Washington Headquarters Services Logo
Position Title
LEAD HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST
Agency
Washington Headquarters Services
Announcement Number
ST-12605259-25-JGA Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, November 25, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024
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 current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
  •  
    • Position title;
    • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
    • Agency; and,
    • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
  •  
(limit characters)
3. You are eligible for this hiring category if you are currently employed on a permanent appointment in the competitive service with a federal agency.

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your appointment eligibility, by submitting a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, (block 24 must be a "1" or "2" AND block 34 must be a"1").

NOTE:  If you are serviced by WHS you are not required to submit an SF-50.
*If you are currently working on a temporary or term appointment, or are serving on active duty in the U.S. military service, you are NOT eligible for this hiring category.
*If you are currently working for a private sector company performing work related to a contract with a federal agency, you are NOT eligible for this hiring category.
*We will be reviewing your last or most recent SF-50 to determine 'Time-in-grade requirements' are met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented. 
(limit characters)
4. You are eligible for this hiring category if you are the spouse of an active duty U.S. Armed Forces service member and you meet the following conditions:

• You and the sponsor were married prior to the relocation (before the Permanent Change of Station (PCS)); AND,
• You have arrived at the overseas duty station identified on the PCS orders; AND,
• Since the relocation, you have not accepted or declined a permanent position at the new duty station of the sponsor; AND,
• You are among the best qualified; AND,
• Position you are applying to, is within the same commuting area as sponsor's permanent duty station.
 
**NOTE: Preference can be granted only once per PCS relocation. Once you accept or decline a position, either appropriated fund (AF) or non-appropriated fund (NAF) at the new duty station, your eligibility for preference terminates whether or not preference was applied.
 
Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your appointment eligibility, by submitting a copy of the service member's permanent change of station orders, including a statement authorizing the spouse to accompany the member to the permanent duty station (if the spouse is not listed on the orders, then a command sponsorship letter must be submitted), the specific location to which the member is assigned, reassigned, or transferred to permanent change of station orders, and the effective date of the permanent change of station; AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).

• If you are currently employed by the federal government in an excepted service Schedule A family member position in an overseas location, you also need to include a copy of your most recent SF-50 reflecting in block 24 either a "0" or "3" AND block 34 should reflect a "2."
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5. Executive Order (E.O.) 12721

Eligibility:  You are eligible for this hiring category if you were the spouse, domestic partner, or unmarried child under the age of 23, accompanying sponsor, officially assigned to an overseas area, appointed to an appropriated fund position using an overseas local hire appointment authority; Completed at least 52 weeks of creditable service (26 weeks if the sponsor's tour was curtailed), which may have been under more than one appointment and need not be continuous; Received a fully successful or better (or equivalent) performance rating; And are applying within 3 years of returning to that U.S. from the overseas tour of duty. 

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit the following documents in order to substantiate your qualifications and your appointment eligibility under this authority: A resume, First and last SF-50s for every qualifying position; Most recent signed performance review; And Permanent Change of Station orders returning sponsor to the United States.
  • An individual must have been a family member at the time s/he met the overseas service requirement but does not need to be a family member at the time of non-competitive appointment in the United States.
  • Any law, Executive Order, or regulation that disqualifies an applicant for appointment in the competitive service also disqualifies the applicant for appointment under E.O. 12721.
  • An individual is eligible for temporary, term, or career-conditional appointment(s) under E.O. 12721 for a period of 3 years following the date of return from the overseas to the United States to resume residence.
  • For more information visit the Department of State website: http://E.O. 12721
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6. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?

If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
• your grade is equivalent to or above the grade level of the vacancy or has greater promotion potential than the grade level of the vacancy
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

You will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of ICTAP eligibility such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice, copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50), and most recent performance appraisal showing a rating of record that is at least fully successful or equivalent.  For more information, review https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/
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7. You are eligible for this hiring category, if you are: 
  • A current non-appropriated fund (NAF); OR 
  • Other Interchange Agreement eligible employee; AND 
  • served continuously for at least one year under a permanent appointment; OR 
  • Former Interchange Agreement eligible (e.g., NAF) employee who served under an appointment described above, and was involuntarily separated within the past year without personal cause (i.e., not because of unacceptable conduct or performance).
(limit characters)
8. Are you eligible under this authority for appointment?
• Current or former Land Management Agency employee (i.e. the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture; the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the Interior; the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior; the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior; the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior; or the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of the Interior); and
• Who currently are or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies.

Current land management agency appointees:
must have initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to the time-limited appointment,
must have served under 1 or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years, and
must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.

Former land management agency employees:
must have initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to the time-limited appointment,
must have served under 1 or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a total period of more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years,
must have performed at an acceptable level throughout the service period(s),
must apply for a position covered by these provisions within 2 years after their most recent date of separation, and
must have been separated, with respect to their most recent separation, for reasons other than misconduct or performance.

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable proof of your appointment eligibility by submitting a copy of your most recent SF-50 (block 24 must be a "0" or "3" AND block 34 must be a"1"), Notification of Personnel Action, documenting your Land Management eligibility for a competitive service appointment AND performance rating showing you have performed at an acceptable level.
(limit characters)
9. You are eligible for this hiring category if you:
  • Are a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty,
  • Are a spouse of a 100 percent disabled service member injured while on active duty; OR
  • Are the un-remarried widow or widower of a service member who was killed while performing active duty.
Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your eligibility for E.O. 13832 which may include:
  • verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage); and,
  • Documentation verifying active duty status; or
  • verification of the member's 100 percent disability; or
  • verification of the member's death while on active duty.
Additionally, you may need to submit a Standard Form-15 (SF-15), an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, and applicable supporting documents as noted on the form. Obtain a copy of SF-15 at http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf 

**For appointments made on or after August 13, 2023, the following additional criteria must be met for eligibility for appointment: (A) The member of the armed forces must have received orders authorizing a permanent change of station.  (B) The spouse must have married the member of the armed forces on, or prior to, the date of such orders authorizing the permanent change of station. (C) The spouse must have relocated or is relocating with the member of the armed forces to the new duty station specified in the documentation ordering the permanent change of station.
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10. Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Military Reserve (MR) & National Guard (NG) Preference Eligible Technician Receiving Disability Retirement (PPP Disability)

I am a Military Reserve or National Guard Technician who will be or has been involuntarily medically retired due to a service-connected medical disability that disqualifies me from military membership or from holding my required military grade, and have applied for or am receiving a disability retirement annuity.
I am exercising my preference eligibility to DoD positions within my local commuting area.
I understand that the positions for which I am applying must be at the same grade or equivalent level, tenure, and work schedule as the position held currently or upon separation. 

NOTE 1: If you indicate 'yes' to this question, you must submit a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation, such as the notification letter you received that states you are no longer eligible for Reserve membership due to a service-connected disability.

NOTE 2: By using this eligibility, you certify that you have not obtained permanent Federal employment, nor have you accepted or declined a PPP job offer. 

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11. You are eligible for this hiring category if you are a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who has permanent change of station (PCS) orders (not for training).
  • Limited to the geographic area as specified in the PCS orders. This includes the surrounding area which people reasonably can be expected to travel daily to and from work.
  • Must relocate with the service member to be eligible.
  • Must be currently located in the commuting area to be authorized preference.
Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference which includes:

Documents required to be submitted with Application for Military Spouse Preference Eligible:
(NOTE: DoD agencies may require additional documentation. Please refer to the announcement to ensure that all required documentation is submitted with your application. It is highly recommended that you save all these documents to your USAJOBS account in order to facilitate applying to multiple positions.)

Military Spouses with prior Federal work experience:
  • Narrative resume
  • PCS orders
  • Marriage certificate or license
  • SF-50s, if applicable (e.g., LWOP, highest grade held, overseas appointments, etc.)
  • Documentation of performance rating of record (dated within the last 12 months), if applicable
  • Signed self-certification checklist
  • Veteran's preference documentation (e.g., DD-214, VA letter, Statement of Service), if applicable
  • Transcripts, if applicable
Military Spouses without prior Federal work experience:
  • Narrative resume
  • PCS orders
  • Marriage certificate or license
  • Signed self-certification checklist
  • Veterans' preference documentation (e.g. DD 214, VA letter, Statement of Service), if applicable
  • Transcripts, if applicable
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12. Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible:

I am currently on retained grade based on receiving a written RIF notification letter of a change to lower grade, or a notification letter of a classification downgrade
dated within the last 2 years. I am exercising my preference eligibility to DoD positions at my retained grade, within my local commuting area.

NOTE 1: If you indicate "yes" for this statement, you must submit a copy of the "Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist" and copies of the appropriate
documentation, such as a RIF change-to-lower-grade notice, and an SF-50 reflecting your RIF change to lower grade.

NOTE 2: By using this eligibility, you certify that you have not accepted or declined a job offer for permanent Federal employment at your retained grade, nor have you accepted or declined a PPP job offer.
(limit characters)
13. PPP DoD Mil Reserve (MR) & Nat"l Guard (NG) Pref Eligible Tech Rec Dis Retirement (PPP Disability)

I am an MR or NG Reserve Technician who will lose or has lost my military membership through no fault of my own after completing at least 15 years of technician service and a minimum of 20 years of service creditable for non-regular retirement. I am exercising my preference eligibility to DoD positions within my local commuting area in accordance with Section 3329(b) of Title 5 U.S.C. This preference eligibility is valid for 1 year after separation.

NOTE 1: If you indicate 'yes' to this question, you must submit a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation, such as the notification letter you received showing you are no longer eligible for military or NG {through no fault of your own)  and that you have completed a least 15 years of technician service and a minimum of 20 years of service creditable for non-regular retirement.

NOTE 2: By using this eligibility, you certify that you have not obtained permanent Federal employment, nor have you accepted or declined a PPP job offer.
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14. Were you formerly employed as a federal civilian on a permanent competitive appointment but are not currently a permanent competitive federal employee? 

If eligible, submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. 
• Your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2) AND
• Your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1).

NOTE:  If you are serviced by WHS you are not required to submit an SF-50.
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15. You are required to submit proof of your eligibility. Examples of special appointment authority include appointment of people from Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service, General Accounting Office, Panama Canal Commission, Peace Corps, Postal Career Service/Postal Rate Commission, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), VISTA/ACTION Volunteers, 30% Disabled Veteran, Schedule A 5 CFR 213.3102 (u), Person with disability, etc. You are required to provide acceptable documentation of your appointment eligibility, by submitting a copy of proof of employment, from the appropriate agency, on official letterhead, with your complete application. (limit characters)
16. Are you a veteran whose 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
• a preference eligible veteran

If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If currently on active duty and within 120 days of separation, in lieu of a DD-214, submit certification from your military personnel office verifying retirement/separation date and type/character of discharge.

Note: Current or former Federal employees (i.e., an individual who within the previous 52 weeks held a GS position under nontemporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch) applying under VEOA eligibility will be subject to time-in-grade restrictions IAW 5 CFR 300.604. If applying to a GS position in the competitive service, you are required to provide a SF-50 or SF-50s that show that you have held the next lower grade level of the position to which you are applying for at least one year OR held the same or higher grade level. 

For more information, review https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/
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Assessment 1
Thank you for applying to the Lead Human Resources Specialist position, GS-0201-13, with the Human Resources Directorate, Washington Headquarters Services. (limit characters)
1. Minimum Qualification
Select the one statement that best describes the experience that you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a Human Resources Specialist at the GS-13 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.
(limit characters)
This position has Conditions of Employment that must be obtained prior to your start date and maintained for the duration of this employment. (limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
2. This position requires you to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. Are you willing to meet the security clearance requirements? (limit characters)
3. This position requires you to pass screening for illegal drug use prior to appointment and subsequent periodic drug screening thereafter. Are you willing to meet the drug testing requirements? (limit characters)
4. This position may require you to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or mandatory overtime. Are you willing to meet this condition of employment? (limit characters)
5. This position may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft. Are you willing to meet this condition of employment? (limit characters)
In this part you will respond to questions about your experience as it relates to the position for which you are applying. Carefully review the level descriptions (A to E) listed below. For each task question, choose the level description that best describes your experience and/or training. Your responses must be fully supported within the text of your resume. Failure to properly identify your experience may result in the lowering of your overall score and/or your disqualification for this position. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
6. Apply technical expertise in reviewing, coding, and processing a wide range of personnel actions for a large customer base. (limit characters)
7. Review all processed personnel actions to ensure timely and accurate flow to Defense Civilian Pay System (DCPS). (limit characters)
8. Prepare reports and maintain records of work accomplishments and administrative information. (limit characters)
9. Code all request for personnel actions in Defense Civilian Personnel Data System in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Guide to Processing Personnel Actions and applicable laws, regulations, and policies. (limit characters)
10. Process new hire actions with a complete hiring package to support legal appointments. (limit characters)
11. Post the request for personnel action and notification of personnel action (SF-50) into the employee electronic official personnel folder (eOPF). (limit characters)
12. Serve as a team leader by coaching, facilitating, and mentoring the team members. (limit characters)
13. Assign deadlines and time frames for completion. (limit characters)
14. Make adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities to ensure timely accomplishment of assigned team tasks. (limit characters)
15. Arrange for specific administrative or technical training necessary for accomplishment of individual and team tasks. (limit characters)
16. Leads the team in assessing its strengths and weaknesses and provides leadership to the team in exploring alternatives and determining what improvements can be made. (limit characters)
17. Ensure that the organizations strategic plan, mission, vision and values are communicated to the team. (limit characters)
18. Communicate to the team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or program issues under review. (limit characters)
19. Coordinate the preparation, presentation and communication of work-related information to the Supervisor. (limit characters)
20. Serve as a Senior Human Resources Specialist in the Human Resources Directorate Processing Branch. (limit characters)
21. Apply specialized Human Resources knowledge coupled with knowledge of automated personnel action processing. (limit characters)
22. Facilitate efficient, accurate, and timely personnel actions for large and complex federal workforce covered under various personnel systems (e.g. Title 5, Title 10 Cyber Excepted Service, Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel Systems, Acquisition Demo, etc.) (limit characters)
23. Maintain current knowledge to answer questions from team members on procedures, policies, directives, etc. (limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
24. INTEGRITY CERTIFICATION:
Your ratings in this questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents you submitted. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. By agreeing to the statement below, you are confirming that you: 1) understand this warning; 2) have reviewed your responses to this questionnaire for accuracy; and 3) have verified that your responses accurately describe your current level of experience and capability as reflected in your resume. Do you certify the accuracy of your responses?
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