Summary This position is in the Veterans Benefits Administration Los Angeles Regional Office. The incumbent is assigned to the Office of the Director. The incumbent serves as a Program Specialist (Human Resources Liaison) responsible for providing performance management and technical support for the Regional Office Human Resources 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. Responsibilities 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. 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). Provide assistance on Employee Relations and Labor Relation matters by communicating and coordinating with the Labor Employee Relations Team. Conduct in-processing and out-processing employee interviews. Provides outstanding customer service to both internal and external entities, in such a way as to enhance customer satisfaction; design work processes and practices. 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, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM TELEWORK ELIGIBLE: No. 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. Requirements Conditions of Employment As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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 organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of 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. Conditions of Employment: You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. Bargaining Unit Position: No Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/01/2026. 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). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. 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. To qualify for this Program Specialist, GS-0301-09 position: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing employee and management advisory services for specific requests requiring research of human resources policies and practices relating to staffing, employee relations, or benefits. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Guide employees in resolving primarily common work-related or personal problems; 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 applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-09 level: A Master's or equivalent graduate degree, 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related fields of study. (You must provide transcripts); Or You have some specialized experience as described in, but less than one year; and you have more than one year but less than two years of directly related graduate education. You have computed the percentage of the requirements, and the total is at least 100%. (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (You must provide supporting transcripts.) To qualify for this Program Specialist, GS-0301-11 position: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. 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 applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-11 level: Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. (You must submit transcripts.); Or You have some specialized experience as described in, but less than one year; and you have more than two years but less than three years of directly related graduate education. You have computed the percentage of the requirements, and the total is at least 100%. (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two years by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (You must provide supporting transcripts.) Note for GS-09 and GS-11: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used in combination with experience to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. Specialized Experience:GS-12: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. 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. There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level. 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. 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/. Education If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf 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. (https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, contact the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
