Human Resources Specialist (Labor/Employee Relations)

National Endowment for the Arts • Washington, DC

7h

About The Position

The Human Resources Specialist (Employee/Labor Relations) provides counsel to senior leadership on complex and sensitive employee and labor relations matters. The role analyzes case files and applicable regulations and policies, assesses risk and factual sufficiency, and supports the defense of agency actions before third-party adjudicators. It develops evidence-based recommendations and prepares final agency decisions involving adverse actions, removals, and grievances. The specialist also leads labor-management negotiations, interprets collective bargaining agreements, addresses unfair labor practice charges and union information requests, and develops agency-wide training, standard operating procedures, and strategic templates in response to changes in federal employment law and OPM guidance.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Successfully pass a background investigation.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.
• Status candidates must submit an SF-50 and recent appraisal and meet time-in-grade requirements of 52 weeks at the next lower grade by the announcement closing date.
• For GS-11, one year of specialized experience at the GS-09 level, including researching HR statutes, regulations, policies, or case law for employee relations cases; drafting disciplinary notices, performance improvement plans, or grievance responses under senior specialist guidance; maintaining confidential labor and employee relations case files; and tracking compliance deadlines and preparing basic status reports.
• Alternatively for GS-11, a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a qualifying combination of specialized experience and graduate education beyond two years.
• Submit transcripts if education is used to qualify; education must be from an accredited institution.
• Resume must document relevant duties, dates worked, hours per week, and, for federal employment, series, pay plan, and grade.
• Only experience obtained by the announcement closing date will be considered.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
• If offered employment, complete and certify an Optional Form 306; federal employees must receive salary payments by direct deposit.

Responsibilities

• Provide counsel to senior leadership on complex, sensitive, or high-risk employee misconduct, systemic performance deficiencies, and formal grievances.
• Analyze regulations, policies, and case files to evaluate risk, determine factual sufficiency, and defend agency actions before third-party adjudicators.
• Formulate evidence-based recommendations and write final agency decisions for adverse actions, removals, and multi-issue grievance resolutions.
• Lead labor-management contract negotiations and interpret collective bargaining agreements.
• Resolve unfair labor practice charges and formal union information requests.
• Design and deliver agency-wide training programs, standard operating procedures, and strategic templates based on federal employment laws and OPM guidance.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package, with benefits available to employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree