Human Resources Specialist (Classification/Recruitment and Placement)

Summary The position is located in the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Human Resources, Workforce Employment Division. Are you looking to join an agency that celebrates and supports innovated thought when serving as a strategic human resources business partner? Our HR Specialists are able to make meaningful change within the HR portfolio (Recruitment, Hiring, Position Management, Classification, etc.) that affects the Intellectual Property Community. Responsibilities The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia.This position is telework eligible per agency and business unit discretion/policy. The individual selected for this position will be assigned duties that will prepare them for performing the following duties at the full performance level: Provide consultative advice in the areas of recruitment, placement, position classification, and position management in line with the Strategic Human Capital Plan (SHCP) of the USPTO, OHR, and Business Units. Uses tact, diplomacy, and patience when communicating and dealing with others, e.g., co-workers, managers, supervisors, and internal/external customers. Applying accepted criteria, principles, and standard methods to resolve a variety of conventional issues and programs. Work reports and recommendations influence the decisions made by managers and other employees, and affect customer perception of the overall quality and service of the human resources program. Provides thorough and complete responses to customer inquiries in a timely manner. Prepare and present reports and briefings on assigned organization/unit status and/or recommended actions to appropriate individuals. 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. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Managements (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM Website at General Schedule for Qualification Standard, Human Resources Series, 0201. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service. To qualify for the GS-07 grade level applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialize experience includes: Experience in applying basic principles, concepts, and practices of human resources management to perform moderately difficult assignments. Experience in effectively communicating information clearly, orally and in writing. Experience in gathering and analyzing basic facts and draw conclusions. Experience in learning the operation of automated data systems, and using available references (i.e., Regulations, Standing Operating Procedures or Instructions) to research and derive solutions. OR You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: 1 academic year of graduate education in a related field of study such as: human resources, public administration, organizational psychology, or other administrative and management fields. OR Superior Academic Achievement may be met by having a Bachelors degree, with one of the following: A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses or those completed in the last 2 years of study, or a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all courses in the major field of study or those courses in the major completed in the last 2 years of study, or rank in the upper one third of the class in the college, university, or major subdivision, or membership in a national honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. OR Equivalent combination of qualifying graduate education and experience. To qualify for the GS-09 grade level applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the federal service. Specialize experience includes: – Experience in advising management officials on various types of questions related to classification, recruitment and placement strategies. – Experience in advising on the procedural and regulatory requirements governing the merit promotion process. – Experience in coding and processing personnel actions. – Experience in utilizing automated data systems, and using available reference material (i.e., Regulations, Standing Operating Procedures or Instructions) to research and derive solutions. OR You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: A masters or equivalent graduate degree in a related field of study such as: human resources, public administration, organizational psychology, or other administrative and management fields. OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a graduate degree in a related field of study such as: human resources, organizational psychology, public administration, or other administrative and management fields, OR LL.B or JD if related. OR Equivalent combination of qualifying graduate education and 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; 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. Education Education may be substituted as described in the Qualifications requirements above. If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to General Schedule Qualifications Policies for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Educations website – US Department of Education. Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course-by-course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Additional Information Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement unless eligible for special hiring authority, reinstatement eligible, non-current Federal employee applying as a VEOA eligible which do not require time-in-grade/band. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information. This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position. This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of “MODERATE”. Background Investigation – If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice. Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a “well qualified” rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Managements Career Transition Resources website at: OPM CTAP/ICTAP. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement. More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued. All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. USPTO Job Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should request accommodation(s) from the USPTO at USPTO Reasonable Accommodations. The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTOs Office of Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity via email (oeeod@uspto.gov) or phone (571-272-8292).