Forest Service Logo
Position Title
Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations)
Agency
Forest Service
Announcement Number
21-EHT-OCR-FS2603-12G Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, December 7, 2020 to Monday, June 7, 2021
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2.
Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge) AND you either:
• retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more; OR 
• rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) since 1991 or later to include disability determinations from a branch of the Armed Forces at any time, as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more. 

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
 
(limit characters)
3.
Are you a current USDA employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee, in which received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF)? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;  AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
 
(limit characters)
4.
Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty?

-OR-

Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating of 100 percent at the time of retirement or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?

-OR-

Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status?

 For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
(limit characters)
5. Are you a current or former permanent Farm Service Agency County employee?  (limit characters)
6. Are you a current Federal employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment?  (limit characters)
7. Are you a Federal employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment AND you have held or currently hold a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised? (limit characters)
8.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than USDA? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;  AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

 For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
 
(limit characters)
9.
Are you a current or former employee of a land management agency (Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Bureau of Reclamation) who is claiming eligibility under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act and: 

• was originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment; and,

• served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a single break in service of two or more years; and,
• performed at an acceptable level during each period of service; and,

• if no longer employed by the land management agency, have been separated for no more than two years, and whose most recent separation was for reasons other than misconduct or performance.
  
Note: Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better.  Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked.  Non-pay status (such as LWOP) is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited.  Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.
(limit characters)
10.
Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency that has a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management?

 For more information, review  Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems.
 
-OR-
 
 Are you a current:

• Postal Career Service Employee;

• Postal Rate Commission Employee;

• Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; or,

• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee?

For more information, review Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
 
 
(limit characters)
11. Are you a Peace Corps Volunteer or AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni who completed your service within the past 12 months; OR,

Are you a Peace Corps Volunteer or AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni who completed your service within the past 36 months AND you are requesting an extension of your non-competitive appointment eligibility due to your military service; study at a recognized institution of higher learning; or involvement in another activity, which the hiring agency may view warrants extension?  OR,

 Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who completed at least 36 months of continuous service without a break in service of 3 days or more AND has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years?
(limit characters)
12.
Do you have a severe intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?

For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.
 
 
(limit characters)
13. Have you completed a qualifying conservation project(s) with the US Forest Service?  If yes, confirm that you meet the following:
  • you received a Public Land Corps - Certificate of Eligibility for Noncompetitive Hiring Status
  • you were between 16 and 30 years old (inclusive) when the certification of eligibility was signed
  • you completed a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service on appropriate conservation projects that included at least 120 hours on Public Lands Corps projects; AND,
  • you are within the two-year eligibility period from the date the certification was signed.
(limit characters)
14. Have you registered for reemployment consideration AND meet one of the below: 

• Are you a current or former competitive service USDA employee who will be or was separated by Reduction-In-Force (RIF) and received a rating of satisfactory or above as your last annual performance rating? 
OR 
• Are you a former USDA competitive service employee who separated due to a compensable injury or disability?
(limit characters)
15.
Are you a former Federal career or career-conditional employee AND

• has reinstatement eligibility; AND 
• has not held a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised?
(limit characters)
16.
Are you a former Federal career or career-conditional employee AND  

• has reinstatement eligibility; AND 
• has held a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised?
(limit characters)
17. Are you a former Resource Assistant with the US Forest Service?  If yes, confirm that you meet the following:
  • you received a Certificate of Eligibility for Noncompetitive Hiring Status Based on Resource Assistants Program
  • you successfully completed a minimum of 960 hours of full- or part-time work, not to exceed 3,500 hours over a two-year period
  • you earned an undergraduate (associate or bachelor) or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education; AND, 
  • you are within the two-year eligibility period from the date the certification was signed.
(limit characters)
18.
Are you:

• a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
• eligible for veterans' preference?

Note: If you are currently on active duty you may be considered under the two provisions above provided you submit  a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. 

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
 
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
This section will be used to determine if you possess the education and experience needed to qualify for this position. (limit characters)
1. From the statements below, select the response that best describes your education and/or experience as it pertains to meeting the Basic Requirements for the Human Resources Specialist, GS-0201-12 position. Please select only one response.
(limit characters)
For each task in the following group, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Please select only one letter for each item. (limit characters)
2. Which of the following best describes your highest level of experience advising others on the application of employee relations policies and programs (e.g., disciplinary actions, performance based actions, grievances, appeal rights, workplace environment issues, leave administration, and inquires/investigations)? (limit characters)
3. I have interpreted and applied the following resource(s) to provide recommendations on employee relations issues (select all that apply): (limit characters)
4. Which of the following best describes your highest level of experience interpreting and applying case law, policies, and regulations in order to advise management as to the options available in addressing issues that arose within an employee relations program? (limit characters)
5. Which of the following best describes your highest level of experience analyzing employee conduct and performance-based problems to inform or guide management to determine appropriate corrective action? (limit characters)
6. I have performed the following tasks to address issues and provide solutions to complex problems for an employee relations program (select all that apply): (limit characters)
7. Which of the following best describes your highest level of experience conducting analyses to identify trends, patterns, and unusual circumstances resulting in the appropriate action or failure to comply with regulations, policies, etc. for an employee relations program? (limit characters)
8. Which of the following best describes your highest level of experience conveying information in written form related to employee relations? (limit characters)
9. As a regular part of my job, I have prepared and written the following documents (select all that apply): (limit characters)
10. Which of the following best describes your highest level of experience explaining, advocating, and expressing facts and ideas in a convincing manner and developing professional networks? (limit characters)
11. I have independently performed the following tasks (select all that apply): (limit characters)
Your responses to the Announcement and Assessment Questionnaires, along with your supporting documentation, are subject to evaluation and verification to ensure accuracy. Please take an opportunity to review your responses for their accuracy. (limit characters)
12. I certify that I have read the announcement and have attached all supporting documents as required.
(limit characters)
13. Have you read the "Required Documents" section of the vacancy announcement and understand that failure to submit all required, legible documents prior to the closing date of the announcement may result in loss of consideration?
(limit characters)
14. I certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by me with my application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that I have truthfully and accurately represented my work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). I understand that the information provided may be investigated. I understand that misrepresenting my experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in or with my application may be grounds for not hiring me or for terminating me after I begin work. I also understand that false or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).
(limit characters)