Human Resources Specialist (Classification)

Summary

With nearly 1,700 attorneys, IRS Chief Counsel is the largest tax law firm nationwide. Our attorneys are among top tax law practitioners and some of the very best legal minds found anywhere. Together with the IRS, we serve the public by applying the tax code with fairness and integrity. After pausing hiring in 2025, we are seeking administrative professionals to support our legal work.

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Duties

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As a developmental Human Resources (HR) Specialist (Classification), you will receive structured training in the application of classification and qualification standards. This position is designed to build proficiency in reviewing requests for personnel actions, applying Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or equivalent guidelines, and preparing detailed evaluation statements to support classification determinations. Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develop standard position descriptions covering major groups of jobs within Chief Counsel to establish and maintain a uniform approach to, and consistency in, classification.
• Revise position descriptions based on the implementation of new or revised OPM position classification standards.
• Analyze and prepare comments on proposed classification standards issued by OPM which cover positions in the Organization.
• Implement a classification program for assigned areas; audit, evaluate, and classify positions; and prepare evaluation statements as appropriate, to include desk audits.
• Explain and answer questions concerning the basis of classification, appeal rights, and procedures.
• Plan and manage/conduct special studies or projects that may be Chief Counsel-wide and may involve issues such as, span of control, average grade, assignment of work, organizational structure, etc.
• Conduct organizational reviews including studying positions and structure and assuring proper classification. Prepare reports to management with conclusions and recommendations.
• Troubleshoot and develop solutions which reconcile management needs with frequently conflicting classification and personnel management policy and/or requirements.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Refer to "Additional Information."
• Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See "Required Documents" for a list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

• Career Transition Assistance Program
• Current Chief Counsel Employee

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.

To qualify for this position of Human Resources Specialist (Classification), you must meet the qualification requirements listed below by the closing of this announcement:

For GS-09:

Specialized Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-07 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Researching, gathering, and/or analyzing facts and drawing conclusions regarding Classification and/or HR personnel processes; AND
• Providing foundational HR customer service or technical assistance to managers or employees regarding position descriptions, organizational charts, standard classification procedures or other personnel matters.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).

OR

Education Substitution: You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows:

• A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position (i.e. Human Resources Development, Public Administration, Business Administration). (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education: Options for qualifying based on a combination are identified in the online questions.

NOTE : If qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application package.

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

Time in Grade Requirement for GS-09: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-07).

Education

For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit:

Additional information

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
• Relocation expenses are not authorized.
• This is a non-bargaining unit position.
• We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.

Conditions of Employment Continued:

• Subject to a 1-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period. During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated. You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period. Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service. If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated. You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations. Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.
• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
• The employment of any candidate, including a current employee or a new hire, selected for this position may be conditional upon classification and/or audit of federal tax returns. This audit may include up to 2 years of returns.
• This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. For more information about individual rights, Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov).

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.

Help

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.

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.