Human Resources Specialist - (P)

Summary Based in the U.S. DOT Office of the Secretary (OST), Human Resource Operations (M-16), this developmental role focuses on recruitment, placement, and compensation. You will perform a wide range of HRM tasks to provide expert operational services. As a journey-level practitioner, you will offer technical advice to management, ensuring human capital programs align with departmental goals. Under senior guidance, you will resolve complex personnel issues and interpret federal statutes for OST. Responsibilities The Human Resources Specialist: Provides staffing and placement services to managers regarding standard recruitment strategies and the application of common program flexibilities. Identifies appropriate hiring flexibilities to support workforce planning, including Schedule A, Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA), and Military Spouse Authority. Manages internal talent acquisition by posting announcements for internal solicitations and details on the DOT internal website. Assists managers in conducting job analyses by identifying required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) utilizing established question libraries. Coordinates rating panels and provides instructions to managers on candidate evaluation criteria. Manages the lifecycle of the selection process, including calculating initial pay, extending job offers, and coordinating entry-on-duty dates. Assists in the implementation of pay schedule adjustments and administrative rulings regarding federal compensation. Coordinates General Schedule and locality pay updates. Determines eligibility for special salary rates and common allowances. Manages routine pay issues including work schedules and premium pay. Administers programs for grade and pay retention and severance pay under closer review. Provides advice on the use of standard recruitment and relocation incentives (3Rs), ensuring justifications meet regulatory requirements. Reviews and codes a variety of personnel actions—including promotions, reassignments, and pay adjustments—to ensure technical and legal accuracy. Maintains knowledge of Nature of Action (NOA) coding procedures and legal authorities. Researches personnel and pay laws to provide basic advice to managers and ensures compliance with standard organizational policies. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration. You must meet specialized experience to qualify. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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 the 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. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. Qualifications To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet either the education or specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 it must include: Experience applying Federal HR laws and regulations to perform staffing and recruitment tasks such as conducting job analyses, developing assessment questions, determining applicant qualifications, coding and processing personnel actions and assisting with compensation and pay administration by performing basic pay-setting, determining eligibility for standard allowances, or processing within-grade increases. Experience utilizing automated HR systems (e.g., USA Staffing, Monster, DCPDS, FPPS or equivalent) to manage personnel actions and generate internal recruitment announcements and providing technical HR advice to managers or employees regarding leave programs, benefits, or standard hiring authorities. To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application. To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 it must include: Experience providing advisory services to management on strategic recruitment and workforce planning, including the selection and justification of hiring flexibilities (e.g., Direct Hire, VRA, Schedule A, and Pathways) and executing pay and compensation actions, including setting initial pay for new appointments, interpreting Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime eligibility, and justifying recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives (3Rs). Experience conducting job analysis for professional or highly technical occupations to develop valid evaluation criteria and assessment strategies and researching and interpreting intricate personnel laws (Title 5 CFR) and agency policies to resolve unconventional personnel issues or conflicting regulatory guidance. Experience managing the full lifecycle of the recruitment process, from developing multi-faceted sourcing strategies to coordinating final job offers, onboarding selectees, and coding various personnel actions. You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Recruitment/Placement: Knowledge of HR concepts, principles, and practices related to identifying, attracting, and selecting individuals and placing them into positions to address changing organizational needs. Personnel Action Review and Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of HR concepts, principles, and practices related to evaluating, processing, and auditing personnel data and transactions to ensure full alignment with federal laws, civil service regulations, and internal policies. Compensation and Pay Administration: Knowledge of HR concepts, principles, and practices related to designing, implementing, and managing equitable pay structures, position classification, and employee benefits to reward performance and maintain organizational competitiveness. For all types of consideration, 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, religious, 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 For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education FOR THE GS-11 ONLY - TRANSCRIPTS are REQUIRED if you are substituting education for experience. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. Additional Information The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, View email address on click.appcast.io. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.