Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations)

Summary

This role is located in the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP), which provides federal leadership, funding and resources to support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect children, assist crime victims, and address public safety challenges such as human trafficking and the opioid crisis. This job is also being advertised to open to current or former federal employees in the competitive service and specific hiring authorities under announcement number JP-26-018.

Duties

• The duties and responsibilities for a GS- 0201-13/14 generally include, but are not limited to, the following: Serves as a HR Specialist (Employee Relations) with responsibility for planning and administering OJP's employee relations programs, conducting complex human resources research and analysis, and providing expert alternative dispute resolution and human resources advisory services Provides case and Employee Relations (ER) program management, administering ER programs and evaluating activities and operational procedures in alignment with governing regulations and organizational objectives Implements highly technical and complex ER programs, strategies, and initiatives, partnering with managers to address human capital challenges and resolve sensitive employee relations issues affecting major program or mission areas Provides authoritative interpretation of statutory and regulatory guidance (e.g., OPM regulations, executive orders, Comptroller General decisions, MSPB case law) and delivers expert consultation to officials and technical staff on complex ER matters Performs HR studies requiring extensive research, documentation, and expert interpretation of laws, regulations, and policy frameworks that form the basis for major agency-wide decisions Provides expert policy interpretations on sensitive, high-visibility HR issues that cross specialty areas and impact multiple OJP individuals and offices Serves as a technical expert in handling highly sensitive cases involving multiple HR issues with agency-wide impact; advises senior leadership on reports, studies, position papers, and formal actions Serves as OJP's technical authority for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), coordinating ADR activities, identifying systemic barriers, and advising leaders on short- and long-term improvements.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations), at GS-0201-13/14, you must meet the qualification requirements listed below. GS-13 Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: Supports Employee Relations (ER) activities by performing case management tasks with guidance, assisting with policy development, and helping assess ER program needs. Assists in administering Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) activities, reviewing ADR cases, identifying issues or barriers, and/or recommending improvements to strengthen dispute resolution processes. Performs case-related analyses and provides informed recommendations on sensitive ER matters that influence program operations and HR practices. GS-14 Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: Manages complex Employee Relations (ER) programs, including case management, policy development, and/or evaluation of ER operations. Advises on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs, evaluates ADR functions, identifies systemic barriers, and/or recommends improvements. Provides authoritative analysis and expert recommendations on complex and/or sensitive Employee Relations cases that impact program operations and Human Resources policy. Online Assessment: This position requires an online assessment. After you submit this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required of you. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement 09/21/2026 to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Decision Making Reading Comprehension Reasoning You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by the closing date of this announcement, 09/21/2026. Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.

Education

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone. No substitution of education for experience is permitted.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application questionnaire and submit your supporting documentation. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/21/2026 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on09/21/2026. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder. If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account. Essay Questions: The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question (see the application questionnaire). You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. Need Help? If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help website which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc. Reasonable Accommodation: To request reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the hiring agency contact directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.