Human Resources Specialist (ER-LR)

Federal Railroad Administration • Washington, DC

3d

About The Position

This position is in the Office of Administration, Office of Human Resources (OHR), Labor and Employee Relations Division. The incumbent serves as a Senior Human Resources Specialist and designated Labor Relations Officer, acting as the agency’s authoritative technical expert on union-management relations, collective bargaining, and unfair labor practices.

The role provides full-scope advice and services in employee relations, performance management, administrative investigations and anti-harassment inquiries, and suitability determinations. The specialist advises management on complex, high-risk employee conduct and disciplinary matters; develops legally defensible administrative actions; and provides technical consultation on performance actions and appraisal processes. The role also leads collective bargaining and represents the agency in proceedings before labor-relations bodies and grievance arbitrators.

The incumbent conducts or oversees administrative investigations, prepares findings and recommendations, and advises on employment suitability under federal regulations. The position requires expert knowledge of human resources practices, laws, regulations, and policies; excellent written, verbal, and analytical skills; collaboration; and experience advising management at all levels on employee and labor relations matters.

The position involves travel and requires a government-issued travel card for official business. A background security investigation and favorable adjudication are required. The employee may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13 for the Grade 14 position.
• Experience advising and negotiating as a management representative on collective bargaining matters, master labor agreements, impact-and-implementation bargaining, unfair labor practice disputes, and binding arbitration before the FLRA or independent arbitrators.
• Experience structuring and drafting formal disciplinary, adverse actions under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 75, and performance-based actions under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 43, including assisting agency counsel in defending actions.
• Experience directing or conducting formal administrative investigations into employee misconduct or anti-harassment allegations, preparing findings of fact, and assessing candidate or employee suitability and conduct under federal suitability frameworks such as 5 CFR Part 731.
• Mastery of labor-management relations, including Title 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71, collective bargaining, interest-based bargaining, impact-and-implementation bargaining, FLRA precedent, contract administration, and third-party grievance arbitration.
• Mastery of employee relations and discipline, including Title 5 U.S.C. Chapter 75, Douglas Factors, adverse-action statutory requirements, administrative appeal procedures, and settlement negotiation tactics.
• Expertise in performance management, including Title 5 U.S.C. Chapter 43, appraisal cycles, and development and monitoring of ODAPs or PIPs.
• Knowledge of EEO principles, agency anti-harassment policies, investigative fact-finding, witness examination, and evidence synthesis.
• Knowledge of 5 CFR Part 731, nexus requirements, risk determinations, character standards, and pre- and post-employment suitability processes.
• Excellent written, verbal, and analytical skills; ability to work collaboratively and advise all levels of management on employee and labor relations issues.
• Meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.
• Federal applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements, including 52 weeks at the next lower grade when applicable.
• Submit required application materials by the closing date; federal applicants must submit documentation supporting federal eligibility and time-in-grade when applicable.
• Complete a required background security investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
• Complete a one-year probationary period if required; males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Use a government contractor-issued travel card for official business only.

Responsibilities

• Provide advisory services across employee relations, performance management, administrative investigations and anti-harassment inquiries, and suitability determinations.
• Serve as management advisor and lead negotiator for collective bargaining agreements, mid-term bargaining, impact-and-implementation negotiations, and union information requests.
• Represent the agency before the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and grievance arbitrators.
• Coordinate responses to unfair labor practice charges and complex negotiated grievances, promoting dispute resolution at the lowest organizational tier.
• Advise management on complex, high-risk employee conduct and disciplinary matters.
• Formulate strategy and draft administrative actions, including reprimands, suspensions, demotions, and removals under Title 5 U.S.C. Chapter 75.
• Partner with the Office of Chief Counsel to prepare litigation defense files, declarations, and testimony for hearings before the Merit Systems Protection Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Provide technical consultation on Chapter 43 actions, performance appraisal cycles, and performance improvement plans; evaluate deficiencies, review narrative appraisals, and counsel supervisors on remedial and corrective performance actions.
• Develop investigative strategies, conduct fact-finding interviews, gather evidence, draft investigative reports, and provide findings and corrective-action recommendations to deciding officials.
• Review background investigations and pre- and post-employment conduct, and advise on suitability under 5 CFR Part 731.
• Evaluate nexus, mitigating and aggravating factors, and security and suitability risks to formulate management positions on employment eligibility or suitability-based separations.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed