Human Resources Specialist (ER-LR)

This position is located in the Office of Administration, Office of Human Resources (OHR), Labor and Employee Relations Division. The incumbent serves as a Senior Human Resources Specialist and designated Labor Relations Officer (LRO), functioning as the agency's authoritative technical expert on union-management relations, collective bargaining, and unfair labor practices (ULPs). Major duties: The Human Resources Specialist (ER/LR): Provides full-scope advisory services across employee relations (ER), performance management, administrative investigations/anti-harassment inquiries, and suitability determinations. Serves as the authoritative management advisor and lead negotiator for collective bargaining agreements, mid-term bargaining, impact-and-implementation negotiations, and union information requests. Represents the agency before third parties, including the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), and grievance arbitrators. Coordinates responses to unfair labor practice (ULP) charges and complex negotiated grievances, promoting dispute resolution at the lowest organizational tier. Advises management on complex, high-risk employee conduct and disciplinary matters. Formulates strategy and drafts legally defensible administrative actions, including reprimands, suspensions, demotions, and removals under Title 5 U.S.C. Chapter 75. Partners with the Office of Chief Counsel to prepare litigation defense files, declarations, and testimony for hearings before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Provides expert technical consultation on Chapter 43 actions, performance appraisal cycles, and performance improvement plans (PIPs). Evaluates deficiencies, reviews narrative appraisals, and counsels supervisors through remedial and corrective performance-based actions. Serves as a senior technical investigator and advisor on allegations of workplace harassment and misconduct. Develops investigative strategies, conducts comprehensive fact-finding interviews, gathers evidence, drafts exhaustive investigative reports, and delivers objective findings with corrective action recommendations to deciding officials. Provides support with reviews background investigations and pre-/post-employment conduct to render authoritative suitability advisements under 5 CFR Part 731. Evaluates nexus, mitigating/aggravating factors, and security/suitability risks to formulate management positions regarding employment eligibility or suitability-based separations. The ideal candidate for this position has expert level knowledge of HR practices, laws, regulations, policies to provide advice and resolve the full range of complex and wide impacting employee and labor relations operational problems. The applicant must have excellent written, verbal and analytical skills, work collaboratively with other and have experience serving as an advisor to all levels of management on employee and labor relations issues. Requirements: CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 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. 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. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. 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. See other information for additional instructions.