Program Specialist (Human Resources Liaison)
What you'd do
This position is in the VA Regional Office. The incumbent is assigned to the Office of the Director and reports to the Supervisor Program Specialist (Human Resources Liaison). The incumbent serves as a Program Specialist (Human Resources Liaison) responsible for providing performance management and technical support for the Regional Office HR program. The incumbent is the key advisor to the Director and the Division Chiefs on all human resource issues and coordinates directly with the HR Center.
Major duties
Specific duties are as follows: Communicates and performs duties involving the management of a large workload, a diverse workforce, and leaders tasked with significant responsibility for large numbers of federal employees. Offers viable strategy recommendations and courses of action in emotionally charged situations, often with imperfect information and short response times. Provides leaders and managers with strategic counsel and advice interpreting and implementing provisions of agency policy, management of programs, collective bargaining agreements, and practices as they apply to individual cases. Provides leaders, employees, and job applicants with accurate information and interpretations of Federal civilian recruitment policies and placement procedures. Provides information to all employees on matters pertaining to federal employee benefits to include Federal Employee Health Benefits(FEHB), Federal Employee Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), leave, and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Develops multiple recruitment strategies utilizing various hiring flexibilities and authorities. Prepare recruitment packages to include crediting plans, job analysis on a variety of complex positions using research, interview, observation, and analytical techniques. Provide assistance on Employee Relations and Labor Relation matters. Conduct in-processing and out-processing employee interviews. Process and tracks Office of Worker's Compensation Program (OWCP) cases. Provide training to leadership and employees in all HR matters. Provides outstanding customer service to both internal and external entities, as to enhance customer satisfaction; designs work processes and practices. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tour will be determined after final selections. Tour is subject to change based on Regional Office needs. Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position. Travel Required: Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Virtual: This IS NOT a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist (Human Resources Liaison), 39565A, 39564A, 39563A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: No Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. Bargaining Unit: No
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/20/2026. Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification requirements as noted below. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at least the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience applying and providing guidance on multiple fields of Human Resources rules, regulations, and procedures including Personnel Management, Recruitment and Staffing, Classification, Employee Benefits (OWCP, retirements, and insurance programs), and/or Labor Relations. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Assist employees with advice on a variety of rules, regulations, and practices pertaining to human resources Provide leaders and employees with information and interpretations of the organization's policies, procedures, and guidelines; Provide advice regarding appropriate levels of personnel actions. OR Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a Masters Degree. or equivalent doctoral degree OR two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. GS-11 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at least the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience applying and providing guidance on multiple fields of Human Resources rules, regulations, and procedures including Personnel Management, Recruitment and Staffing, Classification, Employee Benefits (OWCP, retirements, and insurance programs), and/or Labor Relations. Examples of specialized Experience would typically include but are not limited to: Provide advisory services to leaders and employees on a range of human resources concepts, laws, and policies; Assist leadership in solving a range of complex problems and issues; Participate in policy development groups or projects based on broad organizational requirements. OR Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Combining Education substitution & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information GS-12 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience which was at the GS-11 level and must have been held in the Federal Government. Specialized experience is defined as experience providing advisory services, quality review services, or experience drafting and approving standard operating procedures and/or other forms of regulatory guidance covering multiple fields of Human Resources rules, regulations, and procedures including Personnel Management, Recruitment and Staffing, Classification, Employee Benefits (OWCP, retirements, and insurance programs), and/or Employee and Labor Relations. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provide advice and guidance in the areas of classification and staffing and recruitment; Defending agency actions in front of a 3rd party hearing (FLRA, MSPB); Experience as the chief negotiator in labor negotiations. 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. NOTE: 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 work in the federal service, include the grade level for the position(s). Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require walking in offices and similar areas for meetings and to conduct HR work. Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite. The work does not require any special physical effort. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
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