Lead Human Resources Specialist (ER/LR)
What you'd do
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has adopted the HR Modernization and Shared Services Implementation, which is a new model of organizing and consolidating essential Human Resource (HR) functions and services to the VISN level. This streamlined and focused approach moves VHA forward in its continuum of providing comprehensive, compassionate, and coordinated care to Veterans.
Major duties
The Lead Human Resources Specialist (ER/LR) position is located within the VISN 20 Human Resources Network. Incumbent performs a full range of lead duties relating to ER/LR Shared Services staff. Incumbent is responsible for Employee Relations/Labor Relations, Reasonable Accommodation, Performance Management, and Drug-free Workplace for the Network.Major duties include, but are not limited to: Plans and directs work, assigns tasks, evaluates work, advises employees, handles complaints, and grievances; Provides advice and direction regarding production and quality requirements; Evaluates unit productivity, quality, regulatory compliance, and technical competence; Makes changes in work assignments and balances workload among positions to increase effectiveness of operations; Reports to supervisor on team and individual accomplishments, progress in mastering tasks and work processes, and the training needs of team members. Coaches the team in the selection and application of appropriate methods and techniques, providing guidance on work methods, practices and procedures; Continuously monitors, evaluates, and adjusts plans, considering organizational needs and viewpoints, regulatory and legal limits, and organizational changes; Provides guidance in especially unresolved, complex cases, referring to the supervisor only those problems which exceed the scope of the organizations serviced; Ensures actions are appropriately coordinated with other HR functions, as required; Develops new operating procedures as necessary to deal with emerging human resource management issues within the serviced area; Provides technical guidance, information and assistance provided includes subject matter, such as actions of a disciplinary or adverse nature, grievances, demands to bargain, impasse proceedings, local bargaining, performance management and recognition, employee counseling, appeals, complaints, drug testing, and other related functions; Researches and interprets legal and regulatory program guidance, including case law, collective bargaining agreements, United States Code, Code of Federal Regulations, and VA Handbooks and Directives; Responds to inquiries about disciplinary actions, grievances, and appeals concerning timeliness, documentation, and other requirements; Serves as subject matter expert regarding policies and procedures pertaining to Disciplinary Appeals Boards (DAB), Office of Whistleblower and Accountability Protection (OWAP), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), among others; Analyzes changes to regulations, policies, etc. for impact on the labor relations program; Determines need for impact and implementation or full bargaining at the appropriate level (for example, local, network or national bargaining). Ensures subordinates' actions satisfy the agency's obligations to bargain in good faith, performs thorough analysis of policies and practices, and develops policies and practices to prevent unfair labor practices; Reviews third-party involvement in negotiations and represents the network in complex cases, serves as a point of contact on third-party proceedings arising from the labor management programs, such as unfair labor practice charges; Represents management at arbitrations and in situations involving proceedings before other third parties, as appropriate; Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0800-1630 Compressed/Flexible: A Compressed Schedule may be available for highly qualified candidates. This schedule must include the core hours of 10:00am - 2 :30pm PST. Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Lead Human Resources Specialist (ER/LR)/PD99969S
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/17/2026. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. The BASIC REQUIREMENT for the HR Specialist GS-0201 series is presumed met if found qualified at the GS-0201-7 level and above. To qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, you must meet one of the following listed Criteria: Criteria 1- Graduate Degree and Specialized Experience: Successful completion of a graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. 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. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Analyzes and interprets operating procedures to deal with emerging human resource management issues within employee and labor relations; identifies, distributes and balances workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established work flow; provides training and coaching on appropriate work methods, practices and procedures; serves as subject matter expert regarding policies and procedures; applies laws, executive orders, regulations, collective bargaining agreements concepts, principles and guidelines in support an employee and labor relations program; represents management at arbitrations and in situations involving proceedings before other third parties; responds to inquiries about disciplinary actions, grievances, and appeals in especially unresolved, complex cases. ~OR~ Criteria 2- Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge, concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the HR specialty areas. 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. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Analyzes, interprets and develops new operating procedures as necessary to deal with emerging human resource management issues within employee and labor relations; identifies, distributes and balances workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established work flow, skill level and specialization; provides training and coaching on appropriate work methods, practices and procedures; serves as subject matter expert regarding policies and procedures; applies laws, executive orders, regulations, collective bargaining agreements concepts, principles and guidelines in support an employee and labor relations program; represents management at arbitrations and in situations involving proceedings before other third parties; responds to inquiries about disciplinary actions, grievances, and appeals in especially unresolved, complex cases.
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