Human Resources Specialist (Labor and Employee Relations)

Customs and Border Protection•Calexico, CA

About The Position

This position is with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Human Resources Management, HR Policy and Programs Division, Labor and Employee Relations Division. Positions are located in Imperial, El Centro, Chula Vista, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Ysidro, or Calexico, California, and Long Beach, California. The role provides advisory services to supervisors and managers on employee and labor relations matters and independently manages complex cases, including disciplinary actions, performance issues, and investigations. The salary range begins at $61,722 (GS-9, Step 1) and extends to $97,087 (GS-11, Step 10), with promotion potential to $138,370 (GS-13, Step 10).

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
Applicants not currently employed by CBP generally must have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates for at least three of the last five years, subject to stated exceptions.
All pre-employment processes are conducted in English; applicants may be required to pass a background investigation and drug testing.
GS-09 experience qualification: one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, including providing basic HR information, researching information or evidence, analyzing relatively uncomplicated HR matters, applying negotiation and labor-relations techniques, identifying performance-management issues, and communicating recommendations orally and in writing.
GS-11 experience qualification: one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, including reviewing discipline and supporting documents, unfair labor practices, arbitration, or negotiability; developing briefings, papers, reports, and correspondence; and providing comprehensive HR advisory and technical services.
GS-09 education may substitute for experience: a master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a J.D. or LL.B. from an accredited institution, if the education demonstrates the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.
GS-11 education may substitute for experience: a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M., if the education demonstrates the necessary skills.
A combination of qualifying post-high-school education and experience may be used to meet the qualification requirements.
Applicants must meet applicable qualifications and, for current federal employees, time-in-grade requirements by November 6, 2026.
New federal employees must serve a one-year probationary period; current or former federal employees may also be required to serve or complete a probationary period.
The resume must explicitly demonstrate how the applicant meets the experience requirement. Resumes are limited to two pages.
Employees are subject to applicable government ethics rules, including requirements to obtain approval for outside employment or business activity.
The position is not covered by a bargaining unit.

Responsibilities

Assist with processing employee relations actions, including disciplinary cases and performance-based actions; gather relevant facts and documents and ensure case information is accurate, complete, and organized.
Provide technical support on routine and complex employee and labor relations matters, researching agency policies, federal regulations, and negotiated collective bargaining agreements.
Support labor relations activities by compiling documentation and case histories for grievance responses and tracking deadlines for grievances, disciplinary actions, and bargaining obligations.
Maintain case files and tracking systems for disciplinary cases, grievances, performance management actions, and labor-management disputes; update electronic records and ensure documents are filed, indexed, and retrievable.
Participate in meetings and fact-finding sessions, including grievance discussions, disciplinary hearings, investigative interviews, and labor-management negotiations; take notes, prepare summaries or minutes, and maintain electronic and physical records.