and/or Humanities.

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 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