Assistant Human Resources Officer (Senior Strategic Business Partner)

Summary

VA New England Healthcare System is a regional network (known as a Veterans Integrated Service Network, or VISN) of VA medical centers and outpatient clinics. This a temporary, not to exceed 1 year position that may be extended and the incumbent may be considered for permanent placement without competition. This position is open to current, permanent employees of Legacy VISN 1 Human Resources Management Services (HRMS) employees only.

Duties

• The Senior Strategic Business Partner (SSBP) reports to the VISN 1 Chief Human Resources Officer and contributes to overall VISN performance by providing tactical and strategic consulting on people and organization development strategies in support of business objectives. As the local labor market expert, SSBP serves VABHS executive leadership and key management officials in all HR matters in the following functional areas: employee relations consultation; strategic talent acquisition and management (staffing); policy interpretation, application, and implementation; and performance and compensation management consultation. Examines the forecasting data to project managerial strategies, organizational processes, competencies, and human resources interventions necessary to create the required cultures to support new and establish VHA initiatives. Advises leadership and provides responses to proposed legislation, policies, and standards of higher authority regarding human resources issues, including requests from members of Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Personnel Management. Interprets the national human capital workforce plan and leads the development and implementation of the healthcare system workforce plan. Performs talent acquisition and actively participates in recruitment campaigns, job fairs, college relations programs, general networking, etc. Collaboratively drives complex employee relations issues for field-based employees such as employee complaints, harassment allegations, and work performance issues, while ensuring legal compliance, leveraging employee abilities, and managing risks. Facilitates the annual review process, career development planning, and mentoring. Coaches employees and managers on the process of resolving and/or addressing performance gaps, and actively undertakes coaching conversations to challenge leaders' current thinking to reach optimal outcomes. Advises leadership in the resolution of administrative grievances, post separation reviews, and Congressional, Office of Inspector General, Office of Special Counsel, Equal Opportunity Employment, Merit System Protection Board, or department level complaints. Presents management's position through written correspondence and appearances before various third parties, including arbitrators and agents of the Merit Systems Protection Board, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and Federal Service Impasses Panel. Works collaboratively with all levels of leadership and the Compensation Center of Excellence by establishing strategy for the utilization of Special Salary Rates, Nurse Pay Schedules, Physician, Dentist, and Podiatrist Pay, Student Loan Repayment Program, Education Debt Reduction Program, and Recruitment, Relocation, and Retention incentives. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday; Tour of duty will be set between 7:00am - 5:00pm EST Compressed/Flexible: May be available Telework:This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Assistant Human Resources Officer (Senior Strategic Business Partner)/PD99991S and PD99579S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. This position is not a Bargaining Unit position. Current Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is in the Competitive Service. Time-in-Grade Restriction: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment. Veterans' preference does not apply to internal announcements.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/11/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: To qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, you must meet one of the following listed Criteria: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Providing staff service, advice and guidance on HR management principles, techniques and acceptable practices, as well as technical advice on regulatory and procedural requirements on pay administration, employee and labor relations, employee training, performance management, employee recognition programs; Advising on the development of local policies, HR management tools, and implementation of HR standard operating procedures; Recommending, planning, and implementing programs, program updates, and changes in strategic HR planning; Using skill, judgment and experience in resolving complex and/or vague policy or personnel issues and advising on the most appropriate actions to take within a wide range of alternatives. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of successful completion of a graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: knowledge of experience in recruitment and placement policies and regulations; training subordinate staff in recruitment and placement policies and procedures; plans and directs subordinate staff providing guidance and decisions in complex HR Situations. To qualify for this position at the GS-14 level, you must meet one of the following listed Criteria: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Directing and reviewing Human Resources functional programs (position management, compensation, staffing, employee & labor relations, processing & records, personnel security); Serving as an expert advisor to top management on personnel laws, regulations, functions, policies, and procedures; Reviewing newly issued regulations/directives and interpreting for incorporation into local policy; Representing the facility at various hearings/arbitrations. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of the successful completion of a graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Serves as an authoritative advisor on staffing policies in accordance with the United States Code, Code of Federal Regulations, VA Handbooks and Directives, and related guidance. Instructs and oversees subordinate staff in the effective use of VA HRIS systems and applications (such as HR Smart and USA Staffing). Provides comprehensive administrative guidance and technical direction for federal recruitment and placement activities. Conducts audits and appraises performance of Human Resources staff to ensure compliance with all federal and VA laws and regulations. Oversees and ensures that all work assignments within the human resources section are executed accurately and in accordance with established standards. Performs a wide range of leadership functions to guarantee that organizational objectives are met efficiently. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

Qualifying education for the GS-0201 series includes courses and programs in HR, HR development, HR management, business, business management/administration, industrial relations, labor relations, industrial psychology, organizational psychology, organizational development, management, organizational behavior, pre-law/law, legal studies, health care management/administration, public administration, public policy, human services, leadership and/or humanities. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online questionnaire and submission of the required documentation specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13059350. The application process is as follows: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date, 09/11/2026. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. NOTE: Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started. Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume: Prioritize most relevant and recent experience Use concise, results focused language Align language from the job announcement Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies Remove outdated or unrelated experience Use the USAJOBS resume builder Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit