Human Resources Specialist (LER)

Customs and Border Protection•San Diego, CA

19d

About The Position

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Human Resources Management, Human Resources Policy and Programs Directorate, Labor and Employee Relations Division. The position may be located in El Paso, Texas; New York, New York; Washington, DC; Miramar, Florida; Seattle, Washington; or San Diego, California. The specialist serves as a subject matter expert, providing advice, consultation, and guidance on employee management, discipline, bargaining, and other labor and employee relations issues for CBP. The position starts at $106,437 (GS-13, Step 1) and has a stated maximum salary of $138,370 (GS-13, Step 10), with locality or special pay rates potentially affecting compensation. The role addresses sensitive or controversial employee and labor relations matters, including discipline, leave and attendance questions or disputes, and the grievance process. It involves reviewing and drafting employee discipline and support documents, researching applicable laws and regulations, and providing guidance to employees and supervisors. The specialist also develops briefings, project papers, status and staff reports, and correspondence for managers, and uses fact-finding to assess evidence and recommend appropriate human resources interventions for related workplace problems.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
For applicants not currently employed by CBP, physical residence in the United States or its protectorates for at least three of the last five years, unless an exception applies.
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level, including advising managers on discipline or corrective techniques; communicating labor relations policies and procedures; analyzing causes of misconduct or poor performance; and conducting studies related to management and union interests in bargaining.
Resume must explicitly demonstrate the required specialized experience; resumes may not exceed two pages.
Meet applicable time-in-grade requirements by 10/26/2026; current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band.
Pass required pre-employment processes, which may include a background investigation and drug testing.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
Complete pre-employment processes in English.
Federal employees must comply with applicable government ethics rules, including obtaining approval for outside employment or business activities when required.

Responsibilities

Apply employee and labor relations concepts, laws, policies, practices, and analytical methods to address technical issues, including sensitive or controversial discipline, leave, attendance, and grievance matters.
Review and draft employee discipline and supporting documents, and address unfair labor practices, arbitration, negotiability, and related issues.
Research applicable laws and regulations and provide guidance to employees and supervisors.
Develop and deliver briefings, project papers, status and staff reports, and correspondence to managers to explain and promote acceptance of findings and recommendations.
Use fact-finding techniques to gather and review evidence concerning employee relations laws and procedures, identify and evaluate issues, and recommend appropriate human resources interventions to management.
Advise managers on appropriate disciplinary or corrective techniques for conduct and performance problems.
Communicate agency-wide labor relations policies and procedures to management and staff in serviced organizations.
Conduct analysis to identify underlying causes of misconduct or poor performance.
Conduct systematic studies to develop management interests and respond to union interests at the bargaining table.