HR Specialist (Recruitment and Staffing)

Office of the Secretary of Transportation•Washington, DC

About The Position

This position is located in the Human Resources Operations (HRO) Talent Acquisition Team, Office of the Secretary (OST). It provides comprehensive human resource management services to assigned organizations in recruitment and staffing, pay, leave, and position management. The HR Specialist provides staffing and placement services to managers, advises on recruitment strategies and hiring flexibilities, and manages internal talent acquisition activities. The position supports job analyses, candidate evaluation, selection processes, pay determinations, compensation programs, personnel actions, and compliance with applicable federal laws and policies. It independently performs the full range of recruitment and placement functions, from developing job analyses and announcements through reviewing applications, issuing certificates, setting pay, extending offers, and processing personnel actions. The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, and committed to accurate, timely, high-quality customer service. They have experience providing HR advisory and compliance support across multiple functional areas, executing end-to-end recruitment, applying federal HR policy, communicating and presenting complex information clearly, collaborating with stakeholders, and independently managing multiple high-priority tasks in a fast-paced environment. The position requires a one-year probationary period and involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card must be retained for official business only. A background security investigation and favorable adjudication are required. Federal applicants are subject to time-in-grade restrictions. Applicants must meet the specialized-experience qualifications for the grade sought: Grade 12 requires at least one year equivalent to GS-11, and Grade 13 requires at least one year equivalent to GS-12.

Requirements

For Grade 12: At least one year of experience equal or equivalent to GS-11, including comprehensive HR advisory services in multiple functional areas; advising managers on staffing/recruitment, organization and position management, compensation/benefits, or other human capital issues; and interpreting and applying HR laws, regulations, and policies to analyze problems and recommend solutions.
For Grade 13: At least one year of experience equal or equivalent to GS-12, including serving as a senior advisor or subject matter expert in multiple HR functional areas; analyzing and resolving HR issues where established guidance or precedent may be insufficient; and developing, evaluating, or implementing HR policies, programs, strategies, or initiatives and providing authoritative recommendations to management.
Knowledge and skill in customer service, personnel and human resources, resilience, and teamwork.
Submit the application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date, and submit required documents by that date.
Complete a one-year probationary period unless already completed; continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
Retain and use a government contractor-issued travel card for official business only.
Successfully complete a required background security investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions.
Meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Responsibilities

Provide staffing and placement services to managers, including advice on standard recruitment strategies and common program flexibilities.
Identify hiring flexibilities for workforce planning, including Schedule A, Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment (VRA), and Military Spouse Authority.
Post internal solicitations and details on the DOT internal website.
Assist managers with job analyses by identifying required knowledge, skills, and abilities using established question libraries.
Coordinate rating panels and instruct managers on candidate evaluation criteria.
Manage selection processes, including calculating initial pay, extending job offers, and coordinating entry-on-duty dates.
Assist with implementing pay schedule adjustments and administrative rulings regarding federal compensation.
Coordinate General Schedule and locality pay updates.
Determine eligibility for special salary rates and common allowances.
Manage routine pay issues, including work schedules and premium pay.
Administer grade and pay retention and severance pay programs under closer review.
Advise on standard recruitment and relocation incentives (3Rs) and ensure justifications meet regulatory requirements.
Review and code personnel actions, including promotions, reassignments, and pay adjustments, for technical and legal accuracy.
Maintain knowledge of Nature of Action (NOA) coding procedures and legal authorities.
Research personnel and pay laws, provide basic advice to managers, and ensure compliance with standard organizational policies.
Independently perform recruitment and placement functions, including developing job analyses, advising on assessments, drafting job opportunity announcements, reviewing applications for eligibility and qualifications, issuing certificates, setting pay, extending job offers, and processing personnel actions.
Provide HR advisory and compliance support across multiple functional areas, including classification, restructuring, and consolidation.
Advise leadership, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, and communicate complex information clearly and professionally.
Manage and execute multiple high-priority tasks in a fast-paced environment.