Summary About the Position: This position is located in Alexandria, Virginia with the Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Human Resources Division's Management and Employee Relations Branch. This position is not covered by a bargaining unit. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is transitioning to the Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA). Responsibilities Represent the Agency in negotiating substantive personnel policy and other matters affecting working conditions. Provide expert advice negotiating and administering labor agreements to include bargaining unit determinations, consolidation of bargaining-units, contract negotiations, mediation, arbitration, questions of negotiability, and unfair labor practices. Evaluate and determine impact on the total labor and employee relations program of new legislation, executive and regulatory issuances. Plan and develop programs for labor relations negotiation and contract administration. Develop recommendations and strategy as to what actions should be taken in response to union demands for specific contract proposals. Represent DoWEA on issues pertaining to labor relations, such as arbitration cases, unfair labor practices and bargaining unit determinations. Draft written communication that supports the Mission, i.e. white papers, training material, implementation procedures, and standard operating procedures. Present management's position through written correspondence and appearances before various third parties. Investigates employee complaints about management policies and working conditions, conducting independent, in-depth research. Reviews employee performance standards and appraisals to identify areas for improvement and advises managers on writing effective performance standards. Provides advisory services and technical support on disciplinary actions, performance management, grievances, appeals, and leave administration. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans Current Competitive Service Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Civilian Employee Current Department of War (DoW) Civilian Employee Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Non-Department of War (DoW) Transfer Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Interchange Agreement Eligible People with Disabilities, Schedule A Priority Placement Program, DoW Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoW Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoW MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoW Retained Grade Preference Eligible Reinstatement Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. 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. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. GS-13 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: Providing consultative services and advising supervisors on complex employee relations matters, including conduct, performance-based actions, adverse actions, disciplinary actions, administrative and negotiated grievances, performance management, and leave administration. Providing guidance to management officials in resolving employee relations/labor relations (LMER) issues (e.g., grievances, collective bargaining agreements, unfair labor practices, representation proceedings, negotiability appeals, etc.). Conducting research into complex questions of program operations and developing operating guidance related to Labor and Employee Relations. Developing, reviewing, and delivering training and briefings to the workforce on employee and labor relations policies, programs, and procedures. Negotiating collective bargaining units or participating in third party proceedings. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12). GS-14 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: Providing program guidance on labor and employee relations for an organization. Evaluating the impact of changes on labor bargaining unit employees and/or negotiated agreements and performing labor relations negotiation and/or contract administration. Developing policy and operating guidance for a Labor Management program. Performing senior subject-matter expert and strategic advisory services to management on the full range of complex and high-risk employee relations matters, including misconduct, performance-based actions, adverse actions, removals, and administrative and negotiated grievances. Producing complex written products (e.g., adverse action decisions, management advisories) requiring exceptional analytical and oral and written communication skills. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-13). Time in Grade Requirement for GS-13: Time in Grade Requirement: 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-12). Time in Grade Requirement for GS-14: Time in Grade Requirement: 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-13). Education Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. Additional Information Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement Be advised that effective Jan. 1 2018, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, most civilian employee relocation allowances became taxable. The Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) reimburses eligible employees for the additional Federal, State, and local income taxes incurred as a result of receiving taxable travel income. RITA does not apply to new government employees or employees returning from an overseas assignment for the purpose of separation from Government service. For more information, visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction.html. The selecting official has requested a competitive and noncompetitive candidate list for this vacancy. If you are eligible for the noncompetitive list, you will be evaluated on basic and/or minimum qualifications, as applicable. While required to answer the assessment questions, non-competitive candidates will not be evaluated against the competitive rating & ranking criteria. The selecting official may select from any of the candidate lists. Management may select at any of the grade levels announced. This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to the target grade of the position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management. Duties described reflect the full performance GS-14 level. If not selected at the full performance level, duties will be performed in a developmental capacity under close supervision. As a Military Spouse Preference eligible, you must be determined best qualified at the full performance level to receive preference. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. 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 here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable\Accommodations\for\USA\Hire
