Human Resources Specialist (Human Resource Development)

Summary

The Human Resources Specialist (Human Resource Development) designs and manages programs associated with organizational and individual learning and career progression programs with direction from the Deputy HRC Director (training, Quality Assurance, & Data Analytics) and The Training, QA,& Data Analytics Training Chief based on the needs of the staff and functional officials.

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Duties

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Specific duties include:

• Designs and manages HR training programs with Title 5 recruitment and placement activities.
• Reviews and analyzes new policies, directives, and decisions that affect HR training and leader development programs.
• Identifies competency requirements based on regulation and policy changes to develop and/or revise current and future training for HR professionals.
• Collaborate with HR staff, support services, payroll offices, supervisors, Defense Finance Accounting System and VA Central Office Human Resources Information Systems to deliver training.
• Audit recruitment case files for compliance and prepare report of findings to initiate corrective action that may result in establishment of agency policy.
• Plan, develop, and implement new or modified trainings and development for HR program requirements as a result of new laws and initiatives.
• Analyzes personnel data to evaluate current and future workforce training and development needs.
• Designs trainings and development surveys to assist in determining training and development needs and analysis of effectiveness for HR personnel.
• Partners with the other HR staff, government agencies, civilian educational institutions, and industrial firms to locate and utilize resources to meet identified training needs.
• Communicates in writing to develop HR training materials in different formats and respond to various inquiries.
• Delivers training presentations and briefings
• Utilizes various automated HR systems and office products to deliver trainings.

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. The grade progression for this position is GS-13.

Work Schedule : Full time, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 6am and 6pm

Compressed/Flexible: Available

Telework : Available

Virtual: Current HRC Baltimore staff with an out-based duty location will continue to report to their current approved duty location upon selection.

Position Description/PD# : Human Resources Specialist (Human Resource Development); GS-0343-12 PD#41035-A; GS-0343-13 PD#40312-A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:06/16/2026.

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.

• For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level.
• For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.

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.

AND

BASIC REQUIREMENT: To qualify for the HR Specialist position, candidates must meet the following basic requirements as described in one of the following methods:

Method 1: Merit-Based Method. The Merit-Based Method allows for a candidate to meet the basic requirement by possession of one year of specialized experience requiring knowledge of and/or skill in applying basic HR concepts, laws, principles, policies, methods, practices and/or HR systems. 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. This experience must be equivalent to at least the GS-4 level of the Federal Government. OR Method 2: Education-Based Method . The Education-Based Method allows for a candidate to meet the basic requirement by possession of the following: Successful completion of bachelor's degree (or higher). OR Method 3: Training-Based Method.

• Training 1: Successful completion of at least 12 credit hours of college-level (associate degree or higher level) course work in any of the following types of fields, majors or programs or those closely related as evidenced by the course or programs: HR (general), 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 humanities.
• Training 2: Successful completion of at least four formal training courses in HR. The focus of these HR courses will be in areas or those closely related to general HR, Federal HR, private sector/corporate HR or HR management. These courses must be offered through VA (i.e., Talent Management System courses), Federal agencies/departments (i.e., OPM Federal Human Resources Institute) or through external organizations (i.e., HR Certification Institute (HRCI®) Learning, HR University or Management Concepts). For the purpose of this standard, formal means interactive (online or in-person) training that includes communication between the participants and/or the instructor. Successful completion is evidenced by documentation of successful completion by the training organization.
• Training 3: Successful completion of a formal certificate program in any of the areas (or related areas) listed in Training 1 (above) or those closely related as evidenced by the course or programs. A formal certificate program for the purposes of this standard means a series or set of courses that provide a foundational or advanced knowledge. The courses must have been provided by an accredited college, university, organization or company and must have required assignments and/or other course work. Examples of providers include, but are not limited to, Purdue University, Global Cornell University (i.e., eCornell) or Wharton School. Successful completion is evidenced by documentation of completion by the training organization.
• Training 4: Current professional HR certification through the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), HRCI®, International Public Management Association (IPMA) (or Public Sector HR Association (PSHRA)), American Society for Health Care Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA) or an organization or company that has a formal structure and is nationally recognized by the profession.

AND

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You may qualify based on experience and/or education. In addition to meeting basic requirements, you must possess either Criteria 1 or Criteria 2.

GS-12 Grade Level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11. Specialized experience is defined as applying principles, practices and techniques of education to assess, define and meet individual learning needs in an operating HR office that provides Title 5 or other Federal civilian human resources (HR) personnel system recruitment and placement services. Ability to apply analytical methods and techniques to identify HRD and non-HRD needs to address complex and routine HR problems and issues. Experience using oral communication techniques to present findings and recommendations and experience applying written communication techniques to draft and/or prepare in final form project papers, and training material. OR Graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level.

• Criteria 1: Graduate degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level, OR
• Criteria 2: Specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11 grade level

GS-13- One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-12. Specialized experience is defined as providing authoritative management advisory services related to the full spectrum of Title 5 or other Federal civilian human resources (HR) personnel system. Experience must demonstrate knowledge of HR development principles, practices, laws, regulations in the area of recruitment and staffing to develop and oversee professional and developmental training plans for HR staff in various roles at all grade levels. Ability to communicate in writing to prepare materials for employee training, make formal and informal presentations, and the ability to adjust the material to meet the needs of the targeted audience. Ability to provide comprehensive and authoritative guidance, process evaluation and quality oversight, and problems solving for a variety of complex Title 5 Federal civilian personnel programs and systems. OR Graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level.

• Criteria 1: Graduate degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level, OR
• Criteria 2: Specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-12 grade level

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Education

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the

Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.