Human Resources Specialist

MELE Associates, Inc.•Washington, DC

4d•$135,000 - $205,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Human Resources (HR) Specialist provides comprehensive, professional-level HR support to a Program Office within the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), working directly under the guidance of the Program Office's Chief of Staff. This is a non-federal Support Service Contractor position delivering human capital services across recruitment and staffing, classification, employee relations, and workforce planning for NNSA federal and matrixed staff. The ideal candidate brings deep, hands-on knowledge of DOE/NNSA human resources policy, the NNSA pay-banding structure, and the federal hiring lifecycle, and can operate independently and with discretion in a fast-paced, mission-critical national security environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and experience).
8+ years of progressive human resources experience directly supporting DOE and/or NNSA programs.
Active DOE Q or DoD Top Secret security clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one.
Demonstrated expert knowledge of federal human capital management, including Title 5 staffing regulations, OPM classification standards, and NNSA's pay-banding (Demonstration Project/NQ) system.
Working familiarity with DOE/NNSA HR systems and platforms, including: CHRIS (Corporate Human Resources Information System) and/or Workday (DOE's HR system of record); USA Staffing and USAJOBS for recruitment and staffing case management; USA Hire for applicant assessment; eOPF for personnel recordkeeping; and e-QIP/eApp for clearance-related processing.
Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel).
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, accurate HR correspondence and guidance for senior federal leadership.
Ability to manage multiple, competing priorities with a high level of discretion in a fast-paced, mission-critical national security environment.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, or a related field.
12+ years of progressive human resources experience directly supporting DOE and/or NNSA programs.
PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP certification.
Hands-on experience processing actions in CHRIS and/or Workday.

Responsibilities

Advise the Program Office's Chief of Staff and program managers on workforce recruitment and retention strategies; assist in developing job analyses, crediting plans, and hiring assessments; draft, review, and coordinate vacancy announcements consistent with Title 5 and NNSA excepted-service staffing authorities.
Assist in analyzing and classifying scientific, engineering, professional, and technical positions in accordance with OPM classification standards and NNSA's pay-banding (Demonstration Project/NQ) structure; prepare position descriptions and classification recommendations.
Support resolution of routine employee relations matters; research and interpret federal HR laws, regulations, and DOE/NNSA policy to inform management decisions.
Coordinate new-employee onboarding and track personnel action requests (e.g., SF-52/SF-50-related documentation) in coordination with the servicing HR office, monitoring status through DOE's Corporate Human Resources Information System (CHRIS) and/or Workday as the Department transitions to its new HR system of record.
Manage recruitment casework and applicant workflow within USA Staffing, monitor USAJOBS postings, and coordinate use of USA Hire assessments where applicable.
Track clearance-related HR actions in coordination with security offices, monitoring status of L- and Q-level clearance processing (e.g., e-QIP/eApp) tied to onboarding and position requirements.
Maintain accurate, complete personnel files and HR records, including electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF) documentation, ensuring compliance with privacy and records-retention requirements.
Assist the Chief of Staff with workforce planning, organizational charts, staffing reports, and metrics to inform Program Office leadership decisions.
Research, interpret, and summarize HR policy, regulatory, and procedural questions; prepare written guidance, briefing papers, and correspondence addressing staffing, classification, and employee relations matters.
Serve as a primary HR point of contact for the Program Office, liaising with NNSA's Office of Human Capital and DOE servicing HR/shared-service providers on behalf of the Chief of Staff.
Handle sensitive and confidential HR information, including personally identifiable information (PII), with discretion and in compliance with applicable security protocols and regulations.
Identify and recommend improvements to HR administrative processes and workflows to increase efficiency within the Program Office.